HELPERS: Robyn Bashford and Robyn Raymond.
SAVING young women from a life of sex slavery has motivated a group of Lake Macquarie locals to raise funds for 3 Angels Nepal.
Charlestown Seventh-Day Adventist Church members have thrown their support behind the non-profit organisation, which is linked to the charity Asian Aid.
Through several programs, 3 Angels Nepal aims to provide a better life for victims of sex slavery and child trafficking.
It has developed 12 homes where the children are cared for by "house parents" who adopt them.
A national radio outreach channel has also been founded to educate remote villagers about the dangers of letting their daughters go with foreign businessmen offering them a better life.
To date, Charlestown Seventh-Day Adventist Church has raised more than $400,000 for 3 Angels Nepal.
Its first fund-raising effort of $150,000 was used to purchase a second safe home for the girls.
Now the group is raising money for a training centre, where the girls can learn skills to find jobs, such as sewing, computing and gardening.
Church member Robyn Raymond said many of the Nepali women could not handle the burden of shame after being rescued.
She said they often returned to a life of prostitution or drugs or committed suicide.
"Education is key to it all," Mrs Raymond said.
■ Go to 3angelsnewc-astle.com.au for more information or to make a donation.