Houy’s Journey from Exploitation to Freedom

May 2026 

What began as a search for honest work to support her children led Houy into exploitation overseas – until coordinated action helped bring her to safety, giving her a new start. 

Houy* was once a successful farmer in Cambodia, growing mangoes and rice. But after separating from her husband and the impact of COVID‑19, her business collapsed, leaving her to care for three children alone with no stable income. As her health declined and costs mounted, she began searching for safe, legal work abroad.  

Houy enrolled in a training centre that promised a lawful work placement in Singapore. But after travelling, her passport and phone were taken. She was driven to Malaysia instead and discovered she had been deceived.

“I knew I had been tricked,” Houy stated. “But I didn’t want my family to starve.”

Houy was held in a locked flat with dozens of other women, given little food and forced to work long hours. When she asked to return home because of her health, the agency demanded a price she couldn’t afford.

“My chest felt tight, and I cried every day,” she said. “But my children were my biggest motivation. I told myself I must stay strong for them.”

Then, a small window of hope opened. Houy got access to a phone and managed to share her location with her family, who reached out for help and connected with IJM. IJM staff worked closely with the Cambodian Embassy in Malaysia to trace her location and intervene.

When authorities arrived, it became clear that Houy was a victim of human trafficking. Houy was supported to return to Cambodia, where IJM staff welcomed her home, reunited her with her children, and gave immediate support to her family.

Today, with encouragement and support from IJM, Houy is building a mushroom‑growing business – a long‑held dream and a step towards a secure future.

“I felt incredibly blessed,” she shared. “They gave me and my family a chance to live a proper life again. I never expected that I could stand strong again. You have truly given me a ‘second life.’”

Houy’s story shows that exploitation does not have the final word. 

Learn more about how with strong partnerships and timely action, people trapped in exploitation can be supported to find freedom and rebuild their lives.

*Pseudonym