MY ACCOUNT
Dust clouds the air of the kiln, enveloping the laborers as they make their bricks from dawn to dusk.
Pakistani Christians in brick kilns who work in these conditions—the hot sun beating down on them, sweat soaking their clothes, the air poisoning their lungs—long for better lives, but escape seems impossible.
Not only are the conditions exhausting, but more than 80% of Pakistan's brick kiln workers develop chronic respiratory illnesses. Many are unable to leave the premises to get medical care, so their preventable conditions become life-threatening.
Limited access to health education means they are less likely to take preventive measures against diseases, which makes ordinary sicknesses far more dangerous. Pregnant women in these settings are in an especially precarious situation, facing high risks to their health and that of their children, including elevated child mortality rates.
When Raheel first entered into bonded labor at a brick kiln, he never imagined he would remain there for longer than one year. Instead, he toiled in a kiln for 25 years. High interest and meager wages ensured the debt only grew, so Raheel, his wife Ruth and their son found themselves trapped.
Maryam and her husband were similarly enslaved for two decades. The years of hard labor and breathing in dust and mud were hard on her husband. He died of acute asthma, leaving Maryam a widow. Her children left school to work alongside their mother.
One-third of the brick kiln workers are children like Maryam's children and Raheel and Ruth’s son who strain under the weight of the clay, molding bricks and working in dangerous conditions —sacrificing their education and childhood to help their families survive.
But that was not the end of their stories.
After our supporters paid off her debt, we gave Maryam a donkey cart to sell vegetables as part of our Blueprint for Freedom. A year later, she’s fulfilling her husband’s dream of building their home, and her daughter is back in school.
Similarly, Raheel and Ruth have a new beginning with their donkey cart and renewed focus on their future. Their wages are no longer garnished and their work is no longer life-threatening. They have a newfound hope for their children.
"We hope that we will have a very bright future. And we will give good education to our children. And we will have a better life," Ruth declares.
Already, we have freed more than 200 Pakistani Christians in brick kilns since July 1! But we have an opportunity to help many more.
Together, we can make sure no more families must suffer in the dust of the kilns.
save a family from slavery today rescue a persecuted christian family
Your gift of $1,018 can free an entire family from brick kiln slavery. For $1,642, you not only break their chains of debt but also provide financial training and income opportunities that won't damage their health.
To brothers and sisters in a country opposed to Christianity, your gift today can be the miracle an impoverished family needs to shatter the vicious cycle of oppression. You’ll not only meet their basic needs—you'll provide a pathway to freedom!
