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Give safety
Give safety refuge hope life _

home/our-work

the SA Foundation
exists to restore what
has been stolen from her
Our work D
What we offer women

The SA Foundation provides
refuge, training and
employment for women
escaping human trafficking
and sexual exploitation.

Refuge

Women find safety and refuge in our front-line houses where they begin to develop basic living skills in a supportive environment. With time and progress the women can move to stage 2 housing—Transitional Housing—where the objective is to increase the participant's responsibility and freedoms. The goal is to prepare each participant towards independent living within community.

Reintegration

Morning classes focus on Skill Development Levels I and II and include training in sewing, jewelry design, social media & marketing, computers, employment readiness and academics. Participants are supported in setting educational and/or employment goals and may be provided with internships and training within the program to develop their skills and resumes.

Restoration

Afternoon classes are focused on recovery and healing through courses such as relapse prevention, practicing the 12-steps, self-esteem, parenting, anger management, etc. This is accomplished through delivery of recovery curriculum in short, interactive classes and recreational and educational outings.

A life Rewritten

An essential part of the 7-year program involves preparing the participants to thrive in community, supported with suitable employment. We want every participant to reach their full potential and to be set up for success. This means they are economically empowered to live financially free, where they are able to provide for themselves and their child without the risk of being forced back into a life of slavery.

Transformation

Our Skill Development and Education Programs offer each participant a training platform tailored to meet their individual goals and needs. Through this program, they get to develop transferable and practical life skills towards economic stability and freedom. This is essential for each woman to succeed in seeing their life rewritten.
Learn more >
No one should be defined
by their past. No matter
how they got in,
everyone deserves
a chance to get out.
Want help to exit?
Get info and support R

See our full program model detailing all five stages in her recovery journey: Refuge, Restore, Reintegrate, Rewritten, Replicate.

Learn more
Or see below for more details on our program, locations and the SA Network.

Program timeline

When a women or girl is able to escape and needs a stable place to heal, that is where our work begins. Our long-term program is set up to journey with her so she can reach stability and independence. We remain committed to each participant no matter how long they are with us, providing support, care and guidance.
Learn more >
Start Year 1
Front-line Housing
Trauma recovery
Skill building level I
Year 2
Trauma recovery
Skill building level II
Transitional housing
Semi-independent living
Year 3
Transition to independent living
Pursuing career or schooling
Year 3-7
Independent living
Continued support
Leadership
development
Stable, viable
life in the community
Year 7 R

Who we are R

Our team

Our team is made up of skilled women and men that are passionate about seeing women freed from sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

The SA vision began in 1984 when Dominique, the SA founder, received her commission to begin the development of the SA program model and to start up the pilot phase of the program in Calgary, Alberta. This pilot program soon grew, and over eleven years expanded into a robust local program.

As of 2000 the SA Foundation began to disseminate its program model worldwide, and continues to grow.
Learn more >

Nepal—our first international plant

Our first international dissemination was in 2002 when our partners in Nepal adopted the SA program model and began a program for Nepali women and girls. The trafficking situation in Nepal is dire due to many vulnerabilities including the porous border with India.

Where we work D

SA Locations

The SA program is operating around the world in places of crisis. Our partners deliver the program in the following countries, including front-line housing, trauma recovery, skills development training and education, coaching, and employment programs.
Click a location D

The Philippines

The crisis

The issue of sexual exploitation and trafficking in the Philippines is immense, with over 100,000 young women and children involved in the trade and very few exit services! Our project is in Northern Luzon, and we hope to have the first house and day program operational by the fall of 2024.



Italy

Est. 2021

The crisis

Italy is a bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe where criminal networking and sexual exploitation are thriving. There are estimated to be 120,000 victims of sex trafficking in Italy today. Some reports indicate that Italy has more victims of trafficking per capita than any other country in Europe.

Women from developing countries, primarily Nigerian, are ensnared and enslaved into sex trafficking, and are currently living in poverty in the high economy society context of Italy. Safe accommodations and recovery programming in Italy are heavily lacking in comparison to the living quarters created by the criminal network to house its victims.



Bulgaria

Est. 2016

The crisis

Bulgaria is a source and, to a lesser extent, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor. Bulgaria remains one of the primary source countries of human trafficking in the EU. The government and NGOs report a significant increase in the number of Bulgarian and Roma victims subjected to forced servitude, particularly in Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Bulgarians of Turkish ethnicity and Romani women and girls, some as young as 13 years old, account for most of the sex trafficking victims identified in Bulgaria, particularly in the capital, resort areas, and border towns.

