Empowered by Support, Transformed by Care
How do survivors of trafficking and violence transform their pain into purpose and become leaders in their communities?
At Sanjog, my colleagues and I, we’ve spent years answering this question. Through our work, we’ve learned that meeting three core psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—can empower survivors to rebuild their lives and emerge as leaders who inspire change.
Our approach draws from Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which identifies these needs as essential for human motivation and wellbeing. At Sanjog, we’ve developed programmes that prioritise these pillars, offering survivors the support they need to heal, grow, and thrive.
Autonomy Support: Empowering Decision-Making and Agency
When survivors regain control over their choices, they rediscover their sense of self and purpose. Take Rupa, for instance—a young woman trafficked into forced labour. When she joined Sanjog, she was hesitant to make decisions or envision a future for herself.
Through our autonomy support program, we worked with Rupa to identify her strengths and interests. She was encouraged to take small steps toward decision-making, each one building her confidence and sense of agency. Today, Rupa leads workshops in her community, helping others find their voice and reclaim their power.
Key Practices for Autonomy Support:
Competence Support: Fostering Mastery and Self-Efficacy
Competence builds confidence—and confidence opens doors to new possibilities. Rohan, a survivor of physical violence, struggled with feelings of inadequacy when he first joined Sanjog. Through our competence support program, we identified areas where Rohan excelled and created opportunities for him to develop new skills.
With each small success, Rohan’s self-esteem grew. He began taking on bigger challenges and eventually found the courage to pursue his professional goals.
Key Practices for Competence Support:
Relatedness Support: Building Connection and Belonging
领英推荐
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. A sense of belonging is critical to wellbeing and leadership. At Sanjog, we prioritise creating spaces where survivors feel seen, heard, and valued.
Our mentors foster trust through active listening and emotional support. Survivors also participate in group activities and community events, where they connect with others who share similar experiences. These connections often lead to lasting bonds that reinforce resilience and solidarity.
Key Practices for Relatedness Support:
A Framework for Comprehensive Support
To ensure our programs remain effective, we use a set of indicators to assess autonomy, competence, and relatedness support. These include:
Autonomy: Respecting perspectives, encouraging reflection, and empowering decision-making.
Competence: Skill-building, constructive feedback, and celebrating successes.
Relatedness: Building trust, fostering empathy, and creating a sense of community.
This framework helps us ensure that every survivor receives the comprehensive support they need to rebuild their lives and emerge as leaders.
Transforming Lives, One Step at a Time
Survivors of trafficking and violence possess immense potential to become leaders. By addressing their psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, we help them transform their vulnerabilities into strengths and their scars into purpose.
Let’s discuss: How can we bring trauma-informed practices like these to the forefront of leadership development? I’d love to hear your thoughts—or connect to explore opportunities to collaborate. Together, we can create a world where every survivor has the support they need to thrive.