This is a blog written by Heidi, a recent Avalanche Camp participant.
Tuesday morning, as I unpacked my camping backpack from my trip to India, I caught a whiff of smoke and curry, the comforting aroma hat had worked its way into my fleece. High in the Nilgiri mountain range in Tamil Nadu, southern India, I had just spent a week with young women who had been rescued from the prolific sex trade. I heard stories of betrayal by relatives, stories of sexual abuse and rejection by parents - stories told through tears of sorrow but also tears of relief, knowing the hearers listened with open hearts and were prepared to share the burden of their life story.
While the realities of the tragedies in these women's lives were presented to me every day, hope is a word that comes to mind. After spending time in the wilderness chatting over curry, sleeping in tents in the cool mountain air, hiking through the eucalyptus forests and swimming in the pristine waters of the mountain lakes, these young women have been presented with hope. They have been physically rescued. Now their hearts are in the process of being emotionally rescued and spiritually restored. After this week, each one of them heard there is a hope and a future.
Many of these women cannot return to their homes and resume a "normal" routine. In a culture that idolizes community, they cannot simply reintegrate into village life. Their past is known. Their family is shamed. They are dependent on organizations and groups hat become their new community, giving them counselling, training, and unconditional love as they learn to live beyond the scars. One way these organizations assist women to become independent is by teaching them a trade and then providing access to customers who are willing to purchase their wares, not ostracize them because of their history (which could happen in their local community).
While the realities of the tragedies in these women's lives were presented to me every day, hope is a word that comes to mind. After spending time in the wilderness chatting over curry, sleeping in tents in the cool mountain air, hiking through the eucalyptus forests and swimming in the pristine waters of the mountain lakes, these young women have been presented with hope. They have been physically rescued. Now their hearts are in the process of being emotionally rescued and spiritually restored. After this week, each one of them heard there is a hope and a future.
Many of these women cannot return to their homes and resume a "normal" routine. In a culture that idolizes community, they cannot simply reintegrate into village life. Their past is known. Their family is shamed. They are dependent on organizations and groups hat become their new community, giving them counselling, training, and unconditional love as they learn to live beyond the scars. One way these organizations assist women to become independent is by teaching them a trade and then providing access to customers who are willing to purchase their wares, not ostracize them because of their history (which could happen in their local community).
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