Ashshash: for men and women who have escaped trafficking

20’000 trafficked men and women (70% women; 60% poor, out of whom 50% disadvantaged) will be economically, socially and psychosocially rehabilitated, to empower them to a life of dignity. The beneficiaries will receive skills training and coaching for wage or self-employment opportunities. The men and women, who wish to become entrepreneurs, will obtain seed money from the project and benefit from linkages with private companies, to establish and operate their own business. Those who opt for wage employment will benefit from employment opportunities with companies, who support the cause of reintegration of trafficked men and women. At the same time, the men and women will acquire life skills and - through psychosocial counselling - will be empowered to deal with their past. Economic empowerment of the men and women who have escaped trafficking will play a vital role in supporting them to become economically independent, increase their confidence and protect them from harm. It will also contribute to preventing re-victimization (due to stigmatization) from society and re-trafficking.
The project will regenerate funds through partial repayments of the business seed money by the self-employed graduates. These funds will be managed by a financial institution and used in phases 2 and 3 to provide business seed money – beyond the 20,000 beneficiaries - to additionally 7’800 men and women.
Public agencies and private companies will support men and women who have escaped trafficking by providing them with on-the-job training, employment and business opportunities.
In order to ensure outreach beyond the direct beneficiaries of the project, the capacity of social institutions, such as shelter homes, specialized NGOs and psychosocial counsellors, will be enhanced so that they are able to deliver better services to more men and women who have experienced trafficking.
In order to bring about systemic change in the protection of groups vulnerable to trafficking, the related policy framework will be further strengthened. The capacity of the Government to support people who have escaped trafficking will be enhanced, by training the relevant law enforcement agencies as well as supporting the Government to build partnerships with specialised NGOs and operationalize the existing infrastructures, such as the complaints redressal mechanism.

Main Credit Phase 1: February 2017