Wings to Freedom: Kaira's Story
The Beyond Programme received an enquiry from an advocate at one of our referral partners in the UK. The advocate had enquired about reintegration assistance for a survivor of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK, Kaira*, who was seeking to return to her country of origin, the Philippines. Kaira was understandably anxious about returning to the Philippines as she had not been back for a long time and wanted to find out more about her options on return. Kaira had outlined her essential reintegration needs as accessing return flights, financial aid, and psychosocial support.
Beyond connected with the National Contact Person (NCP) in the Philippines and we scheduled an online meeting with the NCP, advocate, Kaira and Beyond coordinator. This gave an opportunity for Kaira to be provided options of reintegration support on return, with the NCP informing us of the local context which included support services which Kaira could access. The online meeting also provided an opportunity for Kaira to build trust with the NCP and Salvation Army team in the Philippines, so that she was comfortable with them before her arrival.
Kaira was able to access assistance from the UK Home Office Voluntary Return Service (VRS), a service which offers practical support to people with no right to live in the UK who have decided that they wish to return home. A VRS caseworker supported Kaira by purchasing and booking flight tickets from the UK back to the Philippines. Kaira was also able to access financial support from VRS to aid her reintegration. As the date of the departure flight moved nearer, Beyond set up a pre-departure online video call to go through the plan in place for reintegration aid. The meeting provided a space to reflect on Kaira’s return and ask any final questions.
On arrival at the airport in the Philippines, Kaira reunited with her family after having been separated across borders from them for many years. The National Contact Person connected Kaira in with a social worker, providing her psychosocial support since returning. Using the funds from VRS, Kaira is also now running her own Pizza franchise business, and the income she is making helps to sustain hers and her families' essential needs. The NCP in the Philippines will continue to welfare check Kaira, to follow up on her safety, essential needs, and supportive relationships.
The coordination of reintegration support for Kaira’s return to the Philippines ensured that she would return safely and received appropriate assistance to support with her repatriation needs. The Beyond Programme welcomes the collaboration of our internal network, Salvation Army National Contact Persons, and external network to establish return and reintegration assistance for survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking to support with their protection and the prevention of re-trafficking.
"It was reassuring having The Salvation Army's full support from the start of the process. I found it helpful having someone at TSA to talk to and being reunited with my family." — Kaira