Mariliana Morales Berríos - Costa Rica

Mariliana Morales Berríos became a pioneer in Costa Rica when she created the Rahab Foundation in 1997 to help trafficking victims find a new life with their families. She has succeeded in keeping her programs running and expanding despite limited resources. Ms. Morales, her staff, and their families have been threatened and attacked for trying to help women and children escape from their exploiters. But they continue undeterred, providing victims with spiritual attention, education, nutrition, psychological assistance, and vocational training. Rahab has now helped more than 3,000 people in the San Jose area and many more in other areas. From 2006 to 2008, Ms. Morales and Rahab ran a program focused on the tourist area in and around the resort town of Jaco. The pioneer project directly served 347 national and foreign victims of trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation and their families. It also trained more than 5,000 government leaders, police, tourism workers, and youth in human trafficking issues.