Human trafficking is the exploitation of people for labor and for sex. LFI’s work involves people who may be victims of sex trafficking.

Labor trafficking: Forced labor, such as being forced to work as a house maid or in a restaurant with little or no pay.

Sex trafficking: Any work in the sex industry with little or no pay or that is against a person’s will. This can include prostitution, pornography, strip clubs, and other areas of the sex industry.

Human trafficking occurs in all parts of the world. Areas that are known for sex trafficking include Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. Labor trafficking is highly prevalent in poorer areas such as India and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In the United States, people are trafficked from other countries into the U.S. for sex work and labor, but there are also domestic victims of trafficking. Large cities with international airports such as Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta experience higher rates of trafficking, but it also occurs in small towns and rural areas.

While poverty is not the only factor, people can be vulnerable because of desperation for income or a job. Disaster situations, personal crises, and civil unrest can leave people vulnerable to trafficking. Other factors that increase vulnerability can include a history of abuse or neglect, alcohol or drug addiction, homelessness, or lack of legal documentation. Certain population groups are also especially vulnerable, including children, women, and migrant populations.

Force: Beating and slapping, sexual assault, confinement and physical restraint

Fraud: False promises, deceitfully affectionate behavior, lies about working conditions

Coercion: Threats of serious harm or restraint, threats of being deported, intimidation and humiliation, emotional abuse, isolation, creating dependency and fear of independence

Our vision at Refuge City as a global humanitarian organization is to seek to create sustainable solutions to end the injustice of human trafficking.

Prevention: Refuge City is committed to children and young people in conditions of social risk that make them vulnerable to various forms of violence, drug addiction and prostitution. We believe in holistic prevention designed to educate and inspire children and teens, in the context of their communities and schools with the goal of stopping exploitation before it happens.

Intervention: Refuge City engages with federal agencies and lawmakers to advance a human rights-based approach to combating human trafficking. We advocate for policies that address the core causes of human trafficking and promote the protection and rights of those who have been trafficked.

We assist victims through case management, collaboration with other non-profit organizations, legal authorities, as well as partnering with government outreach efforts through our ‘outcare program’ for survivors of human trafficking.

Training: We are passionate about raising awareness and driving action in the fight against human trafficking.

Promoting educational awareness is at the heart of our efforts. By providing comprehensive training, we empower participants with in-depth knowledge about trafficking in persons and its far-reaching impacts. Armed with this knowledge, we unite to create methodological tools that foster awareness and inspire positive action, propelling us towards progress and transformation.

We hope that through collaboration and training, we can become an effective tool in the fight against human trafficking and its related issues. Strategic and effective awareness is the key to making significant change.

Refuge City, formerly known as LightForce International, is a non-profit organization founded by Anna Carroll in 2009. While working with a local non-profit in Heredia, Costa Rica, Anna became aware of the issue of child prostitution in the Costa Rican-Nicaraguan border area. Witnessing the lack of resources and support for victims and survivors of trafficking, she felt compelled to take action.

With the support of her home church in Kentucky, Anna established LightForce International to raise awareness about human trafficking and develop programs to help vulnerable populations in Costa Rica. In its early years, the organization focused on networking with communities and building a solid foundation in the country. In 2012, LightForce International officially became a 501(c)3 non-profit.

Over the years, the organization expanded its efforts and collaborated with various individuals, organizations, and churches to assist at-risk populations and trafficking survivors in multiple ways. Their work extended beyond Costa Rica, and they established offices in different countries while continuously forming global partnerships.

In 2023, LightForce International underwent a name change and became Refuge City. The new name was chosen to better reflect the organization's mission, vision, and current programs. Today, Refuge City continues to execute and develop programs while building resources to fulfill their vision of combating human trafficking and providing support and assistance to those affected by it.

We have established our international headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, USA, and our Latin headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica. Additionally, we maintain satellite offices in Lexington, Kentucky and Jena, Germany.

Throughout our journey, we have actively collaborated with and provided consultations to various entities across the globe. Our efforts have extended to regions such as the United Kingdom, Middle East, Cambodia, Brazil, Mexico, Congo, and Nicaragua.

We are a donor-supported 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This means that 100% of our expenses are funded by private and personal donations. In order to maintain fiscal responsibility, we outsource our bookkeeping.