Jemal is a young woman from Ahal, the southern province of Turkmenistan. Born into a large, outgoing family, Jemal struggled to stand out. She was an average student and never found her place in the working world. When an acquaintance told Jemal about an opportunity for a high-paying job in Turkey with a nice family as a nanny, she thought this was her chance to do something special with her life. She jumped at the opportunity to learn and grow in a new, exciting environment.

In Turkey, Jemal met the family and agreed to work as a nanny. But the family had other plans.  Once Jemal was in the house, the family took her passport, refused to pay her a salary, and forced her to work 16-hour days. Jemal did not just watch their child as agreed, but was forced to cook, clean, and maintain the entire house inside and outside. 

Jemal was constantly harassed if she dared to sit down to rest. The family threatened her with prison. “If you try to leave us,” they said, “The police will arrest you.” Jemal worked every day, 16 hours a day, without a break. Jemal was scared. She didn’t know anyone and she didn’t know what to do.     

Jemal was exhausted and she reached the point where she knew she had to take the risk to escape. Later, Jemal reflected: “I thought I would never get out of this hell. I was ready to go to prison if it meant not having to stay with this family. ”

It took Jemal a year to work up the courage to escape from the family. Once free on the street, Jemal ran to a policeman and told him what had happened to her. The Turkish police helped her return home to Turkmenistan.

But when Jemal returned to Turkmenistan, she was a different person. Her family tried to help her, but she was in a deep depression. She was unable to talk about what happened to her--even to those closest to her--and she had completely shut down. She felt worthless and thought she would never find her way. 

One day, she saw a flyer for a rehabilitation program for victims of trafficking by USAID’s Dignity and Rights project, implemented by the International Organization for Migration. Jemal’s first meeting with rehabilitation experts focused on her mental state. The experts connected Jemal with psychological counseling to help her talk about and deal with what had happened to her.  

Next, the experts helped Jemal rebuild her self-esteem through setting goals for herself. More than anything, Jemal wanted to find a job where she could contribute and express herself, but she still didn’t believe she had anything to offer. 

USAID helped Jemal find a vocational training program that worked for her and, slowly, Jemal started to see a way forward. Jemal had never had a chance to work with computers before, but now she found a new passion. She earned a certificate in computer graphic design. USAID provided her with a computer and the latest graphic design software. Finally, USAID helped Jemal develop a resume and gave her advice about how to look for a job.

At last, Jemal felt ready. Confident in her new skills and equipped with the materials to succeed, Jemal started applying for jobs and now has a job as a graphic designer at a printing company. Supporting herself in a job she loves, engaged and open with her family and friends, Jemal finally feels she has found her place in the world.

USAID’s Dignity and Rights project, implemented by the International Organization for Migration, contributes to the implementation of the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan on Counter-Trafficking for 2016-2018, which was approved by the President of Turkmenistan on March 18, 2016.  Over the past five years, USAID’s Dignity and Rights project, implemented by the International Organization for Migration, in partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan and local civil society organizations, has identified and offered services to 144 (66 male and 78 female) victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants in Turkmenistan to help them rebuild their lives.