CNN Hero of the Year

Since 1993, Anuradha Koirala and her organization Maiti Nepal rescued over 12,000 girls and women from human trafficking. She has created a safe home for these women and children to live in. Since she has been so successful in saving so many people's lives, she and her volunteers sometimes have to have bodyguards in some cities to help rescue girls. Many of her volunteers are sex trafficking survivors.

Koirala's history of an abusive marriage inspired her to start Maiti Nepal. After that marriage ended, she saved her income of $100 per month and started helping other women who had experienced sexual violence. Now Maiti Nepal doesn't only take in sex trafficking survivors, but also women with HIV/AIDS and abandoned children.

Because of her courage, strength, and the empowerment she has instilled into these women and children, Koirala is more than worthy of the honor of being named CNN's Hero of the Year 2010.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive10/anuradha.koirala.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/29/cnnheroes.koirala.nepal/

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/11/21/cnnheroes.hero.of.year/index.html