A BYU student was attacked in Lautoka, Fiji, while volunteering with Provo-based HELP International and said the incident could’ve been prevented according to the Deseret News.
ABC 4 reports Hilary, who does not want her last name used, said she was kidnapped at knifepoint by three men who said they knew where she lived and according to Deseret News she said she was “attacked in a residential area, dragged to a nearby field and nearly raped before she was able to escape.”
Hilary reported to KSL she was kept in the field for 45 minutes to an hour.
She said she believes the event could’ve been prevented if HELP International had followed through on providing volunteers with more safety training, according to the Deseret News.
HELP’s executive director reported to KSL that “every possible safety precaution” was taken in regards to student volunteer safety and volunteers were given safety training before arriving in Fiji and after they arrived. In the 12 years that HELP International has been in operation only two assaults have occurred and no rapes, according to KSL.
Hilary said she believes HELP International stands for a great purpose but volunteers are not given all the safety information they need.
