We are supporting Compassion First by donating 10% of our sales. Operating in Indonesia, they provide long-term, hope-filled solutions for survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation. Their goal is to create sustainable change that can empower survivors to rebuild their lives. To learn more about this organization and how you can help, please click the button below.
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Q: But first, to refresh our memories, could you share with us a little bit about the birth of Compassion First and what was the reason that you chose Indonesia as your location?
A: Compassion First (CF) began as an anti-trafficking organization in 2008. Our president and founder, Mike Mercer, wanted to go somewhere where there was little to no work being done.
After learning that very little services were available for survivors in Indonesia, we settled on working there.
Field operations began in 2010 with the opening of our first aftercare shelter, named Sarah’s House, in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. To date, Compassion First continues to be one of the only Western organizations providing comprehensive aftercare services in Indonesia nation-wide.
Q: What are the ways in which Compassion First fights human trafficking in Indonesia?
A: Compassion First’s three pillars of work are aftercare, prevention, and law enforcement partnership.
Compassion First runs two aftercare shelters in different regions of Indonesia that provide holistic, wraparound aftercare and long-term rehabilitation for survivors. In our program, a precious survivor receives trauma-informed counseling, education, medical care, enrichment activities, a community of friends, and 24-7 security and love from Compassion First staff. We plan to open new aftercare shelters on the island of West Java, Indonesia, in 2022.
In 2012, Compassion First began our cemetery outreach program, which focuses on prevention of trafficking through community development. We opened two community centers to serve a large, impoverished population of women and their children living in a cemetery in East Java. These women are survivors of abuse and sexual exploitation, and their children are extremely vulnerable to trafficking.
Through entrepreneurship programs such as The Yellow Flower Collection, educational scholarships, trafficking awareness sessions, and more, Compassion First is helping to strengthen vulnerable communities and reduce trafficking. In 2020, we were invited into another cemetery community in East Java and has begun supporting education for children and teaching literacy classes for adults.
Compassion First actively partners with law enforcement, providing support to authorities during investigations and to survivors and their families after rescue.
We also assist in prosecution of traffickers by preparing and accompanying a survivor if she is called to testify in court. Additionally, Compassion First’s professional conferences with local law enforcement as well as Indonesian and US authorities have significantly disrupted trafficking patterns between islands in Indonesia.
Q: The survivors' process of healing and restoration must be very challenging. Could you tell us about the aftercare programs you offer to help them in their journey?
A: At Compassion First, we believe each girl is resilient, strong, and capable of determining her own future. To that end, we shape our programs to provide individualized care for child survivors of sex trafficking. Within the context of a safe and loving home, our program emphasizes building resilience to overcome trauma.
We utilize a wrap-around model of care in which each girl is placed at the center of her program. She is mentored by her case coordinator, who provides guidance, wisdom and support.
Together, they set specific goals for her resiliency growth and monitor her progress as she plans for the future.
Counselors and case-coordinators work with residents, families, and communities to provide individualized trauma counseling, support groups, and therapy. A resident receives legal counsel, trial preparation, and accompaniment by a Compassion First staff member on the day of her witness in court.
Residents also receive in-shelter schooling and enrichment classes such as English, music, art, and dance; life-skills program and training; vocational and entrepreneurial support; and spiritual support programs.
She is at the center of her program, but we are walking alongside and cheering her on all the way!
Q: Could you tell us a recent story of victory from the field, or from the survivors you serve?
A: Every time there is a choice to choose hope instead of despair, to engage in the hard work of rebuilding inner and outer lives instead of giving up, and to move forward, it is cause for celebration! Everyday victories abound in the shelters, from the small personal victories to larger dreams being realized. Although there are many challenges that come from a resident’s family and environment, the effort, persistence, and loyalty she shows in the process becomes the guide and motivation to achieve her future.
Most recently, we have celebrated several aftercare residents graduating high school and enrolling in college. They are pursuing their dreams of becoming lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants, and pastors. We are continually inspired by the courage, capacity, and resilience of the survivors in our care!
Q: How can we help? Could you share with us some of the tangible ways we can support the work of Compassion First in fighting human trafficking?
A: We love to partner with people, and we believe that this work calls for each person who believes she is worth advocating for to give what they can towards the healing and restoration of survivors from their prayer, time, talents, or treasures.
Our operational work needs basic financial support to make this work possible. The monthly support of our Survivor Sponsors and Prevention Partners provides loving support, rehabilitation, and hope-filled futures. Additionally, you could start a personal fundraiser to benefit Compassion First, become a prayer advocate, donate your time or finances, and share with others about Compassion First on social media and with your community.
We are amazed by the generosity and creativity of each individual who supports us. Compassion First would not exist without you.
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You can also support Compassion First by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the amazing work they are doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales will be donated to Compassion First. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Compassion First, please visit their:
Website: CompassionFirst.org
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
10% of our sales until May 1st, 2023 will benefit HRC Ministries. 139Made stands together with many around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them.
HRC Ministries exists to bring freedom and safety to those exploited by sex trafficking through prevention, education, and long-term residential care, because of Christ's love, through the power of the Gospel.
Click the button below to learn more about HRC Ministries.
Q: Could you tell us a little bit how HRC Ministries was started? And what is the meaning behind "HRC"?
A: HRC Got started as a family outreach ministry. Originally the name stood for Harry, Randy, and Caleb Altmeyer. The founders of HRC have been serving the vulnerable for over 50 years. As the outreaches continued to grow, and we got more involved in our community, we began hearing stories of women and children being trafficked and knew we needed to act.
In 2015, HRC was launched as a multi-faceted outreach and anti-trafficking organization, and over time the family has decided to fully focus their efforts on the fight against human trafficking and welcome others to join them in the fight.
Today HRC stands for "Helping Redeem Captives" and its focus has shifted to solely ministering to survivors of trafficking with a learning center, a long-term anti-trafficking program, and transitional housing and reintegration services.
Q: Could you share with us the ways in which HRC Ministries is combating human trafficking?
A: Currently we are combating human trafficking through prevention, education, and long-term residential care.
