03/05/2026
Meet Niurca.
When Niurca first came into the co-op, she was in her mid-40s and carried a heavy past. She had been rescued from s*x trafficking twice and had struggled for years with addiction and instability in the Dominican Republic.
The first time she was rescued, she went through aftercare training, but without a way to earn a living, survival pulled her back into the trafficking world.
When she was rescued the second time, she was determined to try again.
She began jewelry-making and vocational training with the other women. But week after week, frustration grew.
“I just can’t do this,” she kept saying.
Finally we asked her a simple question:
“Is there anything you do love to do?”
Her answer came quickly.
Cooking.
She loved being in the kitchen.
So instead of forcing her down a path that didn’t fit, we helped her follow the one that did. We connected Niurca with the owners of a small local bake shop. They mentored her, trained her, and helped her build confidence.
Today, Nayirka is pursuing her own small pastry business.
Her story is a powerful reminder that empowerment doesn’t look the same for every woman. Sometimes the most life-changing moment is simply being asked:
“What is something you enjoy doing?”
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate women like Niurca—women who, when given opportunity, dignity, and support, can rewrite their future. ❣️ 🇩🇴
