They provide tangible support, compassion and love to the girls on the street with the hope of bringing freedom. The Papilio leadership team partners with local relief agencies such as the Red Cross as well as other NGOs and both the local and national Spanish Government to provide a unique presence on the frontlines through direct contact with girls and young women entrapped in the s*x industry.
Papilio means butterfly in Latin, and the name was chosen by the founders as a reminder that people should have such freedom as the flight of a butterfly and that each young women has such beautiful potential. Papilio exists to bring comfort, humanitarian need, and love to the women on the streets with the hope of providing a means of rescue whenever possible. Team members head out to the streets, rain or shine, late in the evening to regularly build relationship with the young women and even the club and brothel owners. On any given night they will interact with over 100 girls, providing offers of clothing, hot chocolate, and the most popular provision, hygiene packs. They also bring hugs, comforting words and share resources that most are not aware of or have been scared to accept. When a relationship has been established some women begin to trust team members and may consider an offer to assist with escape. Removing young women from the watchful eyes of their handlers is a risky business and requires many clandestine security measures to ensure everyone’s safety. Since 2017 Papilio has provided rescue for over 40 women and children, a reportedly unprecedented degree of success for such a grassroots organization. In addition to their frontline work on the streets, Papilio partners with local municipalities to provide anti-trafficking education in local high schools and to promote awareness in the communities. Those who serve with Papilio realize that the s*x-trafficking issue is much greater than they have the ability to change however their hope and motivation comes in knowing they can and have made a difference in the lives of young women, one at a time.
