The Change-A-Life Foundation, under its Women-in-Need program has partnered with the Society for Empowerment of Young Persons to provide business and health intervention in the life of an HIV positive female victim of human trafficking. A grant was awarded to the beneficiary, whose name has been withheld to protect her identity, in a ceremony on July 14, 2010 at the Change-A-Life office in Mende, Lagos.

Ms. Xs story is one of harrowing pain and sorrow. Her story touched the hearts of many Nigerians when she was featured on the Talk With Funmi episode Trafficked. In an interview with Funmi Iyanda, Ms. X narrates how as a young girl, she was tricked out of her village with the promise of an education in Italy. She tells the story of a seemingly endless journey of murder, prostitution, deportation and finally redemption.

Ms. Xs dignity and resilience even in the face of such tragic circumstances captured the hearts and minds of people, especially those at Change-A-Life. The Foundation, in keeping with its mission to intervene in the lives of people with extenuating circumstances of need, deployed a fact-finding mission to Benin where Ms. X lives, to further investigate her peculiar challenges and needs.

Through the Women-In-Need scheme, Ms. X was offered a grant that enables her to develop and grow her business, providing funding for a shop and the purchase of goods. Women-In-Need also provides healthcare support so Ms. Xs medical bills will also be covered by the grant.

Change-A-Life founder Ms. Funmi Iyanda said: After the interview with Ms. X, the gauntlet was thrown down. It was clear something had to be done to help Ms. X. Our Women-In-Need scheme is a direct intervention project that assists battered and downtrodden women, offering them the support they so desperately need.

The Change-A-Life Foundation was founded in 2002 by award winning journalist and television producer Funmi Iyanda to intervene in the lives of deserving people when they need it the most.

Over the years, the Foundation has been changing the lives of children and people through its scholarship, healthcare, counseling and micro-finance intervention scheme. Change-A-Lifes scholarship scheme currently supports 98 children.