A Journey Home to Hope: Soonee’s Story
How Soonee* Narrowly Escaped Exploitation Before It Began
On her very first night working in a bar in Pattaya, 38-year-old Soonee* realized just how quickly desperation can turn into danger. She had left Chiang Mai because she couldn’t make enough to survive at home, hoping Pattaya might offer better opportunities. But by the end of that night, she hadn’t sold a single drink—already being told she would owe money to the bar if she didn’t meet her quota. The only way to make up this money was to go with a man for paid sex.
She whispered to our team, “I need a better option. I don’t want this life.”
Then, in a single moment, her world collapsed even further. The next morning, Soda learned that her father had died. She rushed to the bus station, clutching only 500 baht (~$15USD)—not even half of what she needed to get home. From the station she sent a message to our team, apologizing again and again for even asking for help.
“I’m so sorry… I don’t know what to do.”
Because of the generosity of people like you, we were able to step in immediately. We purchased her bus ticket, provided food for her 16-hour journey, and even helped support her father’s funeral—an important cultural expression of honor and love.
Soda made it home safely.
Not sold. Not trapped. Not alone.
Home.
And her story didn’t end there.
Our staff have continued walking with Soda from a distance, helping her look for safe, stable work in Chiang Mai so she never has to return to Pattaya or face the pressures of the sex industry again. She is supported. She is connected. She is choosing a new path.
Soda’s story is exactly why Not Abandoned shows up—why presence, compassion, and immediate action matter.
And it is exactly what your giving makes possible.
*named change
Your Support Helps Women Step Out of Exploitation
Every gift provides safety, dignity, and a chance for women like Soda to rebuild their lives far from the dangers of the sex industry.
When donating to a cause as complex as human trafficking, it’s hard to know that your generosity is actually going to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Not Abandoned empowers freedom for exploited women in the darkest places around the world, so that your donations actually change the destiny of a woman’s life.
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