The Team's stories

"I am happy to be part of this group of people who are fighting like a big family for the cause of sex trafficking and domestic violence."

I joined TB2H in August 2022 because I wanted to do something meaningful by helping survivors of sexual exploitation. B2H is committed to such an important cause that I didn't know existed in a country like the Netherlands. I hope to create more awareness about human trafficking and domestic violence.

I was part of TB2H's 10th annual event, as a photographer of the event where I heard about how TB2H's founders have come so far in helping survivors. I am happy to be part of this group of people who are fighting as a big family for the cause of sexual exploitation and domestic violence.

More about me...

The last book I read was "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens. The next place on my bucket list is Norway.

"My favorite part of volunteering as a computer educator is spending close time with the survivors. Their enthusiasm to learn and grow over their traumas has been a motivation."

Since October 2022, I have been volunteering with Bridge2Hope. I was invited to an art gallery event where the participants painted the art; therefore, that event gave me a firsthand opportunity to interact with the survivors and learn more about their art.

I believe the cause of Bridge2Hope is an important one that is often neglected and not given the same importance to bring the change. Therefore, by being part of such a valuable cause that fights against sexual trafficking, domestic violence and much more; I believe by being part of a team that contributes to a better society.

My favorite part of volunteering as a computer educator is spending close time with the survivors. Their enthusiasm for learning and growing over their traumas has been a motivation. They are intelligent and hardworking and excited like a child when they achieve goals set forth in class. I believe that a teacher's role is a rewarding post where I have the opportunity to work and build the survivors up as best I can in time.

"To know that these people have been through so much but still have the hope and spirit to fight for a better life is the biggest motivator for me."

I have been volunteering at TB2H for a few years now. It started by sharing some of the clothes my children had grown and as I met the participants and heard their stories, my desire to be a bigger part of TB2H grew. I wanted to do my part to help the participants make a new life for themselves.

Meeting the participants is the highlight for me. To know that these people have been through so much but still have the hope and spirit to fight for a better life is the biggest motivator for me. So far, I have been on the field a few times, helped collect clothes etc. and done content creation for the past two years.

More about me...

I enjoy reading. The last book I read was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I have read it many times and still love it.

The next place to travel on my bucket list is Japan.

Currently, I am watching It's Okay to not be Okay. It's a Korean drama that deals with mental health and how it's really okay to not be okay. I would recommend it because mental health is a bit of a taboo subject in our society and if people start to understand that just like a cold or flu, anyone can suffer from mental health problems and that is perfectly acceptable.

"I started crying because these women, after all they went through, still had love left to worry about what had happened to us."

In March 2012, I attended an International Women's Day event at Webster University, in Leiden NL. The guest speakers were Dr. Sheetal Shah and Pastor Tom Marfo. Both were experienced in treating survivors of human trafficking in the neighborhood of Amsterdam called The Bijlmer. To say it was a shocking eye-opener is an understatement. Later that day, I attended a dinner where the guest speaker was the author of the book The Whistleblower: Sex Trafficking, Military Contractors, and One Woman's Fight for Justice.

After a delicious dinner, heading home in a warm, comfortable car and knowing I would soon be safe in a warm, comfortable bed, I made a decision. What I had heard that day had turned my world upside down. I decided to put my energy and time, if not my money, into where my heart told me to go.

In May 2012, a group of Canadian women living in the Netherlands organized a Canadian-style barbecue with more than 100 guests. Dr. Shah was our eloquent guest speaker. We raised 550 euros to fund the research phase of her project, which would later become Stichting Bridge2Hope. Since that day, I have been involved. I have watched the foundation grow and decline, and then grow again. But through it all, the idea that even one life can be changed motivated every one of us involved in the foundation.

The day I met the women of our first cohort was the day before my husband underwent major cancer surgery. They began a singing prayer that he would get through the surgery. I started crying because after all they had been through, these women still had love left to worry about what had happened to us. Privately, I call them my resilient queens. Anyone who can endure the trauma they have and still have love for others has the highest regard in my eyes.

"A contestant's recent interest in the Dutch national anthem does send a special and hopeful signal to me ......"

In addition to obtaining documents and a residence permit, learning the Dutch language is also a challenge for participants at TheBridge2Hope . For integration, Dutch must be mastered at A2 level.

Since September 2017, I have been teaching Dutch weekly. I started with one group of six (cohort 1). Now four more are part of that group. We are currently (April 2021) working at level A2 -> B1. A second group of four (cohort 2) started in January 2020. In this group we are covering curriculum at level 0 -> A1. In both groups we are working with Step New.

From March 2020, COVID-19 also seriously affected the conduct of classes. Until then, the lessons were "on-site," but from then on that became "teaching-by-distance. Initially, this was done via WhatsApp. Certainly not ideal, but then the maximum achievable. Thanks to a special effort by many, from November 2020, the lessons can take place viaZoom. We can 'meet' and talk to each other again, unfortunately only through images.

You learn a language primarily through interaction. That is why real contact during the lessons is so important. And you learn even better if you regularly repeat and practice the offered material yourself. Perseverance, patience and confidence are required.

The results of the lessons do show. For example, communication in Dutch is becoming more frequent and better. The recent interest of a participant in the Dutch national anthem is for me a special and hopeful sign ......

"I've seen our participants grow in trust, love and compassion."

I was asked what motivates me to work with victims of human trafficking, and what motivates me to continue this fight. Without any doubt, I feel the strength and resilience that these individuals have.

The first time I meet our participants, they are usually quiet, don't make much eye contact and are reserved. When they start telling their story, although they may feel embarrassed and broken, their strength shines brightly. I have seen our participants grow in trust, love and compassion. I have seen the bonds within our group expand and create an unstoppable support system.

One of the beautiful parts of our group is that we all learn a lot from each other! As part of the management team I keep learning from our group how we can better support them and how we can promote and defend them. The group we have today is very different from the first day they joined The Bridge2Hope.

There is something to be said about how beautifully resilient we can be as human beings. We are all a force that has endless possibilities. I am grateful to be part of a group that helps victims of human trafficking in their process of becoming strong survivors!

More information about Amanda Mauro