How rescues work — legally and ethically.
Rescue work creates real questions. Here are direct answers.
Hard questions, answered
How do you verify that a family is genuinely enslaved?
Field partners on the ground confirm each case — the debt, the kiln owner, and the family — before any funds move. We retain direct or indirect contact with every family our program touches.
Why do you pay off debts instead of just freeing people?
Our first approach is to seek release through the police or courts, or to pay off the bonded debt so the family leaves legally and is not re-seized. In extreme cases of clear physical or sexual abuse, we act with urgency to remove the family directly.
What happens after a family is freed?
Freedom is a sequence, not a moment. We stabilize families with housing, food, and medical care, then help them rebuild with jobs, schooling for the children, counseling, and legal advocacy — so they do not fall back into bondage.
How is my money tracked, and how much reaches the work?
By-laws require at least 85% of expenses to go to programs (admin and fundraising capped at 15%). Lifetime 2011–EoY 2022 actuals ran 89% programs. There are no paid staff and no key-person salaries. See the transparency page and our Candid/GuideStar profile.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Redeem the Oppressed is a program of Rescue the Persecuted Inc., a 501(c)(3) (EIN 88-3069203). All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and a receipt is issued for every gift.
How do you protect the dignity and safety of the families in your stories?
We share outcomes and context, not shock imagery. Sensitive details and photos are handled with the family’s consent and safety in mind. Where an image is not cleared for public use, we use documentary and proof visuals instead.
How can I reach a real person?
Use any of our contact channels. We usually respond within a few hours; during heavy traffic it can take up to a full business day.
Still have a question?