Rescued Archives

Tag: Rescued

Eva’s Story Human Trafficking Awarness Month

From Desperation to Hope: Eva’s Story

In honor of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

At 13 years old, Eva* had already seen too much.

Growing up in a small village in Bugiri District near the Kenyan border, she understood the crushing weight of extreme poverty. She watched friends leave school early to work in the rice fields. She saw the trucking corridor that ran through her town—and witnessed the dark trade that came with it.

When educational opportunities dried up and economic survival became desperate, some youth in her community had little choice but to enter the sex trade to help their families survive.

Eva’s parents didn’t want that future for their daughter.

A Promise That Became a Nightmare

So when a woman offered to employ Eva as a housemaid in Kampala, they said yes. It seemed like hope. A chance at something better. A way to protect their daughter from the dangers they saw around them.

Instead, it became a nightmare.

The woman’s husband began to rape her. He threatened her into silence.

The Power of Courage and Belief

But Eva found courage she didn’t know she had. The child told her employer what was happening.

And her employer—against all odds—believed her. She took Eva to the police and reported her own husband.

That’s when Rescue One More stepped in.

Our Response: Comprehensive Care and Justice

Because we work alongside the police and other local authorities, we can quickly mobilize an effective response:

Crime scene investigation
Arrest of the perpetrator
Medical examination and evidence collection
Trauma-informed counseling and psychosocial support
Safe reunification with her family in Bugiri
Ongoing check-ins

Today, Eva is home. She is safe. She is healing.

The Reality Behind the Rescue

But here’s the truth we need to share: we can only do this work because of people like you.

Every rescue and arrest. Each child reunited with their family. All the moments of healing — they all depend on people like you who refuse to look away from this crisis.

Right now, there are more children like Eva. Children trapped in exploitation. Kids waiting for someone to believe them. Minors who desperately need safety, justice, and healing.

How You Can Make a Difference

When you support Rescue One More, you support:

Rapid response rescue operations
Collaboration with law enforcement for arrests and prosecution
Medical care and forensic evidence collection
Trauma counseling and long-term psychosocial support
Safe family reunification
Prevention programs that keep vulnerable children safe

All children deserve what Eva’s parents wanted for her: a better life. A future free from exploitation. The chance to simply be a child.

Thank you for standing with us in the fight against human trafficking.

*Name and identifying details changed to protect the survivor’s identity and safety.

Do you or someone you know need help?

If you’re in the U.S., contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

For those of you in Uganda, call the Uganda Child Helpline at 116 or the Police Toll-Free Number at 080-019-9195.

If you’d like more information on human trafficking in Uganda, see the Human Trafficking Institute.

The author, the young survivor, and the house matron having a heart-felt conversation.

From Rescue to Restoration: Jane’s Journey to Freedom

When Jane* first arrived at our safe house a year ago, you may not have guessed she was 14 years old. Having endured unimaginable abuse for as long as she could remember, this tiny, withdrawn girl was suffering from severe trauma on top of incontinence and malnutrition that stunted her growth.

Abandoned by her mother and unable to be cared for by her bedridden father, she lived with a non-relative caretaker who allowed years of abuse by multiple perpetrators. Never having attended school or having the opportunity to interact with other children, she was kept hidden away.

I first met her last summer, shortly after she arrived at the shelter. While the other children flocked to me for hugs, Jane seemed to shrink into shadows, hiding from a world that had shown her only cruelty.

But love changes everything.

By November, Jane surprised me with a warm hug, the first display of affection I’d seen from her. Medical treatment had addressed her incontinence, while counseling and constant encouragement from our staff began healing her wounded spirit. She started interacting with other children, even smiling and laughing.

During my most recent visit (June 2025), Jane was among the first girls at the gate to greet me. No longer hiding, she’d become a “big sister” to newer arrivals. After reading about David and Goliath and chatting with the girls about how to fight our own giants, Jane pulled me aside with tears in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I once had no hope for a future. Now I have big dreams. I feel love for the first time.”

I’m not the one you should be thanking, I thought. This hope, these dreams, this love…it’s all because of God. He delivered you from your enemies just like he delivered David from Goliath. He turned a shepherd boy into a king. I can’t imagine what he has planned for you.

While she has come a long way, the road ahead remains uncertain for Jane. She’s still hesitant about testifying against her abusers for fear that they’ll stop funding her father’s medical care. And, after a year of searching, our social workers still haven’t found a safe and loving family to resettle her with.

But the transformation is undeniable. She’s no longer the withdrawn girl who once hid in shadows. She’s a vibrant young woman who greets visitors with open arms and mentors younger children.

Through supporters like you, we continue providing the love and safety that makes this healing possible, trusting that the same God who delivered David from Goliath and made him king will work mightily in Jane’s life, too.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sarah Lambie

President & Co-Founder,
Rescue One More

*Name changed for protection

After the Iceberg

“Auntie, have you heard about the Titanic?” Margaret asked as she perched by the edge of the pool.

“Tell me about it,” I said, shielding my eyes from the hot June sun.

“It was a huge boat that everyone thought was safe until it sank,” she said. “Some of the passengers survived, but most of them died. Why would God allow that?”

