Freeset exists to give hope for the many women who have never had the choice to be free sex trafficking and poverty

Myself and 8 other New Zealanders are volunteering our time and skillset for 2 weeks to carry out urgent ongoing renovation projects within the buildings that Freeset operate from.

We believe every person needs a community to belong to. At Freeset, we live in communities marked by extreme poverty and vulnerability. Our people are world-battlers, fighting daily for the good of their families and neighbors. We want to see freedom prosper in our communities, with every person having a chance to not only feed and clothe themselves but ultimately reach their full potential.

Freeset began in Sonagachi, one of Asia’s largest red-light areas with ~10,000 sex workers, many of whom were taken from homes in villages and communities across West Bengal. Our women hoped for something better. Through jobs at Freeset making bags and tees, we worked to build new homes and a new community of freedom in Kolkata. We launched Freeset Trust to provide better counseling and care for staff and community.

In 2014, our women started dreaming about returning to their ancestral homes, so we visited communities in the Murshidabad district (rural West Bengal) and now have two new businesses in strategic locations. We’ve seen some of our women return home to work in these businesses. Better still, through our presence we’re helping communities ensure their daughters are never trafficked away.

Today more than 250 women are on their journey to freedom at Freeset.