Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby Jones. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Three girls hide in a small, dark, secret room. Their keeper had trained them for this. The girls must not let the police find them. They must keep silent. The police are searching the next room. The police find nothing - and turn to leave. Suddenly, a young girl coughs, breaking the silence. She is afraid. But she will be thankful for that cough for the rest of her life. The police turn back into the room. The girls are found.
Voice 2
These young girls were part of the sex trade in Mumbai, India. The tragic effects of the sex trade on many young lives is a global problem. Today we tell how one young girl managed to escape this terrible industry. In this programme we call her Jazmyn.
Voice 1
The street lights shone through the small dark window of the brothel. The brothel is where local men came to pay for sex. It was in one of the worst areas of Mumbai’s city. The young girls inside the brothel had to sell their bodies. It was like a prison to them. Jazmyn pressed her small face against the window. She looked down at the people on the street below, and wished she was brave enough to jump. She thought about her mother. Jazmyn had begun selling her body believing she could pay for her sick mother’s medical costs. Jazmyn was just twelve years old when she entered the sex trade. As with many young girls, the sex traders had tricked her. She would never see any of the money. Jazmyn was trapped in the evil world of the sex industry. Every new day in the brothel offered no hope for the young, troubled girl.
Then, one day, Jazmyn’s life began to change. It began when she met a woman called Zarine.
Voice 2
Zarine and the other workers are busy in the Aruna day centre. Aruna means ‘Bright Morning Sun’. It is a strange name considering where the centre is. Aruna is in one of the worst areas of Mumbai. The building was once a brothel! But when you meet some of the people the name soon makes sense. There are people like Zarine. She helps young girls escape the sex industry. Zarine knows it is a dangerous and difficult job. But she also knows the tragic world of the sex industry. Zarine was once a part of it - she is a former sex worker.
Voice 1
Zarine left the industry nine years ago. It was at that time she also discovered she had the HIV virus. HIV is the virus that leads to the AIDS disease. Zarine explains how she met Jazmyn:
Voice 4
‘Jazmyn was very sick. To help her, I made friends with her brothel keeper - her madam. I told her, “This girl is so beautiful. If her body gets stronger, you can make better use of her.” This appealed to the madam. I knew the language she would understand.’
Voice 2
Zarine took Jazmyn for a free HIV test. The results showed that she was HIV positive. She had the virus. Jazmyn was very troubled. She cried a lot. She believed she would die, like her mother. But Zarine told her:
Voice 4
‘I have had HIV for many years. I work eight hours a day. God gives me strength and courage. He can do the same for you.’
Voice 2
Jazmyn was afraid to leave the brothel. But Zarine told her if she chose to leave, she would help. Zarine and her team prayed hard, and Zarine informed the authorities about the brothel. Three days later, Jazmyn was free from the brothel. The Aruna group organised for Jazmyn to receive medicine to slow down the effects of HIV in her body.
The madam was very angry that Jazyme had escaped. She planned to throw burning acid on Zarine’s face. Was Zarine afraid? She said,
Voice 4
‘Each time I rescue a girl someone threatens me. The fear is no longer there.’
Voice 2
So how does Zarine feel towards such madams? After all she herself has suffered in brothels. Now, to rescue girls she has to befriend the madams. She said,
Voice 4
‘At first when I meet madams I feel anger. I think of my past. They sent me to work when I was sick. But then I start to feel more sadness than anger. I wonder why they are doing this. I ask God, please open their eyes.’ I work hard to build friendships because I know it is going to help a sick girl.’
Voice 1
For the Aruna workers, praying for strength is a necessary part of their day. They work with some of the most disliked people in the community. As well as madams, they also work with pimps. Pimps are the men who sell the girls’ bodies to customers. Why do they do this? Sachin is the Aruna project leader. He said,
Voice 5
‘We saw that we were protecting the girls but not the men. Working with the pimps also protects the women. We show them that pimping is not a good way to earn money.’
Voice 1
Sachin explains that pimps are not usually educated men. They cannot get well paid jobs. So, the Aruna project discovers what skills they do have - such as cooking or driving. Then they suggest training. The project shows men other ways to live and earn money.
Voice 1
Aruna project workers also get to know the customers - the men who use the brothel. They teach them about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Sachin says some men stop going to brothels when they understand the severe health risks.
Voice 2
Working for the Aruna project is not easy. The project tries to look behind the danger and evil of the sex industry. It tries to see to see the brokenness and pain of people. This includes all members of the sex trade - the madams, the pimps, the customers, and of course the young girls themselves.
Voice 1
Zarine and other workers at Aruna say that it is their Christian faith that drives them. It makes them able to show kindness to people who seem to be the worst kind. They believe that there are no limits to the kind of person God will love. And there are no limits to the crimes that God will forgive. So, there, in the dark streets of Mumbai’s worst area, the Aruna project is offering amazing hope. Aruna - The Bright Morning Sun - offering the light of God’s love to the dark streets of the city.
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