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$100,000 MATCH: One Year After Historic Rescue, Help Care for Thousands of Children
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One year ago, Set Free and our pastor partners stepped into one of the most urgent and extraordinary rescue efforts in our ministry’s history.
What began as a planned rescue of approximately 1,000 children quickly expanded as hidden children were discovered in desperate conditions across 17 rock quarries in India. By God’s grace and the courage of local pastors on the ground, that number grew to 4,989 children rescued from slavery—many malnourished, injured, traumatized, and in urgent need of care.
In this article we will share some success stories, and explain why reunification has been slower than expected. Thanks to a few generous Set Free supporters, we want to share an urgent incentive for you to give now. Every dollar you give today will be matched up to $100,000 to help cover the ongoing care of these rescued children.
These were children living and working in brutal conditions, carrying heavy slate, enduring hunger, fear, and exhaustion far beyond their years.
But rescue was only the beginning.
From Rescue to Restoration
Over the past year, these children have received nourishing meals, urgent medical treatment, safe shelter, clean clothing, and consistent emotional and spiritual care. What began as an emergency response has become a daily commitment—walking alongside each child with compassion, stability, and hope for the future.
Today, we celebrate a major milestone: 1,516 children have been safely reunited with their families.
Each reunion represents more than a return home. It represents restored dignity, renewed hope, and a child given the chance to dream again.
And yet, for thousands of children, the journey is still unfolding.
Why Reunification Has Taken Longer Than Expected
When the rescue first took place, we anticipated that most children would be reunited within a year. In previous large-scale rescues, approximately 70% of children were successfully reunified with family members, and we expected a similar outcome.
However, this year has revealed a far more complex reality.
In recent years, migration among Dalit families has significantly increased as parents move frequently in search of work and economic survival. Many families now shift between villages and large cities without stable housing or consistent communication. This has made locating parents—and carefully verifying safe, stable home environments—far more time-intensive than anticipated.
Our partners remain deeply committed to ensuring that every reunification is handled responsibly and with the child’s long-term wellbeing at the center. While the process has been slower than expected, we are encouraged that many families will return to their home villages in the coming months for festival seasons, opening new opportunities for reunification and healing.
Meet Ravi: A Life Slowly Being Restored
When Ravi* was rescued from a slate mine, he was frightened, withdrawn, and carrying deep emotional wounds.
His parents had fallen into debt while trying to meet basic survival needs and medical costs. When they could no longer repay what they owed, Ravi was taken and forced into long days of exhausting labor carrying heavy slate under dangerous conditions. Food was scarce. Fear was constant.
When he first arrived in the care of a local pastor and his wife, he barely spoke and trembled whenever adults came near him.
Today, Ravi’s life looks different.
He attends school regularly, participates in evening prayers, and has become a gentle helper to younger children in the home. While his family situation is not yet stable enough for reunification, Ravi is safe, deeply cared for, and surrounded by consistent love and support.
His story reflects thousands of children still in our care—children who are healing, learning again, and slowly beginning to dream.
Meet Anjali: A Joyful Homecoming
Anjali* was rescued after poverty and debt separated her from her family and forced her into the slate mines. When she first arrived at a church home, she was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty.
A pastor’s wife cared for her daily, patiently helping her rediscover safety, stability, and trust. Over time, Anjali returned to school, joined in prayer and worship, and began to heal emotionally.
After careful follow-up and significant improvements in her family’s circumstances, Anjali was reunited with her parents.
Today, she is back in school in her village and remains connected to the pastor and church family who cared for her. Her pastor shares that she now encourages her younger siblings to pursue their education, and her family has become increasingly open to prayer and church gatherings after witnessing the transformation in her life.
Her story is a reminder of what restoration can look like when rescue becomes long-term care.
The Ongoing Journey: What Comes Next
One year later, the impact of this rescue continues to unfold.
More than 3,000 rescued children remain in the care of pastors and their families in a foster-like model, while others live in church homes across our ministry network. Each child is receiving daily meals, education, medical care, discipleship, and the stability needed to heal from trauma and rebuild their future.
What began as an emergency rescue has become a long-term commitment to restoration.
But the need remains significant.
Rising costs continue to impact every area of care, including basic staples like rice, a primary source of nutrition for children in India. Providing safe housing, education, and daily support for thousands of children is a tremendous responsibility, but also an extraordinary opportunity to continue changing lives.
A $100,000 Matching Challenge: Your Impact Doubled
Today, we invite you to help write the next chapter of this story.
A gift of $68 provides one month of care for one rescued child, covering essentials like food, education, medical support, and a safe place to call home.
And right now, every gift will go twice as far.
A generous group of donors who funded the initial rescue effort has issued a $100,000 matching challenge—meaning every dollar given will be matched dollar-for-dollar until the full amount is reached.
That means your impact is instantly doubled.
Together, we can ensure that children like Ravi, Anjali, and thousands of others continue receiving the care, love, and opportunities they need to heal and thrive.
One year later, the story is still being written. And with your help, the next chapter can be one of continued restoration, hope, and freedom.
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