How your support changes lives: Maya's & Sarasu's story

Working alongside the District Child Protection Unit and the local police, Odanadi successfully rescued two girls from a paedophile network in Mysore, India.

Sarasu, 16, was adopted by her aunt and uncle after her parents passed away. Maya, 13, was found on the street as a young child and was later also adopted into the family.

After receiving counselling and support, the girls were able to retell their harrowing experiences. When they were alone with their adoptive father they were sexually abused and threatened to keep their silence. The girls were also repeatedly drugged before being exploited by the adoptive fathers’ network of paedophiles for financial gain.

Maya and Sarasu are now in safe shelter and investigations are ongoing to bring their abusers to justice. The girls are receiving counselling, therapeutic support as well as support from the other residents at the Odanadi girls’ house and are keen to continue their education. Odanadi continue to work with regional child protection organisations to tackle the issue of child exploitation and paedophile networks in Karnataka, India.

We would like to thank our Indian grassroots partner, Odanadi, for their crucial work and dedication to protecting children from sexual violence. If you would like to find out more about how Adventure Ashram supports Odanadi’s work to rescue and rehabilitate survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking, please click here.

*Please note Maya’s and Sarasu’s names have been changed to protect their identities.