Margaret’s question caught me off guard. The rest of the children from our Kampala safehouse splashed and played in the cool water. But this 11-year-old contemplated deeper matters – sinking ships and God’s purpose in suffering.

When Trauma Feels Like a Sinking Ship

Her question carried weight. Having survived horrific abuse by someone who should have been her protector and later learning she was HIV positive, Margaret had every reason to feel like she was drowning in an ocean of despair.

(The photo above was taken a few weeks prior by our counselor, Jane, who captured this moment shortly after telling Margaret she was HIV positive.)

But this is a story of hope.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
He drew me out of deep waters.… He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:16 – 19

Rising Above the Water

At our safe house, Margaret found more than shelter – she discovered a community of mentors, caregivers, and counselors prepared to love and support her throughout her healing journey.

Jane, our psychologist, addressed her concerns about HIV and helped her understand she could still live a long and happy life.

She also helped Margaret overcome the nightmares and other PTSD symptoms resulting from her abuse.

(Here’s Margaret rebuilding her world during a sand-tray therapy session with Jane.)

Waiting for the Lifeboat

Behind the scenes, our Community Action Team worked together to prepare her case for court. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, Margaret’s case was successfully committed to the High Court of Uganda.

Meanwhile, our social workers began preparing for her next chapter – reuniting her with an auntie who can provide Margaret with a safe and loving family and home.

A few weeks ago, just six months after our poolside conversation, I watched in awe as Margaret confidently led a devotion on the prodigal son for the children, staff, and visitors at the safe house.

“This story shows us that we have a good father who loves us unconditionally,” she declared.

Restored by Love

The transformation was profound. The girl who once questioned God’s decisions now speaks of His unfailing love.

I was so encouraged to see how far Margaret had come. She’s safe, healthy (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), and ready to embrace her future.

None of this would be possible without the support of friends like you.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can transform stories of tragedy into testimonies of hope.

With deep gratitude,

Sarah Lambie

President & Co-Founder,
Rescue One More

A screen shot of a Bukedde TV story showing a man (with face blacked out) being arrested at a primary school in Uganda.

Child Sexual Violence Prevention in Uganda: Why More Children Are Speaking Up

Did you know that more than 90% of child sexual violence cases involve someone the child or their family knows and trusts? This is a sobering reality both in the U.S. and Uganda.

Justice for Child Survivors: Helping Kids Get Their Day in Court

The journey toward justice in Uganda is fraught with challenges. In addition to rampant corruption, families often try to negotiate settlements privately, outside of the courts and the public’s eyes – a practice that denies victims the justice they deserve and puts countless other children at risk of becoming a predator’s next victim. We’re changing that.

12-year-old safe from gang member

12-year-old Zuri* lived in constant fear. In her Ugandan community, she became the target of an older cousin who was part of a notorious gang. Repeatedly abused and threatened, Zuri finally found the courage to speak out. But her bravery came at a terrible cost.

Her cousin and his gang members threatened her and those trying to protect her. Terrified, her father disappeared into hiding. The local CPS officer faced relentless death threats. Even the police were threatened. Zuri stood alone, against a tide of terror.

But thanks to the compassion and generosity of supporters like you, Rescue One More was able to intervene:

We swiftly relocated Zuri to one of our safe shelters where she received comprehensive care and trauma counseling
Our Community Action Team (CAT) worked together to arrest the perpetrator and shield her family and other community members from the threats of angry gang members
The CAT built a robust legal case resulting in the case being committed to the high court

We are excited to announce that after a year of counseling and care in one of our safe houses, Zuri was able to be resettled with her grandmother in another town. Today, she’s safe, surrounded by family. She and her grandmother receive ongoing psychosocial support and Christian counseling from our social workers and counselors who check in on her regularly.

When it’s time for her court hearing, Zuri, her grandmother, and key witnesses will be prepped and accompanied in court. The proceedings will be explained and or social workers will ensure Zuri feels safe and informed.

Zuri is one of 136 children who’ve been rescued from dangerous situations since we launched in March of 2021. But countless others still need our help.

Together, we can bring safety, justice, and healing to more communities and children like Zuri.

*Not her real name.

What it Means to Carry Her Cross

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to carry my cross. We know why Jesus carried his, but what did he mean when he said that to follow him, we must take up our own cross?

Rescue One More CEO Scott Lambie with the first child the organization rescued

On our knees: Introducing our first rescue.

We want to introduce you to the first child we rescued. Meet 9-year-old Flora*. Flora is a fun-loving, precocious, and energetic child. You’d never know from meeting her that she’d experienced a brutal attack.

He escaped from jail to exact revenge. Here’s what happened next.

Right now, children’s lives are in danger. Girls who’ve reported cases of abuse or escaped trafficking are living in fear for their lives.

Girls like 5-year-old Tisha* who was being abused in her home by a family member.

She was collecting water when he attacked. Now he’s behind bars!

Earlier this month (April 2022), a child rapist was arrested in Mukono, Uganda, a bustling town on the outskirts of the capital city, Kampala. Like a predator, he laid in wait to pounce on the next innocent, defenseless, and vulnerable child who wandered across his path.