From despair to hope: An unlikely business story

A story from Bloom Asia

When Sreya was 14, she was 'owned' by a brothel.

As a child, Sreya was passed from home to home - never knowing the love and safety of a stable family. One day, her aunt, who she was living with at the time, told her that she was too much of a burden and it was time to leave. Sreya felt anxious in her stomach - however, what came next was worse than anything she could have imagined.

That night, despite her crying and resisting, her virginity was sold for just $200 to a man in her village. She was then sold to a brothel where she was held captive and brutally exploited for the two years.

Over and over, night after night. The abuse was merciless, crushing her body, soul and spirit.

"I tried to escape once and they threatened to kill me. I begged them to just do it. The darkness and hopelessness was more than I could bear. Eventually, I was rescued, but the relentless torment didn't stop. The nightmares and flashbacks were just as real."

Unfortunately, Sreya's story is not an isolated case. In 2021, there has been a 214-percent increase in the number of human trafficking cases in Cambodia, according to the Cambodian Government.

The rescue process is just the start for girls like Sreya. After extensive trauma, the brain stops developing and survivors 'shut down' mentally and emotionally to block out the pain - making it hard to connect with others, focus and learn. However, with love and support, new brain pathways can be built.

Over time, Sreya began to open up and connect with her counsellor and teachers at Bloom. Step by step she learnt to read and write and conquered practical skills in her hospitality classes.

The night Sreya graduated from Bloom's hospitality training program, she courageously stood up in front of everyone and shared her story.

"They told me that all I was good for is pleasing men. They said I was worthless and would never come to anything.

And for a long time, I believed it.

But today, I'm proud to say they were wrong! I have discovered my true self - a strong and vibrant woman. With the help of my Bloom family, I've found so much healing. My dream for the future is to help other girls. I want them to find the same hope and purpose that I have."

Today Sreya has her very own cake shop in her home town.

"For a long time, I dreamed of starting my own shop. At first, it was just a fantasy. But when I had the opportunity to manage the Bloom cafe, I saw that I was really good at it. I thought to myself, 'I could really do this!'."

"And now I have!"

"What brings the most joy is being able to employ five girls from my village. I know that they are all high-risk of being lured by sex traffickers. I love that I can provide them with safe jobs to protect them.: