This presentation shares the lived experiences of Maya Tamang, a trafficking survivor from Nepal, highlighting her vulnerability to human trafficking and her journey of recovery, reintegration, and transformation. Her experiences have led to her current role as a Reintegration Officer at Shakti Samuha, the first organization in the world established and led by trafficking survivors, where she now supports others in rebuilding their lives. Maya’s journey includes significant transitions—from exploitation to recovery and from marginalization to leadership. Her engagement in participatory action research and community development has been a critical turning point, helping her develop self-determination, empowerment, and the confidence to speak out and act independently. These experiences have enabled her to participate in survivor-led advocacy, research, and professional reintegration work, marking key moments of agency and transformation. Her story provides important insights for practitioners and researchers interested in evidence-informed, survivor-centered approaches. This session will demonstrate the transformative potential of participatory action research in strengthening survivor voice, agency, and capacity. It will also emphasize the value of survivor-led and community-based approaches in supporting reintegration, preventing re-trafficking, and promoting dignity, empowerment, and long-term social inclusion. Through this presentation, Maya’s experiences highlight the importance of centering survivor voices in practice and research, offering a model for resilience, advocacy, and community-driven intervention in the field of human trafficking.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Rita Dhungel is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Human Services at the University of the Fraser Valley. Her research focuses on human trafficking among Nepali survivors, using anti-oppressive and participatory approaches to inform policy, practice, and advocacy.
Maya Tamang is a Nepal-based practitioner and trafficking survivor working as a reintegration officer at Shakti Samuha, a survivor-led organization. Her work focuses on survivor reintegration and empowerment. Since 2013, she has collaborated with Dr. Dhungel on participatory research and co-presented nationally and internationally on trafficking and survivor-led advocacy.