‘I’ll Never Forget’ (Exclusive)

Princess Eugenie talks about the ‘heartbreaking’ experience that inspired her to co-found The Anti-Slavery Collective

Princess Eugenie is on a determined mission to end modern slavery.

Her journey began with a life-changing trip to India with her mother. Sarah Fergusonand best friend, Julia de Boinville. The visit sparked a realization that would forever redefine Eugenie’s working life, ultimately leading her to become a co-founder The Anti-Slave Collectivea non-profit organization committed to ending modern slavery and human trafficking.

“My mother took Julia and I to India when we were 21. In Calcutta we met Aloka Mitra, who has been leading programs to support vulnerable women and children in India for over 35 years and is one of the most inspiring women I have ever met. Princess Eugenie, 34, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“Aloka introduced us to a group of teenage girls she had rescued from modern slavery. It was heartbreaking but also very inspiring to hear their harrowing stories of abuse, neglect and exploitation,” says Eugenie, granddaughter of the deceased Queen Elizabethremembers. “I felt that if this group of young women had the strength and resilience to reclaim their lives, then we also had a responsibility to do something.”

It was after this moment of revelation that Eugenie – the youngest daughter of Ferguson and Prince Andreas – and De Boinville felt compelled to take action and find ways in which they could personally create change.

“Jules and I spent several years learning more, doing our research and meeting experts, and in 2017 we founded The Anti-Slavery Collective. All these years later, I will never forget those young women; their stories inspire me to this day.”

Eugenie shared her personal story with PEOPLE to highlight My EpiphanyThe Anti-Slavery Collective’s powerful series of short films can now be seen on the charity’s website and social media channels. Runs until December, My Epiphany shows deeply personal stories from journalists, activists, CEOs and former police officers – all united in the fight against modern slavery.

Early in the series, British journalist and ITV news anchor Julie Etchingham describes an emotional encounter with a Nigerian woman who had been trafficked into Britain and forced into sex work. The scars on the woman’s arms are a lasting reminder of the abuse she suffered.

De Boinville, co-founder of the charity, tells PEOPLE that there have been “many unforgettable moments” that have influenced her personally.

“After returning from India we wanted to visit a safe house in Britain to learn more about modern slavery closer to home,” she says.

“In 2017 we met a woman called Seema in a safe house on the outskirts of London,” De Boinville recalls. “As a young girl growing up in Britain, Seema was sold to a gang by a neighbor. During that safe house meeting, Seema told us that she wanted to become a social worker to help other survivors. The instinct to help others was, after all the trauma she had experienced herself, amazing.

In addition to raising awareness, one of The Anti-Slavery Collective’s key objectives is to provide education in schools and communities, working towards the UN goal of ending the global pandemic of modern slavery by 2030.

“In Britain you are never more than a mile from someone living in extreme exploitation,” says Sarah Woodcock, CEO of The Anti-Slavery Collective.

“It is often surprising to people that the US and Britain are source, transit and destination countries for trafficked men, women and children,” she adds. a shocking statistic.”

Reflecting on the issue of child exploitation in modern slavery, Woodcock says: “Globally, it is estimated that one in four victims of modern slavery are children.”

She adds: “I find any story about child exploitation harrowing, but having my own children has really brought this into focus. I am constantly surprised by my children’s sense of justice. They have such a clear understanding of what is right and wrong When you have to talk to children about difficult topics, seeing the shock and disappointment in their eyes is something I think every parent knows all too well. It encourages me to do more to make the world a better place a better place for future generations.”

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Supported by her sister, Princess Beatrice (who also serves as the charity’s strategic advisor), their mother, Ferguson, cousin Zara Tindaland a host of celebrities, Eugenie and de Boinville organized their first gala in November last year. The inaugural Power of freedom event, held at London’s Battersea Arts Centre, consisted of an auction and a performance by Ed Sheeranraising more than $1 million for charity.