PREVENTION & EDUCATION
In order to protect survivors and provide a way out of slavery, we need to reach those who need our help. That's why our street and school outreaches exist. We also offer education and training for individuals and groups regarding how sex trafficking is affecting our communities and how to get involved.
HEALING & RECOVERY
Once survivors are safe and secure, we need to begin healing the many wounds and traumas they've come out of: sex trafficking, homelessness, poverty, abuse, and more. We offer a 9-month long-term restoration program for trafficking survivors, transitional housing, and full-time care.
RESIDENT REINTEGRATION
Life after trafficking can be scary for survivors. We work to reintegrate those with traumatic pasts back into society. We do this with additional 9-months of transitional housing for our residents, mentoring, internships, and support with the help of local churches and businesses that provide a healthy community and the opportunity to thrive.
Q: From your experience so far, what would you say is the toughest challenge your team has faced in fighting human trafficking?
A: The toughest challenge that we have found is the lack of resources for locally rescued women and children. Currently there is no trauma center or stabilization center for women or kids that are coming right out of the life which makes it difficult to find them the help and resources they need as they are coming off of drugs or need emergency housing that is safe.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite victory story you have witnessed in the life of HRC Ministries?
A: My favorite story is probably the very first time that we had a resident come into our program. It was about 4 hard years of fundraising, program development, and a lot of personal sacrifice.
So I remember when the first woman came into our program and told us that she slept through the night without being afraid it was a huge day for my dad and I.
Q: How can we – as an individual, as a business, and as a community – support HRC Ministries in fighting human trafficking?
A: The first thing we need is prayer for wisdom. As we continue to grow the ministry we are realizing that in order to bring holistic care for local women we are going to need an advocacy center, emergency trauma center, a stabilization house, and transitional housing for independent living. We really need prayer in hearing the voice of God on the timing to open up the facilities needed and in what order.
Secondly, we need financial support and partners to make the above happen.
Whether you donate a lamp, a car, through a will, or on our donate page, you are impacting the lives and futures of survivors of sex trafficking.
There are several ways that you can donate financially. The easiest is donating online. But we also accept checks and cash through the mail or delivered to our office. $150 provides 3 nights of food and shelter for trafficking survivors.
If you own a business, you can do company contributions, event sponsorship, or join our B2B Networking to support HRC with outreach to help survivors.
You can also donate goods to HRC Ministries' Thrift Store. The proceeds go to helping survivors of trafficking.
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You can also support HRC Ministries by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the amazing work they are doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until MAY 1st, 2023 will be donated to HRC Ministries. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on HRC Ministries, please visit their:
Website: HRCMinistries.com
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
10% of our sales until January 30th, 2023 will benefit Eden's Glory. 139Made stands together with many around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them.
Eden's Glory is passionate about fortifying survivors and equipping communities to combat human trafficking. A home where survivors of human trafficking are restored to thrive for the praise and glory of God.
Click the button below to learn more about Eden's Glory.
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of Eden's Glory? What was the meaning behind the organization's name?
A: Our community kept asking the question of “what’s next? What can we do about trafficking?” After a year of educating and raising awareness about human trafficking in our community, they were ready for the next level of engagement.
We knew that restoration homes were extremely limited (at the time there were fewer than 250 beds available for survivors in the US) and we felt led by the Lord to step into that need.
Our heart behind the name was that we want first and foremost, ALL that we do to be for the Glory of God.
It’s not about us, it’s not even about the survivors or communities we serve, it is all for the Lord and has to bring Him glory. We also want each survivor to come back to God’s original intent in the Garden of Eden: to experience the safety and intimacy of walking with Him in love and grace and wholeness.
Q: Could you share with us the ways in which Eden's Glory is combatting human trafficking?
A: Each year, we train and equip thousands of people ranging from students, parents, service providers, frontline responders, law enforcement, schools and churches to both prevent trafficking and recognize indicators and develop effective response protocols. We provide free trauma-informed counseling to minors who have a history of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation through our Foster Kairos program. Additionally, we support and train their caregivers to help reduce the need for long-term restoration homes like Eden’s Glory in the future.
Through Eden’s Glory, we provide both long-term residential care and outpatient care for adult female survivors of trafficking that includes up to two years of trauma-informed counseling and classes to work through the trauma, reduce recidivism, and launch into independent living in a healthy community of support.
Q: From your experience so far, what would you say is the toughest challenge(s) your team has faced in fighting human trafficking?
A: Honestly, it’s finding and maintaining a full staff. Due to the nature and intensity of the work, it’s hard to find people who are called and equipped for this work. Turnover is high in this industry and while we statistically keep staff longer than many homes like ours, it’s still an ongoing struggle to stay fully staffed and, at times, keeps us from serving at capacity. We often have interest but finding someone with longevity and commitment to this work is hard.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite survivor's victory journey you have witnessed in the life of Eden's Glory?
A: Years ago we walked with a survivor for 18 months through her healing journey before she relapsed back into addiction. While she didn’t return to trafficking, she decided to leave Eden’s Glory to go back home. We found her at a nearby hotel and our team literally walked circles around that hotel praying for miracles and breakthroughs for her. One by one, each staff member went up to her room to talk with her, love on her, and remind her of who she was. At the end of the day, she still refused to return with us and left that night to head back to her home state. We were devastated and so deeply confused and hurting for her but we continued to pray deeply for her.
A month later, after a morning of praying for her, we received a message from her stating that she wanted to “come home”. She shared that upon returning to her family and old friends, she realized “I’m not the same person that I used to be and I don’t belong here. I’ve been growing and healing and my old friends are still stuck.” She ended up coming back and to this day, we still have a remarkable relationship with her and she still says that the love she witnessed that day changed her forever. She’s now living independently, working a full-time job and building strong community while speaking out for those who are still “stuck”.
Q: What are the current needs of Eden's Glory? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: We need YOU! We need staff, we need volunteers, we need committed donors, we need prayer warriors. Both people working directly with survivors and people working behind the scenes. There is so much that goes on to make the healing journey possible and it truly takes an entire community.
We’ve recently been called to build or buy a bigger home but that will take additional funding both to build and to staff it so we can expand our capacity.
