From Survivor to Changemaker: A Journey of Courage and Empowerment

Addis Ababa: Frey A Worku was young, hopeful, and ready to take on the world—at least, that’s what she had been told. With a college degree in hand, she had envisioned a future closer to her family, where she could contribute to her community and forge a path of her own. But the weight of financial struggles—both personal and familial—weighed heavily on her dreams. Opportunities felt out of reach, and survival often seemed the only possibility.

According to EMM, Frey was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and raised by her mother after her parents’ divorce. She had long dreamed of helping those around her. Yet as the burden of supporting her family grew and local prospects dwindled, she was faced with a difficult choice: to leave home and seek work abroad. Something felt off from the beginning. “I was young, and there was no one to guide me. I used to be someone who didn’t speak up,” Frey recalls.

When preparing for the interview, she was asked to wear something short instead of a formal suit. Despite initial doubts, Frey accepted the offer as a salesperson. Her visa was processed and her flight booked. Upon arrival, she waited for hours at the airport before a man picked her up. He asked for her passport, ID, and cell phone, saying she would get them back soon. Frey was taken to a gloomy, industrial area and placed in cramped accommodation. “My first thought was: when can I go back?”

During the first weeks, she completed basic training. Everything seemed fine. But when Frey asked for her passport, she was refused. Soon, her eight-hour contract turned into a grueling 60-hour work week. The workload got heavier. When Frey became ill, her managers gave her an insurance card. The card turned out to be completely useless when she went to the doctor. She had to pay for her medical care out of her own pocket.

Then came the unthinkable. She experienced sexual violence at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect her. A security guard with keys to her accommodation entered her apartment and assaulted her. He continued to follow her until a colleague noticed the situation and reported it to management. But nothing changed. Frey received no medical or psychological help. “Everyone seemed to defend the owner and my employer, but not me. They didn’t believe me at first.”

Eventually, the guard was questioned. He admitted his crime. He defended himself by saying he would soon return to his home country, so it didn’t matter to him. Indeed, management decided to cover up the incident. The guard would not be prosecuted since he was leaving anyway. “When I decided to leave, the management did not want to return my documents, but I refused to be silenced,” Frey says. It took her another six months before she could get her passport back. She had to leave all her savings behind. Her salary was locked up in a bank account controlled by her managers, and she had no access to it.

“Human trafficking happens in plain sight,” stresses Frey. Traffickers continue to exploit people, and no one sees it. She notes that a few years after she returned home to Addis Ababa, the broker had disappeared without a trace. Perpetrators are often not held accountable. Back in Ethiopia, Frey encountered stigma and hardship. “I said: this will not happen to me again. I must stand up for myself. I can provide for myself and protect myself. But what about those who can’t?”

In 2023, Frey co-founded the Finot Charitable Association, a survivor-led organization that has reached thousands of vulnerable people in Ethiopia with its awareness campaigns. “Many people do not know what human trafficking is. Some are trafficked and do not even realize they are being exploited,” she said. Finot educates students in public schools, especially those from low-income backgrounds, about the risks of exploitation. It provides training for those planning to work abroad, from financial literacy to language skills. It also assists trafficking survivors with reintegration through job search and psychological support.

Frey stresses that change begins with listening to the voices of survivors and applying their lived experience to improve policies. Her vision doesn’t stop there. Looking ahead, she dreams of opening a recreation center—a safe space where survivors can engage in art, receive mental health care, and access childcare. She also plans to continue her education, demonstrating that healing and growth are lifelong journeys.

“Many people do not know what human trafficking is. Some are trafficked and do not even realize they are being exploited,” she reiterated.