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HELP FREE THE SANWAL FAMILY
FREEDOM FOR ONLY $720!
5/8/2026
Sanwal (27) first stepped into the brick kiln at just seven years old, working alongside his father under the heavy loads and scorching sun. What began as a child's effort to help soon became his entire world. When his father passed away from sickness, the debt did not die with him. It passed entirely to Sanwal and his sister Sania (20), who was born into this bondage at the kiln.
Now the weight rests on both siblings and their mother Razia (54). Razia is forced to work despite her fragile health. Years of constant stress, worry, and overthinking have left her mentally sick. She battles daily just to keep going while watching her children trapped in the same place that took her husband.
This family carries deep emotional and physical scars. Sanwal pushes through exhaustion to support everyone. Sania works beside him, though she has known nothing but the kiln since birth. Razia continues laboring even as her mind struggles under the pressure. The debt has stolen their health, their peace, and their future for far too long.
For just $720 we can repay the full debt, secure their legal freedom, and release Sanwal, Sania, and Razia from the brick kiln. Sanwal and Sania can finally seek education or skills to build independent lives. Razia can rest and receive the care she desperately needs. After years of pain and loss, this family can begin healing together.
Your support today ends a heartbreaking cycle and brings relief to a mother and her children who have suffered enough.
3-4.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED IN BONDED SLAVERY AT BRICK KILNS
Pakistan's brick kiln sector is one of the largest sources of bonded slavery in the world. Workers, including entire families, often take loans or advances from kiln owners to cover basic needs, emergencies, or dowries. These debts trap entire families in a vicious cycle of exploitation and debt bondage. Extremely low wages barely cover basic survival needs, while high interest rates rapidly inflate the original amount owed, making repayment virtually impossible.Trapped, these debts are passed across generations.
Number of Brick Kilns: Approximately 20,000 kilns operate across Pakistan, producing 45–82 billion bricks annually, making it the third-largest brick producer in South Asia.
Total Workers: An estimated 3–5 million people work in brick kilns, including men, women, and children.
Bonded Workers in Kilns: Around 3–4.5 million people are trapped in bonded slavery within the brick kiln industry alone, representing the majority of the workforce (often 70–90% in surveys).
Child Bonded Laborers: Over 1–2 million children work in brick kilns under slave-like conditions, comprising about one-third of the workforce and up to 70% of all bonded slaves in Pakistan. Many start as young as 5–10 years old, denied education, and exposed to hazardous conditions.
Child Exploitation Rates: 83% of surveyed kilns employ children, often during school hours, with no formal contracts or protections. High child mortality (many die before age 5) and risks like sexual abuse, especially for girls, compound the tragedy.
Exploitation Details: 90% of workers lack formal contracts, 97% enter kilns due to desperate financial needs, and over 70% live in cramped, one-room huts with poor sanitation and toxic air from coal-fired kilns. Women and girls face additional risks like gender-based violence, rape, and forced conversions.
We need YOUR help to set them ALL free!
HELP FREE THE MASIH FAMILY
UPDATE: 4/30/2026 The funds have been sent to Pakistan and the Masih family should be set free in a few days!
FREEDOM FOR ONLY $662!
4/23/2026
Sadia (40) and her husband Mehboob (45) have lived their entire married life inside the brick kiln. The debt that traps them today was passed down from Sadia’s parents many years ago. What began as one generation’s loan has now become a family prison lasting more than 25 years.
All three of their children were born into this bondage. Sahil (20) and Humaira (19) have never known any other life except molding bricks and carrying loads since they were small. Their youngest daughter Sunaina (11) is growing up the same way, already helping alongside her parents and older siblings. The whole family wakes each day to the same dust, heat, and endless cycle with no end in sight.
Sadia and Mehboob carry the heavy pain of watching their children inherit the same chains they have worn for decades. They long to give Sahil, Humaira, and Sunaina a chance to live freely, to study, to dream, and to build something better. After more than 25 years of struggle, they still hold onto hope that one day their family can step out of the kiln forever.
For just $662 we can repay the full debt, secure legal freedom for Sadia, Mehboob, Sahil, Humaira, and Sunaina, and end this generational bondage. The family can leave the brick kiln behind, enroll the children in school, and finally begin building a safe and hopeful future together.
Your support today breaks a 25 year cycle and gives five family members the freedom they have never known.
Frequently Asked Questions
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YES! Jacob's Cry is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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At Jacob’s Cry we believe that your donation should go to the least of these and NOT to administrative costs.
Our partner Zeffy allows us to pay $0 in fees for any donation you make.
When sending money internationally there are small fees which we do our best to keep as low as possible. Currently 99.9% of all donations have gone directly to support the least of these.
We are willing to share our financials at any time and operate with 100% transparency.