Amsterdam is known for its beautiful canals, historic buildings, and vibrant culture. But behind the scenes, there is a dark side to this city: the notorious Red-Light District, where thousands of women and men sell their bodies for money, drugs, or survival.
Many of these women and men come from poor backgrounds, abusive families, or human trafficking networks. They face violence, exploitation, addiction, and stigma every day. They have lost their dignity, identity, and purpose in life. She felt called to reach out to her former colleagues and show them that there is a way out of their situation.
Women and men can come for coffee, tea, snacks, conversation, prayer, counselling, and friendship. The staff and volunteers are trained to listen with compassion and respect, without judgment or condemnation. The Cleft also provides orientation classes and language classes for those who want to learn new skills or pursue education or employment opportunities. The goal is to help them discover their gifts and talents, build their self-esteem and confidence, and empower them to make positive changes in their lives.
And it happened to be her first day of work prostitution , and she shared with us that she hated doing it and felt very much ashamed about it. She said she is a Christian, but was so desperate for money to pay off her debts, that she decided to work in prostitution. The Cleft does not force anyone to leave prostitution or convert to Christianity.
It respects their free will and choices. It invites them to experience His presence and power in their lives. We shared the parable of the prodigal son with her and emphasised that God is a loving Father with His arms wide open, but it is our responsibility to run into His arms and not away from Him. The Cleft is a project that welcomes anyone who needs love, care, and support.
