Liu Wen was 50 when she arrived to NYC alone from northern China to get away from an abusive marital relationship which lasted for more than two decades. She is a labor trafficking victim who was referred to GOH in 2018 from a medical service agency. Liu Wen now actively participates in our human trafficking intervention program and anti-domestic violence efforts, such as Silent Walk and Go Purple Day. She also volunteers during her free time at GOH as her give-back to the community.
I found a restaurant job outside of New York state very soon after I landed in America. I was driven by the owner to the location where was unfamiliar to me. I lived in a dorm with 7 or 8 women in a room; there were more than two dozen of us working for my boss.
My employer withheld partially my salary and told me that if I leave work without him first finding a substitute, I will lose that salary. He constantly told me that if I leave, no one will hire me because I am too old, I don’t know any English, and I am undocumented. I believed him.
Sometimes I get badly burnt and injured from kitchen work, but was never shown a way to get medical help. I don’t know any English, so I don’t know how and where to find a doctor. My boss gave me ointments to put on my wounds.
I worked 12 to 13 hours a day every day with only 10 minutes for lunch and 10 minutes for dinner. My employer got angry easily and would take it out on us. I went to work in fear everyday anticipating to be scolded or yelled at.
When I first arrived to the US, I was introduced to someone who self-claimed to be an immigration attorney. He promised that he will help me get a green card. For two years, I sent half of my earning to this man who I believed to be a lawyer. I dreamt to start a new life in the US and to leave my sorrow behind. When I found out that it was a lie, I lost all hope.
In hopelessness, I gave up my job and managed to return to NYC where I encountered a good samaritan who found me wandering the streets. She brought me to a hospital when I told her my loss of will to live. I was connected to GOH through the hospital.
I was brought to GOH’s Safe House where I found a sense of safety again. The residents and staffs treated me with kindness and warmth. I was provided with food, financial, legal, and medical assistance to help me get back on my feet. I enjoy going to the support group (Project We) where I was connected to other survivors, volunteers, and staffs; those who make me feel that I am not alone. I am working towards obtaining a home-aid certificate and now earning a reasonable wage to sustain myself.
*Personal identifying information are changed to protect survivor privacy and confidentiality
Liu Wen, now 53, is a labor trafficking survivor. She was referred by a local hospital for shelter service after leaving her exploiter. She is now recovering with the support of our Human Trafficking Intervention Program and our women’s empowerment program (Project WE), which was initiated in 2017 with an overarching goal to lead clients out of trauma-induced powerlessness and helplessness and to regain control and a sense of self agency. Project WE has served over 300 Chinese immigrant women since its initiation. We believe that “recovery is based upon empowerment of [survivors] and the creation of new connections, [healing] only takes place within the context of relationships.”
Edited by Susan Liu
