Princess Eugenie Reveals Eye-Opening Moment That Transformed Her Life (Exclusive)

Princess Eugenie is on a determined mission to end modern slavery.

Her journey began with a life-changing trip to India alongside her mother, Sarah Ferguson, and best friend, Julia de Boinville. The visit sparked a realization that would redefine Eugenie’s working life forever, ultimately leading her to co-found The Anti-Slave Collective, a nonprofit organization that works to end modern slavery and human trafficking.

“My Mum took Julia and I to India when we were 21. In Calcutta, we met Aloka Mitra, who has led programs supporting vulnerable women and children in India for over 35 years and is one of the most inspirational 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 slavery. Hearing their harrowing stories of abuse, neglect and exploitation was heartbreaking but also deeply inspiring,” Eugenie, granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth, recalls. “I felt that if this group of young women had the strength and resilience to reclaim their lives, that we also had a responsibility to do something.”

It was after this moment of epiphany that Eugenie — the youngest daughter of Ferguson and Prince Andrew — and de Boinville felt compelled to take action and find ways they could personally drive change.

“Jules and I spent several years learning more, doing our research and meeting with experts, and in 2017 we set up The Anti-Slavery Collective. All these years later, I will never forget those young women; their stories continue to inspire me to this day.”

Eugenie shared her personal story with PEOPLE to highlight My Epiphany, The Anti-Slavery Collective’s powerful series of short films now featured on the charity’s website and social media channels. Running through December, My Epiphany showcases deeply personal stories from journalists, activists, CEOs, and former police officers—all united in the fight against modern slavery.

Kicking off the series, British journalist and ITV news anchor Julie Etchingham describes an emotional meeting with a Nigerian woman who had been trafficked to the U.K. and forced into sex work. The scars on the woman’s arms serve as a lasting reminder of the abuse she suffered.

De Boinville, co-founder of the charity, tells PEOPLE that there have been “many unforgettable moments” that have personally impacted her.

“After we came back from India we wanted to visit a safe house in the U.K. to understand more about modern slavery happening closer to home,” she says.

“In 2017, we met a woman called Seema in a safe house on the outskirts of London,” De Boinville recalls “As a young girl growing up in the U.K., Seema was sold to a gang by a neighbor. During that safe house meeting, Seema told us she wanted to become a social worker to help other survivors. The instinct to help others, after all the trauma she had been through herself, was astonishing. ”

In addition to raising awareness, one of The Anti-Slavery Collective’s key goals is to provide education in schools and communities, working toward the UN’s objective of ending the global pandemic of modern slavery by 2030.

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

“It is often surprising to people that the U.S. and the U.K. are source, transit and destination countries for trafficked men, women and children,” she adds. “One in every 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 it is estimated that one in four victims of modern slavery are children.”

She adds, “I find every story of child exploitation harrowing, but having children of my own has really brought this into focus. I am constantly surprised by my kids’ sense of justice. They have such a clear picture 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 that every parent knows only too well. It spurs 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 charity), their mother, Ferguson, cousin Zara Tindall, and a host of celebrities, Eugenie and de Boinville organized their first gala in November of last year. The inaugural Force of Freedom event, held at London’s Battersea Arts Centre, featured an auction and a performance by Ed Sheeran, raising over $1 million for the charity.