October 2026

Justice for one unlocks protection for many. This is Thenmoyi’s story.  

Millions of people across South Asia are trapped in forced labour today. Many are exploited in industries linked to global supply chains, including brick kilns where families can become trapped in cycles of debt and abuse.

From a very young age, Thenmoyi knew all too well what life was like trapped at a brick kiln. She grew up in a rural part of South Asia as the fourth of five children. Her father made a living working odd jobs as a daily wage labourer, often working at brick kilns to support them.

When Thenmoyi was around 14, her father accepted an offer to move to another brick kiln in the region. 

The family was promised a payment advance to work at the kiln for six months. What they didn't know was that the kiln owner would manipulate the debt, adding impossible interest and charges that meant they could never repay what they supposedly owed. As a result, they were forced to work indefinitely, with no end in sight.

“The owner believed we owed him a debt, and he used that lie to control every part of our lives,” Thenmoyi shared.

They were not alone. Ninety-four labourers were trapped at the kiln, some of whom had been there for more than five years.

Every morning at 4am, Thenmoyi began moulding heavy clay into thousands of bricks, working 15 to 16 hours a day with time for only one small meal.

“I used to wonder if we’d ever be free, but it felt like a dream too far to reach.” 

Thenmoyi and her family talked about escaping, but fear kept them at the kiln. She remembered when two labourers were once caught trying to escape – they were severely beaten and forced back to work.

After several months, local IJM staff heard reports about the kiln and began gathering evidence. They documented physical abuse, sexual harassment and child labour.

IJM then partnered with local authorities to bring the labourers to safety. During the operation, the kiln owner's associates became violent, attacking IJM staff and causing panic among the workers. Many fled into the night.

In the days that followed, authorities met with the families and listened to their stories. They formally recognised that the labourers had been trafficked and issued Release Certificates that cancelled the false debts and permanently freed them from the owner's control.

“That one step changed everything,” Thenmoyi said. “I went back to school and finished my education. I got married and became a mother. I even began to dream again – of starting a business, of building something of my own.” 

This is the power of working within justice systems to make freedom an expectation rather than a dream. The reality is that many brick kiln owners were often untouchable in the community, with politicians or police on their side. They never considered being held accountable for their crimes. They even believed they could use violence to stop IJM.

But Thenmoyi’s story shows us that transformation is possible even in the most unlikely places.

“The strength, clarity and resilience I carry today are rooted in the intentional investment IJM made in me. They didn’t just see me as someone rescued. They saw a leader in me and helped me grow into that role.”

Today, Thenmoyi is a proud mother, business owner and brave leader. She lives with her family back in her home state. She runs a fruit and vegetable stall in a busy marketplace in her town.

Thenmoyi also leads Jeevana Jwala – the local survivor network with more than 900 members – helping to bring other families trapped in forced labour to freedom and advocate for their rights. 

Recently, Thenmoyi helped reunite a nine-year-old child with her parents after she had been held captive. She also played a role in IJM's second-largest operation, helping bring 518 people, including 200 children, to safety from forced labour.

“I believe in the power of survivor voices to bring real change — not just in our villages, but across the world.”

When survivor leaders like Thenmoyi are equipped to lead, entire communities can change. The girl who once wondered if she would ever be free now spends her life helping protect others.  

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