From Ellie Finkelstein, Freedom United

“I was no longer willing to be invisible. I wanted to be free, to live, to thrive.” 
— Nasreen Sheikh, survivor of child slavery and advocate for corporate transparency and accountability

Today is Universal Children’s Day, a time to reflect on the rights and protections every child deserves, but far too many are denied. With only two weeks until Giving Tuesday Freedom United is honoring stories of resilience revealing why securing change that empowers is the best approach to end child exploitation sustainably.

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Today, we are spotlighting the story of Nasreen Sheikh who, despite experiencing exploitative child labor, has successfully transformed her life and now works tirelessly to protect others from the same fate. 

Nasreen was only around ten years old when she began grueling  exploitative work at a sewing shop in Kathmandu, Nepal. Trapped in unbearable conditions, she recalls how her childhood was cruelly stolen.[1]  

“Along with thousands of others, my childhood was traded for a life of suffering, malnourishment and industrial poisoning on a scale unimaginable to the average consumer. We worked from dawn until late into the night, with our fingers swollen and bleeding.” — Nasreen Sheikh

After two years enduring this exploitation, the factory closed and Nasreen was on the streets.  

Her resilience shone through and at just 16, Nasreen secured a loan to establish a social business in Kathmandu dedicated to empowering women and creating safe, sustainable employment.  

Nasreen has helped hundreds of people break free from cycles of poverty and exploitation. Today, she is a fierce voice speaking out on influential international platforms like Tedx, the European Parliament and United Nations, and inspires survivor leadership through the Empowerment Collective[2], which she founded. 

Stories like Nasreen’s drive Freedom United’s work. We are committed to supporting survivor advocates, and securing changes that empower those who are vulnerable to stand up against exploitation.[3]  
 

On this Universal Children’s Day, help power Freedom United’s work to prevent children like Nasreen being made vulnerable to exploitation and give them the childhood they deserve. You can also choose to support Nasreen’s work directly, by giving here.

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Your support this upcoming Giving Tuesday will bring us one step closer to a world where child exploitation is a distant memory and true corporate accountability is a reality. 

In solidarity,

Ellie and the team that supports the Freedom United community

Ellie Finkelstein Campaigner and News Editor, Freedom United

[1] https://www.freedomunited.org/news/survivor-calls-for-transparency/

[2] https://www.empowermentcollective.org/

[3] https://www.freedomunited.org/survivor-perspectives/ 

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