Breaking Barriers

For the past 14 years, partners like you have supported the Gabrielle House—a refuge in Thailand that protects young girls who have been trafficked or forced into prostitution…and gives them a safe place to call home and learn about a God who loves them. It’s one of the many outreaches that are a part of our Project GRL initiative, designed to guide, restore and love women and girls around the world. Kou’s life is one of the many that you’ve helped change forever.

Kou, a 25-year-old from Laos, grew up in a remote mountain village surrounded by beauty but marked by hardship. Losing her father at a young age, her mother became the sole provider for Kou and her five siblings. Hunger and societal rejection defined Kou’s childhood, particularly because of her short stature and her status as a woman in her tribe, which held rigid beliefs about women’s roles.

Undeterred, Kou dreamed of breaking those barriers. When she heard about Gabrielle House through a friend, she resolved to pursue sewing to prove her worth and help her community, despite resistance from her family.

Since arriving at Gabrielle House a few years ago, Kou has found a space filled with encouragement, faith, and possibility.

“The teachers’ patience and the warm, supportive atmosphere showed me the love of God and a community that values me,” she said.

Her self-esteem, once fractured, has healed. She now embraces her identity as a courageous woman determined to pave the way for others.

“God has really taught me many things here,” she said. “God sees me. And God doesn’t just see my height; He sees my heart.”

Kou dreams of opening a sewing shop to serve her village and share the Gospel.

“I have realized my dream, and I have proven that women can do great things,” she said with conviction.

We live to hear words like this from as many women and girls as possible! And, together, we can reach even more with the life-transforming love of God.