In 2010, a Russian former pimp and a Ukrainian former sex worker felt compelled by their new Christian faith to go out on the streets and offer support to women trapped and exploited in Moscow’s sex industry. Heading back out to the dangerous locations they’d long since left behind, Sergey and Maria were anxious about the reception they’d receive. But someone recognised them from their former life, and they were welcomed back in. Starting with nothing but a flask of coffee and an insider knowledge of the business, they began to build relationships with women, offering practical support and help getting medical tests. Soon, they were supporting women to escape and to rebuild their lives. 

Sergey and Maria gathered a handful of volunteers from local churches to help them with their new outreach project. They forged links with medical charities, and with shelters and rehab centres to help with onward referrals. In 2011, some Brits joined the team. They were part of an English-language church that provided support services to migrants and refugees, and they saw potential to expand the work. Now the team could reach out not only to the mainly Russian-speaking women engaged so far, but also to English-speaking women trafficked to Moscow, mostly from Nigeria. Through new partnerships with the International Organization for Migration, the Nigerian Embassy and local charities, a survivor repatriation programme was born. 

The team quickly realised that much more could be done with more funding and with international partnerships. Given the sensitivity of the work, it wasn’t possible to promote and fundraise for the work within Russia. And so, in 2013, Mayak Foundation was established in the UK. Its goal was to raise funds for the work and support its professionalisation and development, while also raising awareness within the UK about trafficking and exploitation and linking with organisations around the globe to promote referrals and peer-learning.

The main work in Russia continues to be led by a fantastic Russian team, operating within a grassroots movement. This allows them flexibility and security in a tightly controlled political and criminal environment. Mayak is more than a partner: we grew out of this movement as part of one team. But we support rather than direct the activities on the ground, helping to build capacity and resources for the work through funding, building connections and bringing in external expertise and training.

We have supported many women out of exploitation, as well as men. This includes repatriating women to Nigeria, connecting them with local organisations to offer ongoing support. Through a project in Donbass, Eastern Ukraine, we have educated young people in the risks of being trafficked and how to stay safe. We’ve branched out to other parts of Russia, starting outreach in Rostov-on-Don and running training for other potential grassroots teams in Vladivostok and elsewhere throughout Russia.