Bulgarian women and children are subjected to sex trafficking throughout Europe. Victims are increasingly exploited through a combination of sexual and labor exploitation, including domestic servitude. Government corruption in law enforcement and the judiciary continues to enable some trafficking crimes, and officials have been investigated for suspected involvement in trafficking.



Greece

Est. 2015

The crisis

Greece is a destination, transit, and, to a limited extent, source country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and men, women, and children subjected to forced labor. Some women and children from Eastern and Southern Europe, South Asia, Russia, Nigeria, and China are subjected to sex trafficking in unlicensed brothels, on the street, in strip clubs, in massage salons, and in hotels.



Germany

Est. 2015

The crisis

Prostitution is legal in Germany and, although the government increased protections for commercial sex workers through laws regulating the prostitution industry, there have been limited efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex. Forced sexual exploitation represented the vast majority (90 percent, or 488 cases) of all identified cases of modern slavery in Germany in 2016. (Global Slavery Index)

Germany is a source, transit, and destination country for women, children, and men subjected to sex and labor trafficking. Most identified sex trafficking victims in Germany are EU citizens, primarily Bulgarians, Romanians, and Germans, although victims also come from most other regions of the world, particularly China, Nigeria, and other parts of Africa.



Germany

Est. 2015

The crisis

Prostitution is legal in Germany and, although the government increased protections for commercial sex workers through laws regulating the prostitution industry, there have been limited efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex. Forced sexual exploitation represented the vast majority (90 percent, or 488 cases) of all identified cases of modern slavery in Germany in 2016. (Global Slavery Index)

Germany is a source, transit, and destination country for women, children, and men subjected to sex and labor trafficking. Most identified sex trafficking victims in Germany are EU citizens, primarily Bulgarians, Romanians, and Germans, although victims also come from most other regions of the world, particularly China, Nigeria, and other parts of Africa.



Hungary

Est. 2013

The crisis

Arising from its geographical situation Hungary lies in the crossroad of east-western and south-eastern migration. Hungary is primarily a source and transit country for women and girls subjected to trafficking for sexual exploitation. The main destination countries in terms of trafficking for sexual exploitation are the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Besides the transnational form, human trafficking exists in Hungary internally in a lesser extent too. Within the country the exploitation of victims is concentrated in the capital and its surroundings, around Lake Balaton and along the Austrian border.



Nepal

Est. 2002

The crisis

Nepal is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. The 1,750km open and porous border between India and Nepal is a dream for traffickers and a nightmare for those trying to stop them. It has helped this crossing become one of the busiest human trafficking routes in the world. More than 23,000 women and girls were victims of trafficking in 2016 according to the annual report published by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal. However, numbers could rise to 40,000 Nepalese victims a year, according to NGOs in the field. Last year, a study conducted by Sashastra Seema Bal, the Indian armed border force, said detected cases of trafficking from Nepal to India had risen by 500% since 2013.

Nepali women and girls are subjected to sex trafficking in Nepal, India, the Middle East, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Nepali men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor in Nepal, India, the Middle East, and Asia in construction, factories, mines, domestic work, begging, and the adult entertainment industry. In recent years there has been a significant rise in domestic exploitation, where women and girls are sexually exploited within the dance bars and restaurants of the larger cities.



USA

Est. 2009

The crisis

Forced sexual exploitation in massage parlours highlights the particular vulnerabilities of foreign nationals to modern slavery in the United States. A report released in early 2018 by Polaris estimates that there are more than 9,000 illicit massage businesses in the United States with total annual revenue of US$2.5 billion. Women exploited in massage parlours tend to be recently arrived migrants from China or South Korea. They are typically mothers in their mid-30s to late 50s, who have received no higher than a high school level education, have limited English language skills, and face financial burdens.

The same situations of pimps targeting runaway teens or vulnerable women as in Canada occurs frequently in the U.S. with tens of thousands of girls trapped in motels, sold on the street and on sites such as BackPage, and used in the porn industry.



USA

Est. 2009

The crisis

Forced sexual exploitation in massage parlours highlights the particular vulnerabilities of foreign nationals to modern slavery in the United States. A report released in early 2018 by Polaris estimates that there are more than 9,000 illicit massage businesses in the United States with total annual revenue of US$2.5 billion. Women exploited in massage parlours tend to be recently arrived migrants from China or South Korea. They are typically mothers in their mid-30s to late 50s, who have received no higher than a high school level education, have limited English language skills, and face financial burdens.

