Tachileik Drop-in Center

In 2021, Eden recorded a 200% increase in women and young girls engaging in survival sex to support their families. Eden realized that our existing programs needed to expand their reach and impact to combat this significant increase in women and girls who had been trafficked or were at high risk of trafficking. They needed access to humanitarian support, health care, trauma counseling, vocational training, and empowerment.

So, in late 2021, Eden opened its first drop-in center in one of Yangon's largest red-light districts. After only a few weeks, up to 30 women were coming to the center daily for support. Many of them were victims of sexual violence, abuse, and trafficking. Others were women and young girls who had been pressured into street prostitution due to the collapse of the economy and social structures in Myanmar.

This year, following the success of this first drop-in center, Eden started up three more drop-in centers in Yangon and Northern and Eastern Shan State.

Tachileik is located in Eastern Shan State and borders Thailand, playing a significant role in trafficking young women for forced brides and sexual exploitation. In this time of instability and judicial collapse, trafficking is increasing exponentially as the border areas are more porous, and the rule of law is non-existent in these conflict areas. Eden's drop-in center programs have proven to be highly effective in combating the increasing trend of survival sex and trafficking. In Eden's programs, women and girls are given the opportunity to learn new skills, be treated for PTSD, increase their resilience and empowerment, and find safe employment or start an enterprise.

This GivingTuesday, we have a goal to raise $26,000 to fund Eden's Tachileik Drop-in Center. Your donation will ensure that Eden can continue to provide counseling services, medical care, vocational training programs, and outreach in the red light areas.

Eden's new documentary, Shan State, will be released on GivingTuesday, sharing the trafficking trends and realities of modern-day slavery. You will hear first-hand accounts of how Eden’s frontline response impacts the lives of trafficking survivors. This is all possible because of your generosity.

Please partner with us so that together we can Be Light, Bring Hope, and Share Love. Thank you for your generosity.