As Streams Foundation walk through the brick kiln factory, we see walls of bricks surrounding a kiln that reaches high to the sky and flows with smoke. We see men at the top of the kiln stoking the hot fires with coal. They wear wooden shoes because the temperature in the summer would melt rubber soles. Beyond the kiln, we see an assembly line of families on the flats. A few members make the mud and use a rickety wheelbarrow to bring it to the brick makers, who crouch, knees fully bent. There’s a rhythm to their workflow that’s almost like music. For many Christians brick kiln workers in Pakistan, this is part of everyday life. It often starts at 4 a.m. The daily brick quota can range from 1,500 to 2,500 bricks per family. Many of People under bonded slavery, paying off insurmountable debts that will likely be carried to the next generation and the one after that.

In Pakistan, thousands of Christian workers are trapped in bonded labor at brick kilns, forced to toil under harsh conditions with little hope of freedom. Many fall victim to the oppressive “peshgi” system, where debts passed down through generations keep families enslaved. Despite laws against bonded labor, Christian workers often face discrimination, exploitation, and even pressure to convert. We are working to rescue these workers, providing legal aid, financial assistance, and rehabilitation. Raising awareness, supporting these efforts, and advocating for justice can help break the chains of bondage and restore dignity to these struggling families.