"I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36).
Snapshot
In Jessore, Bangladesh, a major hub for human trafficking, a woman applies heavy makeup, likely knowing that this day in the brothel won’t be much different from the last—a steady stream of customers who each pay a few dollars for her time.
The street is home to two brothels, where young women, some who have children, live with their madams and are paid a few dollars per transaction. Effectively imprisoned, many of the women were tricked into working at the brothels, lured by the promise of jobs like housecleaning. With little money, limited resources, and social stigma, they aren’t free to leave.
Spend time in the photo's moment and steep in the details. What is touching? What is disturbing? What does the photo say about those who live in poverty?
Look Deeper
For small children like 8-month-old Parul, the brothel is a dirty and dangerous environment; yet, the women often have no other place to take their babies while they work.
With no distinction between living quarters and work space, children of the sex workers inevitably see and hear things they shouldn’t experience. At night, the brothel becomes even more unsafe for children of the sex workers. Criminals and smugglers visit after dark, putting the already vulnerable children at higher risk of being exploited and trafficked.
Pray
Thank God for the Child-Friendly Space that World Vision operates across the street from the brothel. The space provides a place of respite and normalcy for children, and a sense of security for the mothers who know their children are lovingly cared for while they work.
Pray that the women who work at this brothel would find freedom in Jesus Christ.
Pray for the children of the sex workers, that they would have futures different than their mothers’.
Photo credit: Jon Warren/World Vision
