Our Story
It started with one woman who refused to look away.
In 1998, Congresswoman Linda Smith witnessed the brutal realities of child sex trafficking in Mumbai, India—and her life, and mission, changed forever.
The moment that sparked a movement
In the brothels of Mumbai, Linda saw young girls, some no older than her own granddaughter, being sold by the sex act, by the minute, like commodities on a shelf. She watched as buyers came and went, as brutal systems kept these children trapped, and she realized that behind every transaction was a life that had been stolen.
“I couldn’t go back to Congress and pretend I didn’t see.” – Linda Smith
That day, Shared Hope International was born—with a single, urgent mission: to end sex trafficking and bring hope to the exploited. Linda returned home, and Shared Hope was born to prevent the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restore victims of sexual slavery, and bring justice to vulnerable women and children.
Opening our eyes to a crisis at home
Shared Hope’s earliest work focused on opening homes in countries like India, Nepal, and Jamaica—safe places where women and children could find safety, learn new skills, and reclaim their lives.
But as the organization grew, a sobering truth emerged: trafficking wasn’t just happening overseas. It was happening in our own neighborhoods, to our own children.
We expanded our mission to bring the same hope, restoration, and justice to American children who are being bought, sold, and exploited in our own communities. Today, we lead prevention strategies, restoration programs, and justice initiatives to combat trafficking in the U.S. and around the world.
Confronting the root of the issue
As Shared Hope deepened its work, we uncovered a truth that would reshape the entire anti-trafficking movement: sex buyers were fueling human trafficking—yet no one was focusing on ending the demand.
Shared Hope’s groundbreaking DEMAND research changed that. By exposing the driving forces behind exploitation, we were able to unite the fight to transform systems that enable trafficking and that create barriers to survivor’s healing and restoration. We helped shape laws across the country, ensuring that buyers face consequences and survivors receive protection, not punishment. This work positioned Shared Hope as a national leader in the anti-trafficking movement and a trusted partner for professionals seeking lasting solutions.
We realized we couldn’t just pull people out of exploitation—we had to dismantle the forces driving it.
A global movement with local impact
Today, Shared Hope International continues to lead with courage and compassion, preventing trafficking, supporting survivors, and bringing justice to those impacted by human trafficking. We set standards and shape practices that both prevent trafficking before it begins and ensure survivors receive the comprehensive care needed for lasting restoration. The work spans every state and extends through global partnerships built on collaboration, research, and faith-driven resolve.
Why we never stop
For Shared Hope, this work is more than a mission; it’s a calling. Rooted in Christian abolitionist values, we believe every person, regardless of their faith or background, deserves the opportunity to live free from exploitation. Guided by Biblical wisdom, we serve as Christians, stewards, and leaders: confronting injustice, using every resource with care, and inspiring others to stand with courage and compassion.
We envision a world passionately opposed to sex trafficking—where every community recognizes traffickers’ tactics, every survivor can access justice, and every victim receives the support they need to rebuild a life of hope, purpose, and dignity. We will not stop until that vision becomes reality—one life at a time.