Would you commit to joining us? Eden’s Defenders give monthly, anywhere from $25 to $600, and are fighting for and defending these women and children to find hope and a future and break the generational cycles. CLICK HERE to find out more about the many ways to give and support Eden's Glory.
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You can also support Eden's Glory by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the amazing work they are doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until JANUARY 30th, 2023 will be donated to Eden's Glory. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Eden's Glory, please visit their:
Website: EdensGlory.org
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
10% of our sales until OCTOBER 29TH, 2022 will benefit Cry Freedom Missions. 139Made stands together with many around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them.
Every day men and women are used for their bodies and labor, trapped in an unending cycle of physical, verbal and sexual abuse. Cry Freedom Missions are committed to ending this $150 billion per year industry and setting its survivors free.
Click the button below to learn more about Cry Freedom Missions.
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of this organization and how Cry Freedom Missions was started?
A: We saw ladies coming into the pregnancy center who had no ID and usually had someone with them that they looked to before they would answer any questions. Beverly took one such lady back to her hotel room and that day changed everything for this organization. It was apparent she was being trafficked, but there were no organizations that could take her in and few beds across the state for her to stay in. That began a journey to create a holistic approach to helping survivors.
Q: Could you tell us what are the ways in which Cry Freedom Missions is combatting human trafficking?
A: Our holistic approach to helping survivors is to
• identify those who are being trafficked;
• reach them through our jail, hotel, and street outreach;
• rescue them through our partnership with the SBI, FBI, national human trafficking hotline, and local authorities;
• restore them through our emergency shelter, long term care program, transitional program, and out patient care.
HOTEL OUTREACH
Several teams of staff and volunteers across the state of North Carolina distribute supplies, food, and hygiene items to those living in hotels, the homeless, and individuals residing in local camps. Our teams specifically focus on hotels that are locally known for drugs and prostitution.
JAIL OUTREACH
Weekly, our teams meet with female inmates to teach English, Math, Speech, Life Skill, and Music classes. This allows Cry Freedom Missions the opportunity to create unique and special relationships with the inmates in order to help them with services upon re-entry to the community.
EMERGENCY SHELTER
Our Safe House in an undisclosed location provides temporary emergency shelter to those rescued from human trafficking or fleeing dangerous situations. If you or someone you know is involved in trafficking, call our Cry Freedom Missions Hotline at 919-988-9262.
SAFE HOUSE
Cry Freedom Missions offers safe housing and emergency shelter to those fleeing dangerous trafficking situations. The "Safe House" is in a secure, undisclosed location, and provides survivors with emergency housing, food, clothing, and other essential items upon their arrival. Our case managers then work with each individual to develop a long-term plan. Our house parents provide emergency resources, home cooked meals, fresh linens, and additional support.
Q: From your experience so far, what would you say is the toughest challenge(s) your team has faced in fighting human trafficking?
A: Limited financial resources, educating the public and organizations what human trafficking looks like, and qualified volunteers to mentor and assist the programs.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of survivor's victory you have witnessed in the life of Cry Freedom Missions?
A: One of our favorite testimonies, is Ashley's. Before she came to Cry Freedom Missions, she was living on the streets for 20 years, was actively trafficked, and her daughter was taken away from her. You can listen to her story in this video:
Q: What are the current needs of Cry Freedom Missions? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: As we continue to grow, we need help in:
• Monthly Supporters: Freedom Partners
You can sign up to give a recurring gift each month. CLICK HERE
• Need to Upfit a new building to provide employment and vocational skills to survivors ($250,000)
• Expansion at the safehouse to add additional beds ($80,000)
• Our other needs to care for survivors, such as personal supplies, counseling sessions, monthly food & utilities, and rehab costs. CLICK HERE to donate.
Cry Freedom Missions also runs two brick & mortar Shoppes in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The shoppes provide the necessary funding to reach, rescue and restore survivors of human trafficking. If you don't live near Goldsboro, you can still shop online for hand-crafted survivor made jewelry, home decor, gifts, apparel and more! Click to to shop Cry Freedom Missions ONLINE STORE
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You can also support Cry Freedom Missions by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the amazing work they are doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until OCTOBER 29th, 2022 will be donated to Cry Freedom Missions. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Cry Freedom Missions, please visit their:
Website: CryFreedomMissions.com
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
10% of our sales until JULY 25TH, 2022 will benefit GenerateHope. 139Made stands together with many around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until JULY 25TH, we are featuring GenerateHope.
GenerateHope provides long-term, comprehensive programs to women who have been sexually trafficked, so that they are able to reintegrate into society and walk powerfully into their future.
Click the button below to learn more about GenerateHope.
Q: GenerateHope was started in 2009. Could you tell us what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: THE FIRST WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS JUST TO START.
A grassroots group formed around the common desire to take action against the sex trafficking situation in San Diego by developing a unique program to meet the needs of women leaving the sex trade.
GenerateHope was founded in 2009, by Susan Munsey and members of Harbor City Church. Born from a desire to provide trauma care services to a very underserved local population, the founding members of GenerateHope soon came to realize there is a great need for comprehensive healing for women who have survived the horrors of being trafficked and sold for sex. San Diego needed to address this American epidemic with a personal, local impact.
Since its founding, GenerateHope has been a refuge for over 130 women, providing resources to break the tragic cycle of vulnerability. As the first on-site, integrated recovery program for survivors in San Diego, GenerateHope addresses the complex needs of this unique population through individual case management, education, psychotherapy, a variety of adjunct therapies, and community support for medical, dental and psychiatric needs.
Q: Could you tell us what are the ways in which GenerateHope is combatting human trafficking?
A: GenerateHope fights human trafficking by providing survivors with a real way out. We provide long-term, wraparound residential programs that are more than just a safe place to live — we offer a place for survivors to truly recover and walk forward feeling empowered to reach their goals for their futures. Additionally, we seek to educate communities on a local and national level on sex trafficking, the signs and warnings, the stereotypes and misinformation, and the work that can be done on an individual and global scale.
• Safe Housing
Long-term housing in a loving and compassionate environment.
• Learning Center
GED and college support, tutoring, critical thinking, and career prep
• Emotional Health
Individual and group psychotherapy and adjunct therapies support healing from the extreme trauma of the sex trade
• Case Management
Access to social, medical, and community support services
Q: From your experience thus far, what would you say is the toughest challenge you have faced in fighting human trafficking?
