Recent studies indicate that of the estimated 9,000,000 prostitutes (Commercial Sex Workers, CSW) working in India, some 30% or 2,700,000 are children. A further 10% reported that they had started their 'career' in prostitution before they were 18 years of age. A large number of these children are trafficked from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. (ECPAT International, A Step Forward)   The problem of child prostitution in India is more complicated than in other Developing  countries where it is directly related to sex tourism. In India, sexual exploitation of children has its roots in traditional practices, beliefs and gender discrimination. The highest prices go for the youngest girls, many of whom have been kidnapped from other countries and trafficked to India, or sold by their own families into the industry for as little as $ 100 USD.  The best prevention is by getting the next generation of girls out of the brothels, this should happen by the time a CSW’s daughter reaches the age of 7 or the brothel owner will acquire her. These women did not choose this profession; they were forced, kidnapped or sold into it. Regardless of how they got into it, they no longer have a family to return home, they have no money and no education (most are illiterate). The only ‘hope’ they have for making money is staying with the only person they are completely dependent on and is also the same person that ‘bought’ them to begin with. That is the brothel owner.  The CSW has a debt she must pay off to the brothel owner.  The money transaction is always handled by the brothel owner; the CSW has no control of what is collected and what is deducted from her debt. The owner keeps the records for the CSW’s and can add to that debt at her leisure. The brothel owner will beat the woman to an inch of her life if she refuses a service or questions her. The brothel owner is literally the one that now controls her life and her future.  As volunteers we cannot gain access into any of the brothels unless the brothel owner has given us their permission to enter.   To expect these women to simply walk out of the brothel and begin a new life is impractical. For one, running a brothel is a business for the owner, if she loses a CSW, she loses income. The only time a brothel owner let’s a CSW go is when she is close to death and no longer of use to her.   Secondly, this is the only profession the CSW has ever known, if she leaves the brothel or is literally rescued, she is leaving her only means to support herself. She is not accepted by society, she has no support network of friends and family outside of the brothel life. With no other known skills or education, how can she really expect to make it?  She can never return to the brothel owner, she may not survive the reprisal for her unapproved departure.   This is a very slow work; we must bathe it all in prayer and believe God truly for the impossible.  These women need extraordinary courage to even consider a future.  They also need incredible trust and faith to make that first step out the brothel door.     Tender Hands wants to help these CSW discover a skill, talent or hobby where they can sustain themselves financially. We also want to support these women emotionally through Christian counseling and prayer groups.