Lucia, the Eiffel Tower and a dog called Ginger

This story ends in a beautiful place. But to understand Lucia’s story, we must start at the beginning when she went through some traumatic times.

As a teenager growing up in Brazil, Lucia was raped for being a lesbian. She decided she wanted to become a lawyer in order to channel her anger and bring perpetrators of violence to justice. Lucia began her studies and was doing well, until she began to feel increasingly ill and was diagnosed with cancer.

Captivity

The cost of Lucia’s medical treatment was crippling. To pay it back, she had to stop her studies and find a way to earn money. Lucia was desperate

‘I met these people and they offered me an opportunity to work [abroad],’ says Lucia. ‘I thought I would stay six months, earn money, and go back to Brazil and finish my degree. But that's not what happened.’ Lucia was now in the hands of a trafficking gang, and was transported to Europe.

‘They took away my passport and my phone. I didn't know the language, I didn't even know where I was,’ says Lucia. ‘They told me to walk the streets as a prostitute.’

‘If we refused a client, we were beaten and raped. Sometimes girls would disappear, and we didn't know if they'd been killed. We were terrified.’ Lucia was held captive for ten years. Finally, a window key was left out, and Lucia escaped.

Courage

Lucia told the police everything, and bravely testified against her traffickers. Three of them were jailed, and 21 women were freed from forced prostitution as a result.

Lucia applied for asylum in the country she was in but was sent back to Brazil. She came face to face with someone from the gang who trafficked her originally, who knew she’d gone to the police.

Lucia was afraid for her life, and fled. She headed to Spain - one of the women she’d helped to free was Spanish, and they had remained in contact. Lucia thought she could stay with her.

When she reached Spain, Lucia was refused entry, and sent to the UK. It was then, in 2018, that Lucia was referred to Ella’s.

Finding freedom, and Ginger the dog...

Lucia moved into one of our safe houses. We helped her access the counselling and medical care she urgently needed. We also helped her build friendships and discover positive activities like running.

Lucia had been seeing a psychotherapist at the local hospital, and they contacted us to say that Lucia would benefit hugely from having a pet dog. Lucia lives with complex mental health conditions and is at high risk of suicide, and companionship is crucial for her.

As we set to work trying to find the right dog, Lucia announced that she had already found the pet for her...in Spain! The logistics were a challenge, but Lucia was smitten, and we will always go the extra mile if it’s the right thing for the women we work with.

A gift of thanks

Lucia’s chosen dog was in the same part of Spain as her friends - the family of the woman who had been freed from prostitution as a result of Lucia’s testimony.

This family collected the dog and happily agreed to drive halfway with her, to meet our Co-Director Emily in France.

The family were crying tears of gratitude for Lucia’s bravery, and sent gifts for her along with the dog - a tiny terrier much in need of love and a good home.

When Lucia finally met her new pet, it was love at first sight. She called her Ginger, and the effect on Lucia’s mental health has been transformational.

‘Getting Ginger is the best thing that could have happened to me,’ says Lucia. ‘My most beautiful days are with her… In my difficult times, she helps me so much.’

‘I have no words to thank you [Ella’s] for everything you have done and still do for me, I have only to ask God to help you as you support vulnerable people. I pray that Ella's will always have an open door to help women who have survived human trafficking.’

Over time, Lucia is regaining her self-confidence and has been able to move out of our safe house. Lucia now lives in her own rented accommodation with Ginger, and they love each other very much.