A: Fighting human trafficking can be difficult on the restorative care side of things because survivors are often working through years of complex trauma, and healing is definitely not linear! Still, we walk alongside them as they work on their recovery. Our definitions of success are varied as we celebrate the small victories alongside the big ones. Some days it can be difficult to see the impact, but as we recognize the everyday victories that survivors are accomplishing, we feel blessed to be a part of their journey.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of survivor's victory GenerateHope has witnessed?
A: Claire came to us after escaping sex trafficking and a heroine addiction brought on via the trafficking. She had a lot of healing to do. She had been on a dating website when she answered a request for dinner with a yes. Something she would live to regret. The date went well & he was a perfect gentleman throughout the evening. That is until he threw her into his trunk at the end of the date. She was trafficked & drugged for four years before she came to GenerateHope. She settled into our home once she knew she was safe and supported. She worked on her substance abuse through 12-step meetings regularly. She worked on the trauma through her individual and group therapy through many tears.
She met with our teacher who helped her prepare for college and benefitted from our many community partnerships who assisted with physical and psychological wounds, tattoo cover up (traffickers often brand their victims), and legal assistance.
When she was ready she began taking college classes to become a veterinary assistant and got all As. She is now working toward becoming a veterinarian and she’s got the grades to go all the way with her dreams! She has long since graduated from GenerateHope and continues to do well and work toward her goals. We are so proud of her!
Q: What are the current needs of GenerateHope? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: As we continue to expand our capacity in serving survivors through safe housing, healing, and education, we need your support. We need volunteers, prayer warriors, individuals advocating on behalf of us and those willing to invest in our mission both through financial gifts and in-kind gifts. We have Amazon wishlists on our website which are a great way to help out from afar and give us items to help keep our homes running smoothly.
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GenerateHope Amazon Wishlist for their SAN DIEGO Recovery Home:
CLICK HERE if you'd like to donate in-kind gifts.
GenerateHope Amazon Wishlist for their COLORADO Recovery Home:
CLICK HERE if you'd like to donate in-kind gifts.
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You can also support GenerateHope by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the amazing work they are doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until JULY 26th, 2022 will be donated to GenerateHope. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Compassion First, please visit their:
Website: GenerateHope.org
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Vimeo
10% of our sales until January 12th, 2022 will benefit Compassionate Hope. 139Made stands together with many around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them.
Until JANUARY 12TH, 2022, we are featuring Compassionate Hope. They provide loving Homes of Hope where these at-risk children’s physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs are met.
Click the button below to learn more about Compassionate Hope.
They also serve those who serve the children and are committed to working through national leadership. Serving them, not leading them. Equipping them, not directing them.
Q: When was Compassionate Hope established and what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: The birth of Compassionate Hope and our heart for the Least of These (Matthew 25:40) in Southeast Asia began over 30 years ago when our founder, Dr. Al Henson, started making his first trips to Thailand and Laos. During these trips, God used him to walk alongside the persecuted church, plant churches, make disciples, and train church leaders. As part of his journeys, he saw firsthand the horrors facing children and the perfect storm that was sweeping them toward a future of exploitation and trafficking.
Because he had already spent decades being a servant to the servants of God in Southeast Asia, God had him and his wife Susan uniquely positioned to found Compassionate Hope in 2011. Compassionate Hope exists to serve and support these national leaders who are in turn caring sacrificially for 850+ children in over 50 Homes of Hope in Thailand, Laos, and the Philippines.
Q: What are the ways in which Compassionate Hope is combatting human trafficking in Southeast Asia?
A: We help rescue children from trafficking, and we also focus on the prevention of human trafficking by breaking the cycles of poverty and lack of education that contribute to trafficking.
A significant way we fight human trafficking is through our work in the Philippines. One of the most horrific atrocities in the world is taking place behind closed doors in homes every day in the Philippines.
Children are being forced into OSEC, the online sexual exploitation of children, and their perpetrators are often family members.
All OSEC needs to thrive is an innocent young child and a camera connected to the internet.
Our Village of Hope in the Philippines works with the government to provide a safe, loving home where children who have been rescued from OSEC can heal, thrive, and find hope.
Q: From your experience thus far, what would you say is the toughest challenge Compassionate Hope has faced in fighting human trafficking?
A: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the toughest challenges we have seen in our ministry. Besides the health and economic ramifications of COVID-19, authorities are also seeing an alarming rise in OSEC trafficking because of the restricted lockdowns. The US Department of Justice charted approximately 25,000 lead hits to OSEC streaming sites in October 2019. But in October of 2020, the lead hits jumped to approximately 350,000, which is fourteen times higher compared to 2019.
Remember, in many cases, the perpetrators of this trafficking are family members….parents, aunts, uncles, and other family members who are desperate for funds, and overseas “customers” are only too willing to pay.
Many of the viewers and participants in these despicable live shows are in the United States and Europe.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory that Compassionate Hope has witnessed?
A: One of my favorite stories is the story of Ning. Ning is from Thailand and she was trafficked to the United States as a child bride. Let that sink in for a minute... Ning was sold into slavery in the United States. But praise Jesus, Ning was able to escape miraculously and made her way back to Thailand. She was then discipled and mentored by Dr. Al Henson, our founder. As time passed, Ning desired to open her own Home of Hope for girls just like her who have been trafficked or in danger of being trafficked. Ning’s Home of Hope became a blessed reality, and I wish you could meet the beautiful, precious girls who have found hope, a future, unconditional love, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of Ning’s love for the Lord and His children.
Q: What are the current needs of Compassionate Hope? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: We are grateful for all those who have come alongside us. Our children are God’s children... and your children. We thank God for everyday people praying faithfully, supporting our children, and sharing the news about the miraculous stories God is writing every day in Southeast Asia!
One of our most significant needs is the ongoing support of our Homes of Hope. Sponsoring a home helps provide for the food, clothing, educational, and housing needs of the children. We also don’t stop providing education when our students graduate high school. We are delighted to care for them just like we care for our children in the United States by helping them attend university, Bible college, or vocational school.
