Mae was exploited by the sex industry

When Mae, 13, from The Philippines was nine years old, she had to leave school and start working to help support her family. She was forced to dance and undress in front of a camera in an internet café. The images were sent all over the world, live via the internet. The "clients" would chat with the owner of the Internet Café
It took two years before the owner who exploited Mae was caught by the police. He is now in prison, as are many of those who viewed the images. But Mae was unable to stay with her family. There was a risk that she would suffer again as a result of poverty. Today, she lives at a safe house in Manila for vulnerable girls. She goes to school and fights for the rights of other girls who have suffered abuse.
“I miss my family, but I love going to school and my life is better here,” she says.
On the World’s Children’s Prize Child Jury, Mae represents children who have been exploited by the sex industry and children who fight for the rights of the child.
Get to know Mae and other jury children on our website:
http://worldschildrensprize.org/childrens-jury