I was introduced to Freeset when I first when to work at WMU, about 10 years ago. I was a fan from the beginning just from hearing their story. It was years later that their story came to life for me through the words of my best friend. Two years ago, my best friend Kristi Griem (MK) led a missions trip for her church to Kolkota (Calcutta), India to work with Freeset. Her church, where her husband is the Missions Minister, had developed a close partnership with Freeset. The pictures and the stories she shared of the how the women and children lived broke my heart.

What Freeset is doing is amazing, yet the needs are overwhelming. The experience “glorious ruined” Kristi. Before the trip she was an advocate against human trafficking, after the trip she was a abolutonist. Over the next year, I witnessed Kristi become increasing burdened by human trafficking and the sex trade industry in India and around the world. This past year Kristi was able to leave her full-time position to work part-time and focus the other part of her day on advocating for Freeset. Her story has been beautiful to watch unfold.

It is unreal to think that a bag can make so much difference in a family’s life. It is just a bag, right?

Freeset bags are different. They are made by the hands of women who’s hands have been freed from the sex trade. The women and their children at Freeset have been redeemed. And today they give the hope of freedom and Christ to women still in the trade. This is a freedom bag and it does change lives!

It is my honor to share one of those stories with you on my blog as part of the 12 Days of Freedom blog tour from December 1- December 12. This is day 3 of the tour.

Nandita story….

Before working at Freeset, Nandita was trying to move out of the sex trade. She volunteered to distribute condoms among sex workers, as well as working as a house maid. They were tough years, “In those days we had to starve most of the time” she says.

10 years ago she was presented with the opportunity to join Freeset. As one of the original 20 women she remembers her feelings at the time, “I was hopeful but also skeptical about the job as I had never done any sewing before. I was also skeptical about Kerry and Annie (the founders of Freeset) as they were foreigners. Everybody used to make promises to pay us but we were never paid, except for a few months in seven years.” It was only when she started getting paid for her work at Freeset that Nandita allowed herself to really trust these foreigners that were making big promises.

Like many, Nandita found learning to use a pedal sewing machine difficult. “When I started sewing on a machine, I couldn’t do it – I could never sew straight – I had no control over the machine! I couldn’t even hold the scissors properly. One time I scratched the marble floor while cutting ropes. I was not very good at sewing, but I am good at cutting and finishing bags, and I enjoy it.”

Nandita takes pride in the fact that she was one of the first 20 women who started Freeset and who have nurtured the business into what it is today. She dreams of Freeset becoming a place of freedom for many more women in the future, “People in the community can see Freeset has given a new life to the women in line (Literally, every night 1000s of women stand in a line outside and men walk the line to choose women for sex. Kristi walked this line and looked into the eyes of the women and upon the feet of the buyers.) Freeset really helps the women in line who are getting old and can’t earn much anymore.”

Freeset is located in Calcutta, India, helping to free women from human trafficking by providing them employment with dignity through sewing bags. Every woman is provided medical insurance, retirement, daycare for their children, classes to learn how to read and write, and three times the wage they would receive “in line.” Join us every day December 1-12 in Freeset’s Freedom Tour of 12 Days of Freedom with FreeSet and become a part of the freedom story. Watch our video, shop our bags, change lives.

Subscribe now to the 12 Days of Freedom Blog Tour!