A practical way for people to start getting involved with Compassionate Hope is by taking part in our Christmas for the Least of These project, which is going on right now.
For $25.00, you can give the gift of a joy-filled Christmas to a child in our Homes of Hope. For many children, this is their first opportunity to have a love-filled, Christ-filled Christmas. Your donation will help cover the cost of a Christmas party, a special meal, and a gift for a child. Also, in some areas, we can make this special Christmas party a community event, where we can share with the community about the gospel of Christ. To learn more and take part, visit our website at www.compassionatehope.org/christmas.
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You can also support Compassionate Hope by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the amazing work they are doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until JANUARY 12th, 2022 will be donated to Compassionate Hope. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Compassionate Hope, please visit their:
Website: CompassionateHope.org
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
10% of our sales until October 2, 2021 will benefit Rescue Her. 139Made stands together with many around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until OCTOBER 2ND, we are featuring Rescue Her.
Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, they exist to empower survivors of sex trafficking to live in freedom. They do this through raising awareness, rescue initiatives, and restorative services.
Click the button below to learn more about Rescue Her.
Q: When was Rescue Her established and what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: Rescue Her was established a little over 10 years ago out of our founder’s desire to do something to help those in the darkest of places. For years, our founder kept doubting whether or not she could help, until one day she had a life changing encounter with God that she just couldn’t ignore. The sheer number of slaves being trafficked in the world today can be overwhelming, but here at Rescue Her, we do not focus on the magnitude of the problem. Instead, we focus on helping the ONE survivor in front of us… then another, and another. To read more about our founder’s story, visit our website at https://www.rescueher.org/our-founder
“We who are free have the obligation and privilege to fight for those who are not.” — Josie Carignan, Rescue Her Founder
Q: What are the ways in which Rescue Her is combatting human trafficking?
A: Currently, our efforts are focused on our crisis response and advocacy program for female adult survivors in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. For over 10 years, we have been empowering, supporting, and praying for the ONE. We have done this through crisis response, advocacy, safe homes, street outreach, education/prevention, and facilitating rescue operations. From India to Moldova to right here in Texas, we have assisted survivors all across the globe. No matter where we are or what we are doing, we fight for her.
CRISIS RESPONSE
We provide short-term crisis response services to adult (18+) female victims of sex trafficking in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who are in need of emergency assistance. Since 2017, we have operated our crisis hotline, which is currently open 24 hours a day Monday-Saturday. We receive phone calls from law enforcement, Homeland Security, hospitals, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, other non-profit agencies, community members, and victims themselves.
When we receive a call about a survivor in crisis, our response depends on who is calling. If the call is from a survivor herself (or a community member who is in direct contact with a survivor), we complete a brief assessment to determine emergency needs and safety risks before meeting the survivor in a secure location to coordinate next steps. If assisting in person is not possible, due to capacity or safety risks, we continue to assist the survivor over the phone. Consent is extremely important to us. If the call is not from a survivor directly, we ensure that the person calling on their behalf obtains the survivor’s consent to speak with us. If we receive a general tip about trafficking in the community (or about someone they know whom they are not in contact with), we can forward the tip to local law enforcement or encourage the caller to do so themselves.
EMPOWER PROGRAM
We provide long-term advocacy services for adult, female survivors of trafficking in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area through our Empower Program. Our program focuses on empowerment in these five areas: Legal, Independent Living (housing, transportation, financial), Community, Safe Environment, and Health (physical, emotional, mental).
Each Brave One, or survivor in our program, is paired with a staff Advocate and a Volunteer Mentor to offer emotional support, guidance, and assistance identifying and reaching goals. Brave Ones also receive financial support for things like transportation to and from work/school, medical/prescription needs, and basic necessities (clothes/food/hygiene) with the end goal being financial independence.
Because Brave Ones are coming out of an exploitive and abusive community, we place a heavy emphasis on helping each survivor create a new, healthy community where they can thrive.
Community is created through attending Empower Night (our weekly survivor support group), volunteer mentorship, guidance in restoring existing relationships with family and friends if possible, and partnership with local churches and agencies.
Our advocacy services have no end. Some survivors in our program have been with us for years; others have just left exploitation as recently as a month ago. While our advocacy services begin when survivors are local to DFW, we also have a virtual Empower Program for those that end up moving out of the city/state to continue their healing.
AWARENESS
We believe that the prevention of trafficking and the rescue and long-term restoration of victims all begins with awareness. Our goal is to educate communities on the truth of what trafficking is, what it looks like in their community, and their role in the long-term safety and restoration of survivors.
Because trafficking can happen in ANY community, it is vital that ALL communities be equipped with this basic knowledge. We raise awareness through speaking events and Rescue Her information booths anywhere we are invited.
Q: From your experience thus far, what would you say is the toughest challenge for Rescue Her in helping survivors?
A: The toughest part is that the need for help is currently greater than what our small team has capacity for. We aim to provide deep, individualized care for each survivor we work with. This kind of care requires a lot of time and financial resources. We want to always make sure that the women in our program receive the full continuum of care that they need and are worthy of. Unfortunately, that means that we often have to say no to helping new survivors, in order to ensure that we have the time and resources necessary to continue to assist those in our program. It truly breaks our heart when we can’t open our doors to each and every woman who reaches out to us. It’s hard to know that there are women still hurting, that we just don’t have the capacity to serve yet.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory that Rescue Her has witnessed?
A: Yes! I would highly encourage people to watch Alexa’s* story here:
We assisted this brave survivor in leaving her trafficker. She then joined our long-term program, and has since gone on to graduate high school, get a job, and start a family! We are so proud of who she is, and so honored to have gotten to walk alongside her.
Q: What are the current needs of Rescue Her? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: Our biggest need is to hire additional crisis and long-term staff advocates so that we can assist more survivors here in DFW! We would love to grow our team so that we can say yes to walking long-term with every survivor who reaches out. You can help our team reach more survivors making supporting us financially here: https://www.rescueher.org/give . Not only will your financial gift have a tangible impact, but your gift also communicates to survivors that you believe they are worthy, capable, and have a future worth fighting for. When you give, you become part of a broader community that’s supporting the futures of the survivors we work with.
