Non-profit organisation Expose Hope is escalating its campaign work to shine the light on vulnerable women and teenagers who are trapped within the city’s sex industry, with many being victims of human trafficking.
Team member Liza Moroney lifted the shades on these growing, illicit industries, and Expose Hope has sent a passionate appeal to the public to help in its mission to offer greater care for these women. The organization is becoming cash-strapped as a result of the spate of desperate women and girls needing support, safety and security. So far, Expose Help has taken more than 300 women under its wings at across 40 brothels and lodges. She said her teams visits the women twice a week. “This past week has not been easy. The financial situation of Expose Hope is at an all-time low and we are all trying to stay focused and keep going. Almost daily our faith is tested,’’ said Moroney.
She described last week as ‘emotionally hard’: “We pulled a 17-year-old out of the sex industry and she is in a bad shape. This is the second 17-year-old that we have helped in a week. She is addicted to whoonga, has HIV and AIDS and tuberculosis and malnourished. There is no support for the teenage girls that are trapped in the sex industry. It’s really heart-breaking. These girls are so vulnerable and they are a target for all kinds of predators. This sweet child is incredibly broken and her eyes speak of a thousand nightmares,’’ recounted Moroney.
“She is now safe with our friends who run a homeless shelter and they are caring for her and helping her through detoxication and feeding her so that she has more strength to fight her illnesses. We need support, desperately. We need to pay her shelter fees and help with providing food.” The expenses include rehabilitation and shelter fees, weekly grocery vouchers, meals, car insurance, fuel and storage. “We appreciate every single bit of support. We know that our women and girls appreciate this care.’’ For banking details or to scan the Expose Hope Zapper code, find them on Facebook @xpose.hope or visit their website at http://www.exposehope.co.za/. For enquiries contact 082 041 0495.