The same situations of pimps targeting runaway teens or vulnerable women as in Canada occurs frequently in the U.S. with tens of thousands of girls trapped in motels, sold on the street and on sites such as BackPage, and used in the porn industry.



USA

Est. 2009

The crisis

Forced sexual exploitation in massage parlours highlights the particular vulnerabilities of foreign nationals to modern slavery in the United States. A report released in early 2018 by Polaris estimates that there are more than 9,000 illicit massage businesses in the United States with total annual revenue of US$2.5 billion. Women exploited in massage parlours tend to be recently arrived migrants from China or South Korea. They are typically mothers in their mid-30s to late 50s, who have received no higher than a high school level education, have limited English language skills, and face financial burdens.

The same situations of pimps targeting runaway teens or vulnerable women as in Canada occurs frequently in the U.S. with tens of thousands of girls trapped in motels, sold on the street and on sites such as BackPage, and used in the porn industry.



Canada

Est. 1984

The crisis

In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, and also occurs in smaller cities and communities, largely for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Organized criminal networks, as well as individuals, perpetrate this crime, operating within Canada’s borders and internationally. Traffickers reap large profits while robbing victims of their freedom, dignity and human potential at great cost to the individual and society at large. Traffickers control their victims in various ways such as taking away their identity documents and passports, sexual abuse, threats, intimidation, physical violence, and isolation. Victims suffer physical or emotional abuse and often live and work in horrific conditions. They may also face fatal consequences if they attempt to escape.



In 1984 the SA Foundation began it's work in Calgary, Canada and now has safe houses and programs in multiple cities across Canada.

Canada

Est. 1984

The crisis

In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, and also occurs in smaller cities and communities, largely for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Organized criminal networks, as well as individuals, perpetrate this crime, operating within Canada’s borders and internationally. Traffickers reap large profits while robbing victims of their freedom, dignity and human potential at great cost to the individual and society at large. Traffickers control their victims in various ways such as taking away their identity documents and passports, sexual abuse, threats, intimidation, physical violence, and isolation. Victims suffer physical or emotional abuse and often live and work in horrific conditions. They may also face fatal consequences if they attempt to escape.



In 1984 the SA Foundation began it's work in Calgary, Canada and now has safe houses and programs in multiple cities across Canada.

Canada

Est. 1984

The crisis

In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, and also occurs in smaller cities and communities, largely for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Organized criminal networks, as well as individuals, perpetrate this crime, operating within Canada’s borders and internationally. Traffickers reap large profits while robbing victims of their freedom, dignity and human potential at great cost to the individual and society at large. Traffickers control their victims in various ways such as taking away their identity documents and passports, sexual abuse, threats, intimidation, physical violence, and isolation. Victims suffer physical or emotional abuse and often live and work in horrific conditions. They may also face fatal consequences if they attempt to escape.



In 1984 the SA Foundation began it's work in Calgary, Canada and now has safe houses and programs in multiple cities across Canada.

Canada

Est. 1984

The crisis

In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, and also occurs in smaller cities and communities, largely for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Organized criminal networks, as well as individuals, perpetrate this crime, operating within Canada’s borders and internationally. Traffickers reap large profits while robbing victims of their freedom, dignity and human potential at great cost to the individual and society at large. Traffickers control their victims in various ways such as taking away their identity documents and passports, sexual abuse, threats, intimidation, physical violence, and isolation. Victims suffer physical or emotional abuse and often live and work in horrific conditions. They may also face fatal consequences if they attempt to escape.



In 1984 the SA Foundation began it's work in Calgary, Canada and now has safe houses and programs in multiple cities across Canada.

the SA Network R

Some of our global offices have partnered more closely with our World Services Division. They make up the SA Network.
The SA Network was created to gather existing ministry partners who are utilizing the SA program model, and who are adhering to the core values and leadership model of SA, into a network dedicated to addressing sexual exploitation and trafficking on an international basis. They also have experienced the benefit of practicing the SA Formation of Servants among their leadership and in their ministry community. The SA Network gathers to exchange experiences, strengths and hopes with each other in serving our population and to design strategies to increase effectiveness in providing recovery solutions to women and children that have been sexually exploited and trafficked.

The partners in this network may be invited to participate in the training and mentoring of new program sites at the discretion of the World Services Division once they are at the 5-year mark of program implementation.

SA Network Partners

Vancouver, Canada
Atlanta, USA
Katmandu, Nepal
Budapest, Hungary
Berlin, Germany
Athens, Greece
Northern Italy
There was a lot of learning in the first year, but we couldn’t imagine going through it without the support, mentorship, and training from the SA Foundation.

R. Leader of Berlin program
Germany
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