If you'd like to support specific needs of survivors, our Survivor Care Room for example, you can view our current needs here — https://www.rescueher.org/current-agency-needs
We believe that most people want to fight slavery — they just don’t know how. Rescue Her is a place that allows those who want to take action to do so. Together we are making a difference!
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You can also support Rescue Her by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the wonderful work this organization is doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until OCTOBER 2nd will be donated to Rescue Her. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Rescue Her, please visit their:
Website: RescueHer.org
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10% of our sales until June 29, 2021 will benefit Woven International. 139Made stands together with those around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitations. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until JUNE 29, we are featuring Woven International. They provide care, safe housing and safe work opportunities for girls in Southeast Asia who have been impacted by trauma, abuse and exploitation. Click the button below to learn more about the work of Woven International.
Q: When was Woven International started, and what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: 13 years ago, two local women in Southeast Asia, Noi* and Bee*, began praying for their country and to understand God’s call and mission for their lives. Their prayers led them to Kieli*—a woman experiencing terminal cancer. Kieli had a dying request for Noi and Bee: that they rescue her 8-year-old daughter.
The daughter had been abused by her uncle who then sold her into human trafficking. Noi and Bee sprang into action, found Kieli’s daughter, and welcomed her into one of their homes for safety. In their loving care, Kieli’s daughter was able to find hope, healing and rehabilitation from her trauma. Woven was ignited by her life.
Led by faith from the very beginning, our founders knew that this was God’s project, and He has proven this time and time again.
We've been supporting girls’ healing journeys out of sexual exploitation ever since, and our programming has expanded over the past 13 years. Today, Woven provides safe housing, invests in creating safe community, and facilitates safe work training and opportunities. These things, along with holistic care for the entire mind, body and spirit, support young women as they work through trauma, reclaim their youth, and learn their true identity as daughters of Jesus.
Since that day 13 years ago, the impact of this ministry has grown from one girl finding healing and a home, to 4 safe homes now supporting 45 girls.
To date, 75 girls have graduated and over 400 women have traveled through or have been a part of our safe homes. We have had personal conversations with over 650 women at risk. Each year we also see hundreds of men, women and children participate in our outreach and prevention training across the country as our team provides education on trafficking and unsafe migration.
We know God has so much more planned than we can ever imagine, and we see glimpses of a beautiful orchestration of these things already. This is only the beginning.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
Q: Could you share with us what are the ways in which Woven International is combatting human trafficking in Southeast Asia?
A: At Woven, we work to both support the healing journeys of young women impacted by trauma and abuse and break the cycle of human trafficking through upstream interventions.
We do this through:
• providing safe housing for women and girls who have been impacted by trauma, abuse and/or exploitation
• creating businesses that provide safe jobs for vulnerable people
• providing educational and vocational training opportunities
• preventing and raising awareness of sex trafficking locally in Southeast Asia
• sharing the hope found in the gospel of Christ
• community outreach and prevention efforts (click to find out more)
We are committed to not only reacting to the issue of human trafficking but preventing it. To do this we make sure to include an upstream approach in all of our efforts. These approaches include poverty reduction, vocational training, and business expansion in an effort to create opportunities for local believers and ensure that the women and children we care for have safe work. Our safe work projects include: a café, an organic farm, a hair and beauty salon, and a jewellery business. The hair salon and jewellery business provide safe work specifically to the girls in our safe homes. All of the upstream work we do is done alongside addressing the acute and emergent needs of girls at risk.
Q: From your experience so far, what would you say is the toughest challenge for your team in helping survivors of trafficking?
A: This is a difficult question, and its answer has many layers. Caring for individuals impacted by trauma is complex and multifaceted. Our main struggle in caring for survivors of and those at risk of human trafficking is in our limited capacity as a project and as a team.
From an infrastructure standpoint, we can only care for the number of girls we have room for. We currently have 4 safe homes with the capacity to house 50 girls, although the need for safe housing in our project country is greater than this.
From a human resource perspective, we also face challenges with our local team working at and often beyond their capacity. The girls in our safe homes are cared for by an amazing team of local women who have made great sacrifices to be there.
The vicarious trauma experienced by these team members is a common struggle that we must recognize when determining our capacity to house new girls.
The need for local staff and caregivers is great as we can only accept the number of girls in our program that our staff can healthily care for.
Most non-profits struggle with limited funds, and Woven is no exception. We work to make the most of every dollar that comes into our project, whether by donation or revenue from our safe work businesses.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory that Woven International has witnessed?
A: We have countless stories of miraculous transformations in the lives of girls coming into our safe homes, from returning to brothels to pull out their friends, to girls returning to their villages sharing about Jesus and raising awareness about the dangers of human trafficking. The following story is one of our most recent stories of victory.
Story from one of our beneficiaries:
*Heuang moved into one of our safe homes as a young girl. Like many of the girls in our program, Heuang’s family had limited resources and the details of Heuang’s life situation left her at great risk. Thankfully, one of her family members brought her to our main office in the city and connected her with our team.
In our safe home, Heuang was able to go to school and live in safe community. We celebrate today not only because Heuang recently graduated from high school, but also because she completed a five-month sewing program! She has found new purpose and joy in these skills, and even practiced making clothing for the other girls in the house to wear.
Heuang is now relocating to one of our safe homes in another part of the country. She wants to teach other girls the same skills she has learned and empower them to earn an income through safe and dignified work. In the future and with the help of the other girls, they will open a small business out of their home! It is wonderful to see the girls working together in this way.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy
Q: What are the current needs of Woven International? How can we, the everyday person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: Shop with purpose by purchasing Woven jewellery: Many of the women in our safe homes earn an income by making jewellery by hand. Buying their creations not only supports their journey, but also provides a powerful testament that individuals can wear every day.
To shop their gorgeous handmade jewellery, CLICK HERE.
A huge need is prayer. Every person can pray, and it truly makes a difference.
Financial Partnership: we are always looking for more financial partners.
