What Happens After a Child Is Rescued from Slavery?

6 Min Read

Jul 8, 2026

Reunification, Aftercare, and the Road Back to Childhood

Three years.

That's how long Lakshmi's parents waited without knowing if they would ever see their daughter again.

Like many families living in poverty, they believed the promises of an agent who claimed she would work for a short time to help repay the family's debt and return home each month. Instead, she was trafficked into forced labor in India's slate mines.

"One month passed, then another, and then years passed," her mother recalls. "Looking back now, we realize that we were deceived by false promises."

Every day they wondered the same questions: Was she hungry? Was she safe? Was she still alive? They prayed, waited, and refused to give up hope. Then one day, the phone rang. A local pastor called to say Lakshmi had been rescued.

"At first we could not believe what we were hearing," her mother says. "As soon as we heard she was alive, all the pain we had carried came out as tears."

Their reunion would eventually come, but first Lakshmi needed a safe place to heal. Because rescue isn't the end of the story, it's the beginning.

Rescue Is Only the Beginning

In May 2025, Set Free and our pastor partners embarked on what would become one of the largest rescue efforts in our ministry's history.

What began as a planned rescue of approximately 1,000 children quickly expanded as local pastors discovered far more children trapped in slavery across 17 rock quarries in India. By God's grace and the courage of these frontline leaders, 4,989 children were rescued. Many of them were malnourished, injured, traumatized, and in urgent need of care.

That historic rescue was part of an even larger story. Throughout 2025, Set Free helped prevent 728 children from entering slavery through our Slavery Prevention Program and rescued a total of 5,584 children from slavery. While those numbers are remarkable, they only tell part of the story. The true work begins after children are brought to safety.

Freedom isn't simply removing a child from exploitation. It's helping them heal from trauma, return to school, rebuild trust, reconnect with family when it's safe, and begin dreaming about the future again. That process takes time, patience, and a community committed to walking alongside every child.

What Happens After a Rescue?

When Lakshmi arrived at a church home after her rescue, she had spent three years living in fear.

"The day I was rescued changed my life," she says. "For the first time in years, I felt protected. They gave us food, clean clothes, and a place to rest. They listened to our stories and encouraged us. Most importantly, they treated us with kindness and respect."

Over the past year, children rescued from the slate mines have received nourishing meals, emergency medical treatment, safe shelter, clean clothing, education, and emotional and spiritual care through local pastors and caregivers. But healing goes beyond meeting physical needs.

Children begin attending school again. They make friends. They play. They laugh. They worship with church families who remind them every day that they are loved, valued, and created for more than the exploitation they endured. Slowly, fear gives way to trust, healing begins and children slowly rediscover what it means to simply be children.

For more stories of life after rescue, read the post "$100,000 Match: One Year After Historic Rescue, Help Care for Thousands of Children.

Why Doesn't Every Child Go Home Right Away?

One of the questions we hear most often is, "If children have been rescued, why aren't they immediately reunited with their families?" The answer is simple: every child deserves a safe reunion.

When the historic rescue first took place, we anticipated that most children would be reunited with their families within a year. In previous large-scale rescues, approximately 70% of children were successfully reunified, and we expected a similar outcome. Instead, this year's process has proven far more complex.

What we've discovered is that many Dalit families migrate frequently in search of work, moving between villages and cities without stable housing or reliable ways to stay connected. Parents often relocate multiple times each year, making it difficult to locate relatives and carefully verify that children can safely return home. Our partners refuse to rush that process.

Every family must be located. Relationships must be confirmed. Living conditions must be evaluated. Local pastors work to ensure children are returning to environments where they will be protected, cared for, and far less vulnerable to being trafficked again.

A Joyful Homecoming

One year after the historic rescue, 1,516 children have been safely reunited with their families. Each reunion represents months of prayer, investigation, relationship-building, and faithful care. For Lakshmi's family, that day finally came after three long years apart.

"When we saw each other, we all cried," Lakshmi remembers. "My parents hugged me tightly, and I felt safe again."

Her mother remembers the same moment through a parent's eyes.

"When our daughter finally came home, we hugged her tightly and wept together. It felt like our family had come back to life."

Today, Lakshmi is back in school, dreaming about the future she once believed had been stolen from her. She hopes to continue her education, learn new skills, and someday help children who are still trapped in slavery. Her family's transformation extends beyond their own home.

"We now warn other families not to trust agents who make false promises," her mother says. "Having our daughter home has brought healing and renewed purpose to our family."

The Journey Continues

While we celebrate every child who has returned home, many others are still receiving care as our partners work toward safe reunification. As families return to their villages during upcoming festival seasons, new opportunities are opening to reconnect children with loved ones and continue the work of healing and restoration.

Until then, every child continues receiving the care they need to thrive. That is why Set Free remains committed long after the rescue. We believe every child deserves more than freedom from slavery. Every child deserves the chance to experience safety, healing, education, family, and hope.

Help Children Find Their Way Home

When you support Set Free, you're making every step of the healing journey possible: from emergency rescue and medical care to education, trauma-informed support, family tracing, reunification, and long-term follow-up through trusted local churches. As Lakshmi's mother reflects on their journey, she says, "Having our daughter home feels like God has given our family a second chance."

Your generosity helps make more second chances possible.

Support holistic care today and help more children experience lasting freedom by becoming a member of our Cornerstone, a committed group of monthly givers.

Names have been changed to protect the identities of children.