Dancing Queens

The end to a beautiful day. 

The journey has been long and exhausting. It took almost 48 hours to get to Delhi. Once we arrived at 3 in the morning you could already feel the hustle and bustle of the city. The sights, the sounds and the smells were almost overwhelming. There was so much to look at and take in, it was hard to stay focused. When we arrived at the hotel we rested for a few hours and then up for breakfast.

            When we walked in to the kitchen the breakfast smelled amazing. It was a completely new experience. After enjoying hot tea and eggs we were created by a woman who was a long time friend time friend of our professor and hero in the human trafficking industry. She spoke to us about her experience with young woman and what she is doing to prevent this issue. Her words were deep and stuck our hearts. Her passion filled up the room. She was going to be our guide for the week and bring us to different organizations that are making a change in the industry.

            After hearing her story we got on the bus and headed to the NGO, STOP. We were so exhausted most of us took a nap on the bus ride. It took almost 2 hours to arrive, but time seems to fly by when you are so tired. Upon our arrival a few beautiful young girls greeted us. Their English was limited but through their eyes you could see their excitement to see us come visit them. We walked into a side room and we welcomed by Rosa, who was the “mother” of the organization. She referred to all the young girls that lived there as her daughters.

            We sat down and listened to her story. She was very protective of them and their stories. She wanted our interaction to be completely uplifting and about their plans for the future, and not about their past. It was an overwhelming experience. The girls sang for us and danced. Watching them was a beautiful experience. You could see and feel the new joy they had in their hearts. After we watched them perform they grabbed our hands and we had a dance party. It was fun to let lose, be silly, and enjoy the spirits of the young girls.

            As we walked around, drawings were on every wall. They were beautiful and inspiring. Each girl was given the opportunity to express herself through art. It allowed them to speak out and show their true feelings. We got an opportunity to ask them about the pictures and what they meant to each girl. After discussing the photos we talked about what they enjoy and what inspires them.

            It was getting late so we had to say our goodbyes and thank them for their hospitality. When we left, I began to reflect on the bus about their stories and their new lives. I think this trip will truly help us begin to make a difference. I wanted to stay longer and spend more time getting to know them. They are all very strong woman and young girls. It amazes me, which after all they went through, they could turn it around and have a positive life. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Learning all the moves.