Anna’s Story

When Anna became a mother at just 19, she dreamed of giving her baby a safe and loving start in life. But as a single mother in Bucharest, with little support from her parents and no stable income, no money for rent or for her baby's milk, she was desperately vulnerable. During the first year of the pandemic, some high school colleagues reached out to her. They promised her help and “safe work from home” just by video chatting online, offering quick money with no risk. For Anna, exhausted and anxious about how to feed her infant and pay for her rent, it sounded like a lifeline.

Instead, it became a trap. They helped her set up a bank account and created a video chat account in her name, but kept complete control of both. All of the income went to them. Whenever Anna refused to appear on camera, she was threatened and beaten. Isolated by lockdowns, cut off from friends, and terrified for her child’s safety, she endured a year of exploitation that only ended in August 2021 when her parents noticed her continuous tiredness, irritability, and addiction to drugs. They called the Police, and a case was opened. In time, Anna's parents reached out to an organization that helps women escape trafficking situations. Their team provided emergency shelter, legal support, and trauma counseling. Slowly, Anna began to rebuild her life and her confidence as a mother.

Today, Anna has finished her high school studies, a milestone she once thought impossible. Now she is preparing to train as an advocate, using her own experience to warn and guide other young women who might be vulnerable to traffickers.

But Anna’s story is not unique. Across Romania, traffickers continue to target women like her: young mothers, students, and girls without strong family support or in vulnerable situations. The pandemic only made this worse because traffickers have found new ways of exploitation in situations that seem legal.