The Work of Unsung Heroes: Therapist speaking with a survivor.

Hope in Hard Places: The Work of Unsung Heroes

by Haley Clark | Jul 29, 2025 | Protection

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, I reflect on the troubling realities of our time.

At World Hope International, we are working across Southeast Asia, West Africa, and Haiti, where lesser-known and emerging forms of trafficking are escalating—including online child exploitation, forced labor in scam centers, forced surrogacy, and organ trafficking.

In West Africa, we are confronting deeply rooted practices of organ removal for ritual purposes and child sacrifice—ancient traditions that persist today. These acts are so embedded in cultural and political power structures that even government officials are rumored to participate, while many live in fear of speaking out. In one recent case, a one-year-old girl was kidnapped and killed—her tongue, eyes, and throat removed as part of a ritual believed to be tied to political or financial ambition. Her tragic death is a harrowing reminder of what we work against, with courageous persistence.

In the United States, the headlines remind us of how human trafficking exists within our own borders. The wealthy and powerful, when accused of inflicting abuse, often escape justice. It is rare for someone as high profile as Jeffrey Epstein or Sean “Diddy” Combs to be arrested and prosecuted. Such big-name celebrities become symbols of this darkness.

Child and adult survivors—whether in West Africa or the U.S.—have suffered unspeakable violence at the hands of powerful people. The professionals who work beside them, to offer hope, peace, a chance at justice and opportunities for healing do not make headlines, but are doing the difficult work alongside survivors. At World Hope, our work may not always make headlines, but for our staff engaged directly, each case is deeply personal. They carry the emotional and physical burden of stories the world may never hear. They are unsung heroes, responding not with despair but with relentless hope.

As the truth of these horrors continues to surface globally, let us not look away. Let us remember and honor those who have been permanently silenced or continue to suffer quietly. Let us speak on their behalf, comfort the grieving, and pursue justice with courage and conviction.

This World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us recommit to bringing hope in the hardest places.