TALITA STORIES

Alicia

“My father rejected me because he was ashamed of me, after someone abused me sexually. Later on my entire family abandoned me and I ended up in prostitution.”


The words are Alicia. She fled her homeland and came to a relative in Europe, but after losing her job, as a result of the Corona pandemic, she again ended up in a vulnerable situation and was tricked into Sweden by an elderly woman who promised her a job. Once there, Alicia was forced into prostitution and had to endure both rape and psychological violence. One day, the police in southern Sweden raided and arrested two pimps who were detained pending trial. Alicia participated in police interrogations and subsequent legal proceedings, which eventually led to the perpetrators being sentenced to prison. Since Alicia has no other way to support herself, she returned to prostitution, but a caring policeman continued to keep in touch with her and persuaded her to contact Talita. Today she is part of our one-year rehabilitation program. With great enthusiasm, she participates in everything from Swedish teaching to internships and when she has learned the language and received permission to stay, she wants to study law.

Rita

Rita was tricked into Sweden from a poor country with the promise of getting a job as a cleaner, but instead of a cleaning job, a life of total misery awaited where she was forced to sell her body, night after night, to sex buyers under threat. Some of the men mocked and abused her and called her a "cheap slut". One night we met her, after the police asked us to come to an apartment where they carried out a raid. Rita listened when we told her that there was help available, but was afraid and said no. A few months later, the police found her again - and now she dared to say yes to Talita's help. Rita moved into one of our sheltered housing and participated in the program. We recently celebrated that she ended the year with us and when she received diplomas and flowers we stood face to face with a completely different girl than the one we met that night just over a year ago. Soon she moves to an eviction apartment and she has already got her first real job.

Cindy

Cindy was found in prostitution by the police and their social secretary during an intervention week in Västra Götaland. She had been transported around to many different countries and exploited in prostitution by her pimps. Via text message, they had checked her and told her when a new cod was coming. Sometimes she didn't even have time to eat breakfast or shower until it was time again. Some of the customers were heavily intoxicated, others were threatening and violent. Since Cindy does not speak English, she could never ask anyone for help. Cindy, who was scared and confused, initially declined the offer of help, but a day later she contacted the social secretary and asked if the offer remained, which led to Cindy being immediately picked up and taken to Talita's sheltered accommodation. For the first few days, Cindy was very anxious and had difficulty sleeping, but when she got to know the staff, she became more secure and her mood became more stable. Nowadays she often expresses her gratitude for the support she has around her and her highest dream is to be able to help others in the future. Here are her own words:

"I am very grateful for Talita and the chance to come out of this life. I never liked it, but I was chained to it. Now I feel free and I see a good future ahead of me. ”

Emmy

When the parents passed away quickly, little Emmy was left in an orphanage with her sister. From that moment on, life was a constant struggle for survival. As a young woman, her only focus was to support her sick little sister. Prostitution became a resort, ending in a dead end. At one point, she was surrounded by three large men who aimed a gun at her head. Emmy had three days to hand over a large sum of money that was many times greater than her total savings capital. Her pimp had been receiving information for several years that she was planning to leave the network and create a new life for herself, her daughter and little sister in a neighboring country - plans that he was determined to put a stop to. Some time later, Emmy came to Sweden where she was forced to accept men and have sex for a fee. She saw absolutely no way out of the hell that was her everyday life. Then the police suddenly attacked the apartment, arrested the pimps and offered Emmy to come with them to Talita. She said yes. It's barely a year ago now and the Emmy is still there. The daughter has, after completing her education, got a job in a neighboring country where her little sister also moved. It is impossible to describe how amazing it is to see Emmy develop as a person, live and believe in herself. She is a faithful friend, generous to everyone around her and one of the bravest women we have ever met.

Esther

Esther did everything she could to survive with her two children in the slums of her homeland. If she only got 20 kroner a day, they managed, but when the hunger began to ache in the stomachs of the children, she agreed to go with a man, who promised to help her find work abroad. She left the children with a relative. When Esther landed in Sweden, she did not even know which country she was in. She thought she would finally be able to send home money for food and school fees, but nothing turned out as she had hoped. She was forced into prostitution and was not allowed to keep anything. The men who paid for her body did not hesitate to do what they wanted with her. Sometimes there were several at the same time. But one day she saw her chance and ran for her life, until she, exhausted, sank into a forest glade and just cried. A passerby noticed her and helped her contact the police. Esther was admitted to hospital and a day later Talita was contacted. In the beginning when she came to us she was so swollen in the mouth, due to oral sex she was forced to, that she could not eat. She woke up at night and cried after having nightmares about strangulation sex. Now, eight months later and well into Talita's program, she's an exuberantly happy woman who feels safe and hopeful. She has almost daily contact with her children and we plan together for their common future.