Survivors skydive to support modern slavery work

Two survivors of modern slavery who are currently receiving support in Salvation Army safehouses have chosen to skydive to raise awareness and vital funds to help other survivors like themselves.

Fauzi* and Lima* are hoping their skydives will encourage others to sign up to take the leap for The Salvation Army so that more funds can be raised to help support the organisation’s work with modern slavery survivors. 

The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales, working with a network of partners running safe houses and outreach support.

The Salvation Army’s Jump for Freedom challenge offers a chance to experience the rush of diving through the clouds, raising funds to help survivors of modern slavery recover and rebuild their lives.
 

Lima’s happy childhood came to an abrupt halt when her parents arranged for her to marry a man and move with him to England. They believed his promises to care for and respect their daughter. He was lying.  Lima soon found that he wanted a domestic servant when he locked her in the house, forced her to do all the household chores and isolated her from family and friends. 

He threatened to have her killed if she tried to escape but Lima finally asked for help after he refused to let her recover from a life-threatening asthma attack. Recognised Lima as victim of domestic servitude, Lima was referred to The Salvation Army. She now lives in a safe house and her support worker is helping her to find options to start to study again. Lima says ‘yes’ to all the activities on offer at the safe house. She is turning back into the old Lima who, at school, enthusiastically took on any new challenge. Now it’s skydiving.

“My life was stuck and you guys at The Salvation Army helped me come back. I’m a different person now. I feel confident and independent. I am so excited about the skydive for myself but also maybe, by telling my story, there’s a chance I could help another girl like me to know they too can be free and get help. Once I was trapped but now I am going to fly.”
 

Fauzi was tricked into leaving home by false promises of well-paid work to help support his impoverished family in Uganda.  Instead he found himself forced to work 18 hour shifts day in day out in factories and construction sites with no breaks to eat or drink, and his wages and documents withheld.  When he found the courage to break free and talk about what had happened to him and was referred to The Salvation Army for help. 

Fauzi now lives in a safehouse run by The Salvation Army where his support worker is helping him to rebuild his life and overcome the fallout of his exploitation on his mental and physical health. He still worries about providing for his family and finds it hard to trust people but is now more confident about his future. Fauzi said:

“The Salvation Army has provided me with a sense of purpose, community, and support throughout my life as a victim of human trafficking. I want to skydive for The Salvation Army because I believe in their mission of helping those in need and making a positive impact in communities. By going through this exhilarating experience, I can contribute to their vital work and support individuals and families facing challenges.”

Kathy Betteridge, Director of Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery for The Salvation Army, said: 

“We are so grateful and in awe of Fauzi and Lima for their bravery in choosing to skydive to raise vital funds for our work with modern slavery survivors. I do hope their example will inspire others to take the leap themselves so that we can continue to help more people who have gone through unimaginable experiences.”

Click here to read Fauzi and Lima’s full stories and donate to show them support.

*Names changed to protect identities