“You may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say you did not know.”

This week marks over 230 years since William Wilberforce spoke these words in the House of Commons – imploring others to join the cause to abolish slavery.

This week, we reflect on our work supporting survivors of modern slavery, including sharing this story from a survivor who is currently being supported by Hestia.

Photograph: Lea Campbell, Modern Slavery Response Team Manager at Hestia

My husband and I married for love. We rushed it, but it was nice. He is British, and he was living here with his parents. When I came, they started giving me work. My mother-in-law said I had to do the household chores and clean everything. They would tell me to clean the toilets and the floors, do the washing, the dishes, the cooking. If I cooked, they would not eat the whole meal or they would say something bad about it. It hurt that I put in so much effort and they just criticised me.

The sister-in-law would come back from work and would relax. I used to come back from work, and even when I was heavily pregnant, had to do the washing and the cleaning while they would be having fun. That was one of the hardest things.

One night when my husband was out, I told my sister-in-law not to call me stupid. She was angry and started arguing with me. Then my mother-in-law came up and started shouting at me, asking why I was shouting at her daughter. I told her “Look I was just talking to her; I was telling her to leave me alone.”

Then my father-in-law came up and he pushed me to the ground. I was scared. I was eight months pregnant, and I was asking them “what is going on? I am just talking; I am trying to stop the abuse.”

I said I was going to call the police. He said, “call them, they will send you back to Morocco.” It felt like he was saying I was their maid and had come to work, and if I didn’t obey them then he would send me back. I would not have minded helping around the house, but they abused me verbally and emotionally and treated me as a maid. I would go upstairs and cry all night.

"It was like I was a slave there. I felt like if I was not good enough, they would just send me back to Morocco. I had not married my husband to come and work as a maid."

I started to have panic attacks, and one time I called the ambulance because I felt my body freeze. That was hard - my daughter was there watching me, shocked. It affected me and my daughter too because she had witnessed everything, and was always seeing me crying.

Photograph: Lea Campbell

It was like I was a slave there. I felt like if I was not good enough, they would just send me back to Morocco. I had not married my husband to come and work as a maid.

I became a miserable person. My family were saying I was not myself and they were asking why I was acting like I was in prison. I told them that that is true, it was a prison. 

I started getting support from Hestia in June 2021. My advocate is a great person, I appreciate her.

I was lucky that after a long time I found the courage to stand up for myself.

One day after an argument with my mother-in-law I decided I was leaving. The next day I called my social worker and they found me a place to stay. It was a really hard decision, but a good decision. And with the support of Hestia and my advocate, everything just fell into place. It was my daughters that were my priority, I didn’t want them to live in this toxic atmosphere. I was lucky that after a long time I found the courage to stand up for myself.

Photograph: Lea Campbell

When I was in that house, I never had time for my daughters; I was busy cleaning and doing things. I was stressed. After I left, I developed a great bond with my daughters. That is my strength, my power, when my daughters come to me and say, “Mummy I love you, you are the best mother in the world.”

Eventually, I found my independence. And with Hestia I got support and that was really good, I appreciated it because I couldn’t do it alone. Now, I am focusing on myself.

It was so hard to get over everything, it was overwhelming. After, I started talking therapies and that was a lifesaver for me. I have been doing it for six months now, once a week.

Eventually, I found my independence. And with Hestia I got support and that was really good, I appreciated it because I couldn’t do it alone. Now, I am focusing on myself.

 

Photograph: Lea Campbell

I just got this job as a business consultant. I pushed myself and I went for the interview. I worked hard, I did my research and prepared to deliver a presentation. I told my boss after that it was my first presentation, and he was impressed. For the first 3 months I was the top performer in my team.

My boss saw how I wanted to learn and had a passion to do this. I feel like there is no limitation for my ability to do something. If I set my mind to it, I will do it. I believe in myself more.

Photograph: Lea Campbell

Sometimes when women go through things like I have, everything feels negative and they feel they cannot have a happy life, they cannot succeed - the same things I used to think. I can tell them that there is hope - that they need to believe in themself. Be strong, focus, then you will reach the things you want. Things can be good in the end. Everyone has something inside that can make them strong.

*Names and some identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients

With thanks to Lea Campbell, Modern Slavery Response Team Manager at Hestia, who interviewed and photographed clients.