A First Happy Christmas for Eight-Year-Old Neha

Eight-year-old Neha can celebrate a very special Christmas with her parents, Nadeem Masih and Sumera. For the first time, the family has time for each other and can enjoy peaceful and joyful moments together.

“Today, the family has been freed from debt bondage. All debts have been paid. The father is now legally and physically free. The family was also moved to a safe and peaceful place, where they can start a new life without fear. This support has changed their lives completely and given them dignity, freedom, and hope for the future,” wrote Sajid Christopher from the Pakistani partner organization Human Friends Organization (HFO) in an email to ISHR on 30 October 2025. HFO will continue to support the family during their recovery and development.

The rescue came just in time. Although Neha was old enough for school, she had never attended classes before. She only knew the brick kiln where her parents had to work every day. There was a serious risk that the family’s debts would pass on to her. Now Neha has started school. With education and later vocational training, she has a real chance to escape poverty forever.

Before Neha was born, her parents took a small loan to start their family life. They trusted an unreliable lender who offered work and wage advances. Despite very hard labor, Nadeem could not reduce the debt over ten years. Floods destroyed bricks, health problems caused by severe air pollution led to loss of income, and the debt kept growing.

Whenever the family could not work because of illness or bad weather, they received no wages. To survive, Nadeem had to borrow more money from the kiln owner. By October 2025, the debt had grown to 326,275 Pakistani rupees (almost 1,000 euros).

During a visit to the kiln, HFO identified the family as being at high risk. Such visits help create lists of vulnerable families, especially children. With support from ISHR and its donors, negotiations with the kiln management began quickly.

This was crucial, as girls and young women in brick kilns are especially vulnerable to abuse, violence, and forced marriage. A recent study by Pakistan’s National Human Rights Commission confirms these dangers.

Debt bondage has been illegal in Pakistan since 1992, but the law is rarely enforced. Hundreds of thousands are still affected, many of them Christians. ISHR provides humanitarian aid and also calls on authorities to protect affected families. With around 2,000 euros, one family can usually be freed and given a chance to start again.