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Dipankar's Story

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202408 WEB Dipankar Approved for Full Use 3

It wasn’t just another day for Dipankar. It was the day freedom arrived.

Your generosity can mean the difference between a life of slavery and a life of freedom. Help fund slavery rescue operations in South Asia today.
help bring rescue

The day probably wouldn’t have stood out in Dipankar’s mind.

It was just like every other day before it: Trapped with 75 other boys and young men in cramped South Asian jewelry factories, working 14 hours under surveillance and threats.

He had dropped out of school to take this job, thinking he’d use the money to support his family while his father was sick. But the job had been a lie. Instead, he was enslaved.

So just to get through each day, he would let his thoughts wander back to his village, replacing the horrors of slavery with happier memories of playing with friends in the rain.

So just to get through each day, he would let his thoughts wander back to his village.

There, he could run and chase his friends by the riverbanks, their shrieks and laughter carrying along the water.

Even when it rained, their energy wouldn’t stop. Nothing could keep them from playing together.

“But there was no rain there [at the factories],” remembers Dipankar. “Just the dry, sweltering heat making us sweat all the time.”

So at night, he would close his eyes and replace the horrors of slavery with the sound of rain hitting his village’s soft sandy ground.

What Dipankar didn’t know was that as he was dreaming of his village, five rescue teams—and justice-loving Canadians like you—were supporting and planning his freedom.

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IJM teams had received an anonymous tip about his captivity and didn’t waste any time. They coordinated with local authorities, assembled five rescue teams, and planned every step of the operation.

Yet none of that could have happened without justice-loving Canadians like you.

Because your belief in the immeasurable value of freedom, your commitment to seeking justice and your incredibly generous donations…

“The police stormed in, and the doors that had always been locked flung open,” remembers Dipankar.

help fund rescue operations

All 76 boys and young men, including Dipankar, were rescued that day. Some of them had even been enslaved for 10 years—and didn’t believe they were truly free at first.

Yet it didn’t take long before “the boys couldn’t contain their joy,” remembers IJM staff Barnabas Pravin, an Aftercare Lead. “They were jumping, running inside the room, and hugged the IJM staff.”

The boys were brought to safety and soon travelled back to their homes and families. The rescue teams collaborated with local officials to ensure each of the boys received compensation, skill training and access to better life opportunities.

Dipankar himself was able to return to his village where he re-enrolled in school. IJM stayed connected with him to help guide and motivate him as he finished his education.

He is now on the path to a promising career and even uses his voice to raise awareness about bonded labour and slavery with IJM.

bring more freedom

“It was just another day. [But then] the police stormed in, and the doors that had always been locked flung open,” remembers Dipankar.

All 76 boys and young men were rescued that day, and Dipankar was able to return to his village to finish school.

“I am grateful to IJM for gifting me a new life. I feel confident to face challenges and will never allow myself to be exploited.”

Behind the locked door of slavery, victims are trapped and waiting for their freedom.

Today, we need your help to fund slavery rescue operations in South Asia.
Will you give today and help open the door to freedom? You’ll help bring rescue and give people like Dipankar a chance to rebuild their lives.

yes, i'll help send rescue

Slavery is stealing the lives of children, women and men like Dipankar in South Asia. They are being exploited, abused and trapped—all while perpetrators profit. With each day that passes, they wait for rescue, hoping and dreaming of freedom.

Your gift today will help fund rescue operations and break down the locked door of slavery.

With your generosity, we’ll be able to find, rescue and restore survivors. Then, like Dipankar, they’ll be able to rebuild their lives, advocate for other survivors and work to prevent further trafficking.

Ultimately, for more people to become free, safe and at peace… that would be the best outcome you could help us achieve.

When you make a gift to IJM Canada, you will receive a confirmation of your gift and occasional updates about IJM’s work and other ways to help.

Slavery is stealing the lives of children, women and men like Dipankar in South Asia. They are being exploited, abused and trapped—all while perpetrators profit. With each day that passes, they wait for rescue, hoping and dreaming of freedom.

By becoming a Freedom Partner with a monthly gift today, you help bring us closer to the world where all people are free.

When we can count on your support every month, we can plan and execute even more rescue operations, help even more survivors rebuild their lives and convict even more perpetrators.

When we can count on you, we can count on freedom and justice triumphing.

When you make a gift to IJM Canada, you will receive a confirmation of your gift and occasional updates about IJM’s work and other ways to help.

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