The Daughter Project is a Christian non-profit organization that runs a group home for sex trafficking victims ages 10-17 in one of the largest human trafficking hubs in the country, Toledo, Ohio. The Daughter Project was not only created to rescue girls from sex trafficking, but to create awareness of this world issue and take a stand for social justice.

The Daughter Project has been around four years, with the group home now having been open for two years. Jeff Wilbarger is the founder of The Daughter Project. Originally a local math teacher in his area, he had a passion for human trafficking victims after reading the book “Not for Sale” by David Batstone. He has been faithful to what God has called him to do as well as saving women who have been trafficked in Toledo, showing them a different way of life.

“Emily Halling (23), house mother for the Daughter Project outside Toledo, Ohio, takes joy in bringing normalcy back into the lives of human trafficking victims….” Halling was motivated to become a house mom of the home because of her background in social work. “Emily got involved with the Daughter Project through a friend who interned with the Daughter Project last spring. “The Daughter Project heals victims in a non-traditional way so they are able to have a great future”. Faith plays a key role in the recovery of the girls. Halling says that “Christianity guides everything we do”. The goal isn’t for conversion, just to love on them as Christ loves them.

The house is generally staffed with a few house moms, and the house can fit 1-6 girls recovering from human trafficking. The house functions with shift work between the house moms, to keep the consistency. Halling stated they want to keep a comfortable “homie” feel. Halling and other house moms do a wide range of activities with the girls, whether it’s going to the movies or playing laser tag. The main goal of the home is to provide a chance for the victims to go back into the world. To have independent learning skills, healthy and healthy self-esteem is also a main focus. As well as healing their views of relationships and the opposite sex. “The most important thing is for the victims of trauma to able to be kids again. Experiencing these girls is able to become kids again, is a different type of joy. This joy makes me excited to become a mother someday”.

Having her work cut out for her, Halling has persevered through the darker days and knows what it is like to put other human beings before her. Being stretched and challenged in her faith throughout this process has been a journey. Knowing new things about herself and how she would like to adopt children in the future make this process very special and close to her heart. Falling in love with one of the young trafficked girls has deepened her love for God and others.

Jeff Wilbarger not only has more plans for The Daughter Project, but a vision for the future of the organization. Wilbarger’s Christian faith propels his passion for this work. He plans on opening up a recovery home for adult prostitutes. Not only is the Daughter Project a gift to the Toledo area, but a refuge for young women to be able to find new life. There were over 44,000 sex trafficking survivors who have been identified over the past year, however 20 million victims who have not been identified yet.

For more information and statistics visit http://www.thedaughterproject.org/