Human Trafficking - A Survivors Story - Jennifer Ward

Roughly 4 years ago Jennifer discovered there was a thing called human trafficking. Hearing about slavery weighed heavily on her heart and she began praying to God. God spoke to her heart saying, “Your steps are ordered, You will be at the right place, at the right time, with the right people, and I will carry you in the palm of my hand” This became her daily prayer.

After having received Human Trafficking 101, Speakers Bureau, and Street Outreach training she began volunteering through Salvation Army’s CORRC. In Oct 2014 she was hired as a Volunteer Coordinator. In Jan 2015 the Ohio task force rescued 18 Massage Parlor survivors. As Volunteer Coordinator she was able to care for these women.

Jennifer is still currently volunteering and has developed many friendships with survivors. After opening up one day she came to the realization that she had also been a victim of human trafficking.

Raised in a Christian home, but always feeling like she wasn't good enough. Raped at the age of eleven. Suffered multiple rapes in her teens and homelessness. She became a mother at seventeen.  She felt pressured to marry, at twenty, after having another baby. He abused her mentally, physically, even tried to kill her. After he left her with nothing she worked in bars, strip clubs, a phone sex operator and as an escort.

Going on thirteen years later learning to accept that what happened to her, as a child, was of no fault of her own. Moving past the labels, currently on a journey of self-discovery, she has found her voice and can't keep silent anymore.