BUILDING CAMPAIGN
• Women who are marginalized often lack formal education and opportunities to find work. Without access to job training and life skills, women are coerced into exploitative work environments to make a living. In order to build autonomous lives, women need vocational training, career counseling and educational resources. Our region lacks a training centre where each woman can be welcomed and supported on her unique road to recovery. Our solution and dream is to open a vocational training centre to empower women to gain skills in personal finance, critical thought, and personal health while gaining employment experience. Students can currently study within our vocational program in the areas of beauty, sewing, jewellery or culinary arts. If the interests of a participant don’t fit within these areas, we connect with the private sector to find relevant workplace training and employment.
• Ideally, our training centre would include a small clinic to serve women who have exited dangerous work situations. Woven clinic staff would run outreach activities, provide health education in high-risk communities, and support women in living healthy lifestyles. Our dream for this centre is that it would be a place where Jesus is made known, and the hope of the Gospel is shared.
• For this dream to be a reality, we need funds to purchase land and build the physical vocational centre. Our estimated funds needed are approximately one million dollars. Our official fundraising campaign for this project has not yet been initiated, but we wanted to inform you of the project so that you can be aware of upcoming opportunities for involvement.
You can also support Woven International by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the wonderful work this organization is doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until JUNE 29, 2021 will be donated to Woven International.
10% of our sales until March 26, 2021 will benefit Rebirth Homes. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until MARCH 26, we are featuring Rebirth Homes.
Based in Riverside County, California, they exist to combat human trafficking through education and by providing a residential program for survivors of human trafficking.
Click the button below to learn more Rebirth Homes!
]]>Q: Rebirth Homes was started in 2013. Could you share with us what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: The vision for Rebirth Homes started in 2008 when founder Debbie Martis heard the staggering statistic that 27 Million people are enslaved around the world. After years of prayer, Debbie was moved to action. In 2012, God gave her the vision to provide homes for survivors of human trafficking. After incorporating and registering as a 501c3 in 2013, Rebirth Homes went public in 2014. From 2014 to 2016, Debbie and her team educated the public about human trafficking and raised funds to open the first home for adult women in Riverside County, California in 2017. Rebirth Homes’ foundation is prayer and Founder Debbie Martis believes in God’s vision of redeeming 1 million lives from human trafficking according to His timing.
Q: What are the ways in which Rebirth Homes is combatting human trafficking?
A: Rebirth Homes exists to combat human trafficking through education/awareness and by providing a holistic healing program for survivors of human trafficking. We have two homes in Riverside County and provide a long-term (up to 24 months) residential program for women 18 years and older to heal.
Services included in our residential program include:
Our program is FREE for survivors of human trafficking. In addition to these services, the women in our program are provided employment with our social enterprise.
Additionally, Rebirth Homes has educated over 60,000 people on the realities of human trafficking in our communities.
Q: From your experience thus far, what would you say is the toughest challenge for Rebirth Homes in helping survivors?
A: The greatest challenge is overcoming the lies that survivors believe about themselves and their purpose in life. The healing journey is filled with ups and downs and our desire is for each woman to live out her God-given purpose. While we want each survivor to succeed and be fully empowered to live out God’s plan, we recognize it is a life-long journey of healing.
With this challenge, we ask for prayer for the survivors we walk with.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory that Rebirth Homes has witnessed?
A: There have been so many victories along the way and it is hard to choose one. For me as the Founder, I love seeing women make the decision to get baptized and commit their lives to following Christ. It gives me peace knowing they have made this decision and that we will spend eternity together.
I love seeing women re-united with family and relationships restored. It is a beautiful process.
Q: What are the current needs of Rebirth Homes? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: Pray for survivors, for protection over them as they find their worth and value on their journey of healing.
Volunteer your time and talents. Opportunities range from event planning, administrative, newsletter editing & content contributors and more.
Join our Guardian Team by giving monthly or on a regular basis to provide for continuous care and freedom. Any amount is welcome - $10, $20, $50 or any amount makes a huge difference for Rebirth Homes.
Give financially or Donate items off of our Amazon wish list:
• Rebirth Homes Donate link, CLICK HERE
• Rebirth Homes Amazon Wish list, CLICK HERE
Support our social enterprise—Rebirth Homes Store. We sell items that are hand-made by the women in our home. All proceeds go back into the program to support the women.
To shop Rebirth Homes Store on Etsy, CLICK HERE
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You can also support Rebirth Homes by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the wonderful work this organization is doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until MARCH 26, 2021 will be donated to Rebirth Homes. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Rebirth Homes, please visit their:
Website: RebirthHomes.com
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10% of our sales until DECEMBER 14, 2020 will benefit Mirror Ministries. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we feature an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until DECEMBER 14, we are featuring Mirror Ministries. Their mission is to respond to domestic sex trafficking with the love of Christ through intervention, restoration and aftercare — reflecting the grace of God to victims and survivors of sex trafficking in the community. Their human trafficking specialist advocates partner with other agencies, schools, community groups, and businesses to bring earlier identification of victims, intervene with hope and resources, and walk along side each victim on their long road of restoration.
Click the button below to learn more about their work!
They wanted to run right out and offer hope to survivors. But they knew they needed a broader movement of support and long-term stability to make that happen.
Mirror Ministries exists to serve the many and diverse needs of survivors of human trafficking. They have specialized Human Trafficking Advocates equipped to meet the unique needs of trafficking survivors who are able to coordinate with resources and agencies to meet those needs, educate about human trafficking, and engage in outreach throughout the Tri-Cities community. Their Survivor Services continue at their Outreach Center, where daily scheduled activities help them survive and thrive. Their goal is that every survivor they serve will one day be able to look in the mirror and see reflected back a person of inherent dignity and worth.
Helping survivors to: Regain Power. Receive Respect. Rediscover Their Value.
1. SURVIVOR SERVICES
Human Trafficking Advocates — their advocates build relationships with vulnerable youth and adults to identify victims of human trafficking, and to support survivors on the long road toward freedom. They also coordinate with resources and agencies to meet the unique needs of trafficking survivors, educates about human trafficking, and engages in outreach throughout the Tri-Cities community.
