TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — January marks Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
A Tampa woman is sharing her brave story on her journey as a human trafficking survivor.
Angelea Valenti is shedding light on the harsh realities many men and women face.
“I was 3, like it is all too often at the first hands that should have been there to protect me and keep me safe,” Valenti said.
Valenti has dealt with unimaginable trauma, she was lured into a world of sex trafficking at a young age.
“I met the man that would become my husband and trafficker at 13. He promised me love and everything that I was missing at home— protection and love,” Valenti continued. “First he had me strip in dance clubs and later have me exchange sexual favors because he demanded more money.”
Now she’s using her trauma as motivation for other women.
Valenti is the assessment coordinator at Selah Freedom, an organization she knows too well after heading down a path of destruction.
A court order to either serve jail time or receive treatment in Selah Freedom’s residential program, would be her saving grace.
“I do remember when he and Angelea came to assessment and, you know, she was very much like so many of the other women that we see come through our residential program,” co-founder of Selah freedom Laurie Swink said.
With the help of Swink, Angelea is now the first to welcome home women who have been through a similar journey.
“I would be dead without a doubt. I there were so many days where I would sit there and I would pray for death because it was it would have been easier not realizing that I had such an opportunity,” Valenti said.
Every day she sees a new face, she reminds them of her fight and resilience with a message she instills in them.
“You are worth everything, he warned. Don’t believe the lies of the trafficker,” Valenti said.
If you or someone you know may be a survivor of human trafficking, Selah Freedom says they are committed to bringing freedom to survivors. You can call the Selah intake number at 1-888-8FREEME.
