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Yangon, Myanmar – Pai, originally from Bagan Bo village in the Tha Lutt Kwar Village Track of Ayeyarwaddy Division, is the second of four siblings. His life, like many in his community in Myanmar, was shaped by economic hardship. With limited access to education and employment opportunities in his village, he was determined to find a way to support his family.
After completing his first year of distance education, he sought work to help alleviate the financial strain on his family. Little did he know that this decision would lead him down a dark path that would span over a decade, taking him far from home and subjecting him to exploitation, forced labor, and suffering.
The Lure of a Better Future
In 2006, Pai was approached by friends and brokers with a promise of a better life in Thailand. They convinced him that moving to Thailand would offer him financial security and a steady job in a factory, with a prepaid salary to help him support his family. Unaware of the risks involved, including the legal consequences of migrating without proper documentation, Pai trusted the promises of those around him. He traveled to Thailand with a passport arranged by the brokers, believing that he was about to start a new chapter in his life.
Upon arriving in Thailand, Pai was immediately thrust into a harsh reality. He found himself working in a garment embroidery factory in Thailand where the conditions were deplorable. Despite the promises of stable employment, the factory owner only provided Pai with a one-year job visa, which did little to offer him legal protection. The wages were insufficient, barely enough to survive, and the living conditions were overcrowded and unsafe. The emotional and physical toll was heavy, but it wasn’t the worst of what was to come.
The Descent into Forced Labor and Addiction
The true nightmare began when Pai’s employer, in an effort to keep workers compliant in the oppressive environment, coerced him into using drugs to cope with the grueling work and dismal living conditions. Like many others, Pai succumbed to the pressure, and what started as a means of escape from the relentless hardships soon spiraled into addiction. The situation grew increasingly dire as he endured both physical and emotional abuse while his wages were withheld. The employer’s control over Pai’s life intensified, trapping him in a cycle of exploitation and substance abuse.
“Many people from Myanmar migrate to escape economic hardships and limited opportunities,” explains Emerald Sinn, the Country Director for International Justice Mission (IJM) Myanmar. “But they often find themselves in situations of forced labor, human rights violations, and severe abuse. Pai’s experience is just one example of how vulnerable migrants are exploited.”
For nearly seven years, Pai endured this cycle of forced labor and abuse. His hope for a better life was shattered, and he found himself lost in a sea of despair. However, his situation would take another turn when the Thai authorities arrested him in 2013 during a crackdown on undocumented migrants. The ensuing years in Thai prison would become a defining chapter in his life, testing his resilience and will to survive.
Prison and the Long Road to Freedom
Pai spent nearly four years incarcerated in a Thai prison. Life behind bars was grueling, and the trauma from his years of forced labor, compounded by his addiction, left him mentally and physically shattered.
“That was the darkest moment of my life,” Pai reflects. “I thought my life was meaningless. I had nothing to live for anymore.”
Despite the hardship, Pai’s story didn’t end in prison. In 2017, after a government amnesty, he was released and sent back to Myanmar with the help of border police. Yet, the trauma he had experienced followed him home. His mental health had been severely impacted, and he struggled to adjust to life after being freed. It was clear that Ping needed help to heal—not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well.
A Fresh Start: Overcoming Trauma with Support
Upon his return to Myanmar, Pai was introduced to IJM and IJM-funded partners. With the help of IJM’s aftercare support, Pai began the long process of healing. He participated in counseling and psychosocial sessions that helped him cope with the trauma he had endured. The support he received went beyond emotional healing—it also provided practical assistance to help him regain financial independence.
Through IJM’s program, Pai was given a small gift: pigs to start a pig farming business. The venture offered him a path to financial stability and a sense of purpose. As his pig farm grew, Pai expanded his operations into poultry farming, and the profits allowed him to renovate his family home, making it more comfortable for his relatives. His newfound success in agriculture not only lifted his family out of poverty, but also restored his sense of dignity and self-worth.
Leadership and Giving Back: A Survivor’s Role in the Community
Pai’s journey of recovery took on a new dimension when he became involved in IJM’s Future Star Network, a Local Survivor Network (LSN) group in Pathein, Myanmar. As an active leader within the network, Pai received training on how to share his story with others and raise awareness about labor trafficking in his community. He learned how to advocate for the rights of survivors and help prevent others from falling into the same traps he had faced.
“I never imagined that I could be a leader, but now I am part of a community that helps others who have been through similar experiences,” Pai shares. “I have received training on how to teach others about the dangers of trafficking and forced labor, and we have been able to prevent two potential trafficking cases in our community already.”
His story has transformed into one of hope and empowerment. Through his leadership in the Future Star Network, Pai is helping to raise awareness about labor trafficking, educate vulnerable people, and provide support to those who are still trapped in exploitative situations. His goal is not just to rebuild his own life, but to create a ripple effect of change in his community.
The Power of Community Support and Hope for the Future
“If I had a superpower,” Pai says with a smile, “I would use it to provide decent jobs for other survivors. It is not enough to just rescue people. We need to give them the opportunities to rebuild their lives, so they don’t fall into the same traps again.”
Through his efforts and those of his fellow survivors, Pai is making a tangible difference in the lives of others. By raising awareness about the dangers of trafficking, empowering his community, and providing a safe space for survivors to heal and thrive, Pai is demonstrating the transformative power of support, resilience, and solidarity.
“Thanks to all the people and organizations who have supported us,” he adds. “Your help gives us hope for a brighter future.”
Pai’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that even in the face of the darkest moments, there is always the potential for transformation. With the right support, survivors like Ping can not only heal but also become powerful agents of change in their communities, breaking the cycles of exploitation and giving others the opportunity to live dignified, fulfilling lives.
Through his leadership and his dedication to raising awareness about human trafficking, Pai is a beacon of hope—not just for himself and his family, but for countless others who still face the horrors of exploitation. His journey shows that while the road to recovery is long and difficult, it is possible with the right support, the courage to persevere, and a deep sense of purpose.
In Pai’s words: “Together, we can stop the cycle of trafficking and help each other build a better future.”
*Pseudonym.
