Many girls find themselves in the sex trade as a result of pressure from people around them, sometimes including family members, to earn money in order to survive.  With no job skills these girls see prostitution as an easy source of income, however, they soon find themselves trapped in the trade by abuse and a deflated social standing.  When many girls are rescued they are infected with HIV or have been so broken emotionally that there is little left for them to do.  In the early years of TransformAsia’s New Development Center nearly all the of the women who were rescued from sex trafficking were infected with HIV and most soon died of AIDS.

Realizing that something needed to be done in order to prevent many girls from suffering this fate, Setan and Randa Lee decided to open the Battambang Trade School in 1998.  Setan and Randa were broken hearted by the passing of the girls at the New Development Center and were determined to prevent others from being sold or coerced into the sex trade.  They rented a building in downtown Battambang and began training young girls from impoverished backgrounds to sew.  Shortly after they purchased property on a swamp on the outskirts of Battambang, they filled in the swamp, and built the first building that housed 25 at risk girls.

Over time TransformAsia was able to acquire many of the buildings and land adjacent to the Trade School property and now the Trade School is part of TransformAsia’s Battambang Christian Center where we share God’s love with these girls by providing English classes, computer training, and classes to teach the girls sewing skills to allow them to either start their own tailoring business or find work in the garment industry.  The girls live at the trade school for up to 8 months where they are able to safely learn a new trade.  This trade gives them value as they are now able to help support their families and no longer need to look at prostitution as a source of income.

Please consider partnering with TransformAsia to support this vital part of our Women’s Ministries.  For $39 a month you can support one of these girls to study at the Trade School where they not only receive new opportunities, but they have the chance to receive new life in Christ!