Hope, Dignity and Protection: Highlights from our Vision Trip to Myanmar

HONG KONG, July 2026 – Economic hardship, limited job opportunities and ongoing instability have left many people in Myanmar vulnerable to trafficking and forced labor.

In June, a group of donors and supporters from churches in Hong Kong and other backgrounds joined our vision trip to Myanmar to gain a deeper understanding of these challenges and learn how IJM and local partners are working to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation across Myanmar and Southeast Asia.

Protection Through Empowered Communities and Aftercare

During the trip, participants heard directly from IJM frontline staff and partners about community-based efforts to prevent exploitation and support survivors. Key initiatives include:

• Local Survivor Networks (LSN): Survivor leaders are equipped through training and mentoring to raise awareness, support fellow survivors and help protect others from exploitation.

• Community Watch Groups (CWG): Trained community members educate others about labor rights and trafficking risks, identify potential cases of exploitation and connect survivors with support services.

• Holistic Aftercare Services: Survivors receive comprehensive support, including psychosocial care, healthcare, shelter, legal assistance, vocational training and economic empowerment opportunities that help them rebuild their lives.

Resilience in the Lives of Survivors 

One of the most meaningful moments of the trip was meeting survivors in small groups and hearing their stories. While it was heartbreaking to learn about the abuse and exploitation they had endured, what left the deepest impression was their resilience, courage and determination to build a better future. 

Their journeys demonstrated that, with the right support and opportunities, survivors can overcome trauma, reclaim their dignity and create new possibilities for themselves and their families. 

Thazin’s Journey from Exploitation to Courage 

One of the survivors we met was Thazin*. 

Growing up in a family facing financial hardship, Thazin left school at an early age to help support her parents and sisters. What was presented as an accounting job at a broom factory soon turned into a nightmare. She found herself trapped in a situation of forced labor, enduring excessive working hours, withheld wages, physical violence and sexual abuse. 

After escaping, Thazin received support from IJM and local partners, who helped her report her case, access legal assistance and begin her healing journey. 

“Where I once felt voiceless, I now speak with courage. Where I once felt worthless, I now know my value,” Thazin shared. 

Through aftercare services, skills training and ongoing encouragement, Thazin gradually rebuilt her life and regained her confidence. Today, she is a business owner and a leader within her LSN, helping others understand their rights, access protection and pursue justice. 

Thazin’s story is a powerful reminder that freedom is only the beginning. With continued support, survivors can heal, thrive and become advocates for change in their own communities. 

You can read Thazin’s full story in her own words here. 

Dignity in Action: Listening to Fishermen’s Voices 

Besides meeting with survivors, participants also had the opportunity to engage with a group of fishermen and hear firsthand about the challenges they face. For many, these conversations were among the most impactful moments of the journey, underscoring an important truth: care and protection begin with listening.

Spending up to nine months a year at sea, fishermen often face challenging conditions and limited access to support. During the off-season, IJM and local partners meet with them to listen to their experiences and provide training on workers’ rights and protections. The impact can be immediate and practical. One fisherman recounted how the knowledge he gained enabled him to successfully negotiate fair compensation after being injured on the job, helping him secure the support he deserved. 

When workers are given a safe space to speak about the unfair treatment and the pressures they face, their dignity is affirmed. Their experiences not only shed light on the realities of exploitation but also help shape practical solutions that strengthen protection for others.

Through listening, equipping and empowering workers to advocate for their rights, IJM and its partners are helping build safer communities where people can work with greater freedom, dignity and protection. 

A Renewed Vision for Freedom 

This vision trip has deepened participants’ understanding of the complex realities of forced labor slavery while revealing the power of hope. We witnessed resilience in communities, courage in survivors and the unwavering commitment of local partners working to protect vulnerable people despite significant challenges in Myanmar. 

As we returned home, we carried not only the weight of what we had seen and learned, but also a renewed conviction that freedom is possible when survivors are supported, communities are equipped and partners work together for justice.

For some participants, the experience became a catalyst for deeper engagement with IJM’s mission. Having witnessed both the realities of exploitation and the hope of restoration firsthand, they have since become advocates for justice through prayer, financial support and sharing what they learned with their communities and networks.  

The journey reminded us that lasting change is possible when people stand alongside survivors and communities in their pursuit of safety, dignity and freedom. We invite you to join a future IJM vision trip to experience this work firsthand and discover how you can play a part in protecting vulnerable people and strengthening justice! 

*Names have been changed to protect survivors’ privacy. 

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