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

Princess Eugenie is determined to end modern slavery.

Her journey began with a life-changing trip to India alongside her mother, Sarah Fergusonand best friend, Julia de Boinville. This visit sparked a realization that would forever redefine Eugénie’s professional life, ultimately leading her to co-found The anti-slave collectivea non-profit organization working to end 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 running programs supporting 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-day slavery. Hearing their harrowing stories of abuse, neglect and exploitation was heartbreaking but also deeply inspiring,” Eugénie, granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabethremembers. “I felt that if this group of young women had the strength and resilience to take charge of their lives, we also had a responsibility to do something. »

It was after this moment of epiphany that Eugenie, Ferguson’s youngest daughter and Prince Andrew – and de Boinville felt compelled to take action and find ways to personally drive change.

“Jules and I spent several years learning, researching, and meeting experts, and in 2017 we created The Anti-Slavery Collective. All these years later, I will never forget these young women; their stories continue to inspire me to this day.

Eugénie shared her personal story with PEOPLE to highlight My EpiphanyThe Anti-Slavery Collective’s powerful series of short films is now featured on the association’s website and social media. Until December, My Epiphany features deeply personal stories from journalists, activists, CEOs and former police officers, all united in the fight against modern slavery.

To launch the series, British journalist and ITV presenter Julie Etchingham describes a moving encounter with a Nigerian woman who had been trafficked to the UK and forced into prostitution. The scars on the woman’s arms are a lasting reminder of the abuse she suffered.

De Boinville, co-founder of the association, tells PEOPLE that there were “many unforgettable moments” that had a personal impact on her.

“After returning from India, we wanted to visit a refuge in the UK to better understand modern slavery happening closer to home,” she says.

“In 2017, we met a woman called Seema in a hideout in the suburbs of London,” recalls De Boinville. “As a young girl growing up in the UK, Seema was sold to a gang by a neighbor. During this safe house meeting.”

In addition to raising awareness, one of the main goals of The Anti-Slavery Collective is to provide education in schools and communities, as part of the UN’s goal to end the pandemic world of modern slavery by 2030.

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

“It is often surprising that the United States and the United Kingdom are countries of origin, transit and destination for trafficked men, women and children,” she adds. “One in 150 people living in the world today are trapped in modern slavery – it’s a shocking statistic.

Woodcock reflects on the issue of child exploitation in modern slavery, saying: “Globally, an estimated one in four victims of modern slavery is a child. »

She adds: “I find every story of child exploitation heartbreaking, but having my own children has really brought this into focus. I am constantly surprised by my children’s sense of justice. They have a very clear idea of ​​what is right and wrong. When you have to talk about difficult topics with children, seeing the shock and disappointment in their eyes is something I think all parents know very well. It inspires me to do more to try to make the world a better place for future generations. “.

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Supported by her sister, Princess Beatrice (who also serves as a strategic advisor to the association), their mother, Ferguson, cousin Zara Tindalland many celebrities, Eugénie and de Boinville organized their first gala in November last year. The inauguration Strength of freedom The event, held at London’s Battersea Arts Centre, included an auction and performance by Ed Sheeranraising more than a million dollars for the association.