Supporting domestic workers and survivors of human trafficking

Tanzania

Angela Benedicto’s journey to improving the lives of thousands of abused domestic workers, child labour and human trafficking survivors is a deeply personal one. At 16 years old, Angela was working as a domestic helper in Tanzania, where domestic workers are often stigmatised as uneducated and treated as lower-class citizens by both their employers and the community.

Angela faced various forms of physical and emotional abuse and was not paid the agreed rate for her work. She experienced a particularly distressing incident with her employer demanding inappropriate services, which she bravely refused. In response, she was told, "Who do you think you are to refuse me? You're just a domestic worker." This traumatic experience deeply affected Angela, and she knew it was unjust and unacceptable.

Upon her eventual escape from this oppressive environment, Angela made a determined commitment to champion the rights and safety of domestic workers across Tanzania. However, she had been left traumatised and in need of therapy and rehabilitation herself. Overcoming her own insecurities was challenging, as she still felt the stigma of society’s perception of her as an "inferior domestic worker."

With the guidance of a mentor dedicated to supporting survivors of human trafficking and abuse, Angela began to heal from her own trauma and initiated her advocacy journey. She started by going door-to-door, often trembling with fear, to educate employers about their responsibilities toward domestic workers and to inform domestic workers themselves about their labour rights, which many had been unaware of. It was during these visits that she truly began to understand the prevalence of emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse that was occuring.

Girls recover from trauma through counselling, legal support and solidarity.

Angela saw the overwhelming need for abused workers to be able to escape their employers, so she established a shelter to provide refuge and support to domestic workers, child labour and human trafficking survivors. She simultaneously began advocating for policy implementers to start enforcing the existing laws that safeguard the rights of domestic workers.

Angela's relentless pursuit of knowledge led her to attain a law degree. She continued healing and steadily built her self-assurance. Her journey reached a remarkable point where she could confidently approach the Ministers of Labour, Youth, Employment & Persons with Disability and request their participation as guest speakers at her advocacy events — invitations that were accepted!

In 2012, Angela established Tanzanian organisation, Wotesawa, which means “all equal” in Swahili. Under Angela’s leadership, Wotesawa runs safe houses and provides free legal aid and counselling to victims and survivors of abuse and exploitation. They educate employers to understand domestic workers' rights, and empower domestic workers to claim these rights. They also educate schoolgirls and their parents about the dangers and realities of becoming a domestic worker and advocate for teenagers to continue their education instead.

In 2015, Angela was awarded the Queens Young Leaders Award by Queen Elizabeth II for promoting the rights of child domestic workers in Tanzania. This extraordinary transformation comes from a woman who was once belittled with the question, "Who do you think you are?" Well, she is Angela Benedicto. A leader, a lawyer and an organisation founder, who is ensuring that thousands of domestic workers across Tanzania can secure safe and fairly compensated employment, along with the dignity and respect they deserve.