Free a Girl rescues minors from sexual exploitation. In 2008, Free a Girl was founded in the Netherlands. Four founders united their strengths and decided: we need to act now. We need to do something. We are done watching on while this is happening to children all over the world. And that is exactly what they did. They set up a transparent, action- and result-oriented organization that focuses on fighting sexual exploitation of children, where each survivor counts. We work with a survivor-based approach together with our local partners and local teams. Because they are not a drop in the ocean, but the whole ocean in a drop.
We founded Free a Girl because too few organizations focus on action: rescuing children. We believe in being proactive, not reactive.
Founded in 2008 in the Netherlands, Free a Girl has one clear mission: to end the sexual exploitation of children. We fight for justice, freedom, and a future where no child is sold. Through rescue operations, legal support, rehabilitation, and advocacy, we actively work to dismantle the systems that enable exploitation. Because change doesn’t happen by waiting—it happens by taking action.
In 2021 Free a Girl expanded to the USA. Recognizing the need for a global approach, Free a Girl is committed to combating this issue on a broader scale, together with local teams and local partner organizations. The expansion to the USA aims to enhance collaborative efforts, raise awareness, start campaigns, start new programs, and mobilize resources to rescue and protect more vulnerable children and bring perpetrators to justice worldwide.
We rescued 7,889 survivors worldwide to date. We help survivors to achieve justice by tracking down the perpetrators and tackling impunity.
When they have had time to heal, Free a Girl empowers the girls to become awareness-raising watchdogs and change agents in their communities.
Currently, Free a Girl USA runs programs in India, Nepal, Cambodia, and the USA.
Founder
In 2008, I founded Free a Girl after an undercover mission in India that changed my life. For 16 years, I have passionately dedicated myself to my foundation, driven by the belief that every child has the right to a safe childhood. I have traveled to countries like India, Nepal, and Brazil, visiting shelters and witnessing undercover operations firsthand. The impact we create motivates me to continue this fight. By raising awareness and taking action, we can give children the freedom they deserve. In my work, I see every day how crucial it is to keep fighting for change, and I am grateful for the support of those who stand with us against these crimes. My mission is clear: we must stop this, for every child still in captivity.
Founder
I wanted to see the world. Help people. Working for Doctors Without Borders was my dream. Until that night in Dagestan… Three armed men abruptly ended that dream. I was kidnapped and held for 607 days in a dark underground cellar. I had no freedom, no future, only the question whether today would be my last.”
My family, friends, and many others fought for my freedom. When I finally came home, that second chance changed everything. I wanted to give back, to fight for others the way people had fought for me. That’s how Free a Girl began. Freedom is not a given. But if you receive it, you can use it to help others. That’s what I try to do every day: free girls from sexual exploitation and give them a new future.
Founder
From a young age, I felt a strong urge to fight injustice. At 35, I read an article about children—some as young as 9—being kept in cages in brothels. That knowledge made me sick, but also sparked a deep determination to act. Someone had to do something—and I realized that someone could be me. Two years later, we founded Free a Girl. We didn’t have a detailed plan, just unshakable drive and belief in change. Today, we have rescued over 8,500 children, many of whom have been reunited with their families. Every child rescued proves our mission matters. It’s never just a drop in the ocean. Together, we keep fighting for the freedom and happiness of children worldwide.
A world where every child lives free from fear, harm, and sexual exploitation—a future where all children can dream, learn, and grow safely.
We provide rescued children with a second chance—through education, justice, and long-term empowerment. By strengthening their voices, we build a future rooted in freedom and equality.
Join us in the fight. Be the light in dark places.