Outreach Center — their Our Outreach Center provide non-residential aftercare services for victims and survivors of sex trafficking in the community. Mirror Ministries' staff and volunteers welcome survivors and help them rediscover their interests, skills and talents, and develop some new ones. Fellow survivors connect with each other, accompanied with counseling and Bible studies that help them heal and grow. Daily activities include:
• Counseling • Survivor support groups • Music therapy • Art therapy • Trauma-Informed Movement • Guitar lessons • Piano lessons • Cooking class • Life skills • Employment and Education Assistance
2. AWARENESS
Mirror Ministries brings sex trafficking awareness, presentations and trainings to local businesses, agencies, schools and community groups. They have a variety of trainings to meet each group's specific needs. You can request a training or presentation at info@mirror-ministries.org.
Mirror Ministries increases awareness with the following programs and resources:
• Community Awareness and Education Presentations
• SUDS Hotel Outreach (Stopping Underage Domestic Sex trafficking)
• Not a Product Child Education Tools
• Addressing Pornography
• Warning Signs
For more informations on these programs, visit their AWARENESS Page.
3. RESOURCES
In order to bring hope to the area of human trafficking, their volunteers, supporters, and the community at large need to be aware of the magnitude of the problem locally, what sex trafficking is, what it looks like, and how to both prevent it and engage survivors. They also developed great resources for Parents and Teachers, including the "Not a Product" discussion guides, to give parents and educators a tool to discuss safety and tricky people with elementary and pre-school children in a non-threatening way, keeping to age-appropriate concepts. It also teaches the concepts of self dignity and worth to children.
To download these FREE resources, visit their RESOURCES Page.
4. RESTORATION HOME
Victims of sex trafficking have experienced complex trauma over long periods of months or years. To heal effectively and re-enter society in healthy and beneficial ways, these survivors need a safe environment—away from the toxicity and exploitation they have been living in—with wrap-around services for holistic restoration. Since the beginning, Mirror Ministries has had a vision of building and opening a home for local and regional survivors of sex trafficking. A home where young victims can come to feel safe, learn to trust, begin to heal, and become victors over the horrific trauma they have endured. They are now on the cusp of making this vision a reality. Learn more about this project and how you can help by visiting their RESTORATION HOME Page!
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You can also support Mirror Ministries by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the wonderful work this organization is doing to fight human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until DECEMBER 14 will be donated to Mirror Ministries. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For more information on Mirror Ministries, please visit their:
Website: MirrorMinistries.org
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10% of our sales until SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 will benefit Consider the Lily. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until SEPTEMBER 13, we are featuring Consider the Lily. They focus on putting an end to human trafficking one person at a time — whether it be through prevention homes, rescuing children who are at risk of being sold, or impacting the ones responsible for this slavery by reaching out at bars, clubs, brothels, and hideaways throughout the Philippines.
Click the button below to learn more about their work!
The Philippines has become the world's largest known source of online child sexual exploitation, with endemic poverty helping drive a surge in abuse. Parents and relatives were responsible for facilitating the abuse in nearly all cases, according to the International Justice Mission aid group's seven-year study. The combination of English fluency and high internet connectivity in the former US colony had helped make the country a "global hotspot" for child pornography, the report said. The United Nations Children's Fund said in February this year that the Philippines is one of the top global sources of child sex abuse materials, with 600,000 "sexualized" photos of Filipino children bartered and traded in 2018 alone. (Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/22/20/philippines-tops-world-for-online-child-sex-abuse-study)
There are so many children who need rescuing in the Philippines. That's why organizations like Consider the Lily are direly needed more than ever. At Consider the Lily, they focus on putting an end to human trafficking one person at a time - whether it be through prevention homes, rescuing children who are at risk of being sold, or impacting the ones responsible for this slavery by reaching out at bars, clubs, brothels, and hideaways throughout the Philippines.
THEY PRESENT HOPE WITH A WAY OUT OF THE SEX TRADE.
Consider the Lily believes that: Everyone deserves a chance to get back on their feet, to heal from the abuse and trauma, and to be given the opportunity to positively impact the world around them.
We talked with Kim Hommel, from Consider the Lily, through a written interview with us. She was kind enough to share about their hard work in the Philippines to combat human trafficking of children:
Q: Consider the Lily was started in 2010 in the Philippines. Could you tell us what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: Consider the Lily was founded by Josie Long. When Josie Long was 4 years old, her parents moved to Manila, Philippines to become missionaries. She lived in Manila with her parents and four siblings until moving to the states to attend college. In 2009, after graduating from cosmetology school, she returned to the Philippines.
Noticing so many hungry little girls running the streets she felt led to start feeding them and leading Bible Studies following the meal. Josie soon discovered the horrific abuse many of the girls were experiencing. She knew she needed to take these girls out of their current situations and that is when Consider The Lily was created. To hear Josie's heart and story in detail, watch her video below.
Q: Could you share with us what are the ways in which Consider the Lily (CTL) is combatting human trafficking in the Philippines?
A: A long-term family is something our girls need to fully escape the pain of yesterday and live in victory for today and tomorrow. It can take years to dig up the roots of the pain and suffering that have been experienced before entering the home.
In the CTL home, the needs of the whole child are met: physical, mental, medical, educational, emotional and spiritual.
Our approach to education is highly individualized. We partner with a few private schools that provide an excellent education. We also have a wonderful homeschool program that gives a great foundation from which our girls can grow. If girls are able, we bring them all the way through college, and for some, even through a masters program. If college is not the right fit, we find other avenues for the girls to continue learning and growing in their walk with Jesus.
When not in school, the girls are expected to play an active role in keeping the home running efficiently by helping cook meals, cleaning bathrooms and bedrooms, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and other typical household chores.
Of course, there is also plenty of room for fun. The girls enjoy playing sports and doing arts and crafts together. They look forward to visiting their big sis, Ella, who graduated from college and moved out of our home last year. Ella now runs a community outreach program in Zambales, 4 hours north of CTL-Manila. In the summer months, the girls organize and host a summer camp which serves approximately 300 children from neighboring communities. When funds allow, the entire home is able to enjoy a short "vacation" together, typically to a nearby beach.
While balancing a full schedule of school, home duties, and "fun" activities, many of the girls would say their favorite time of the day is family time every evening. This is a precious time where true healing and growth takes place.
Jesus's teaching in Luke 12 inspired the naming of "Consider the Lily." Jesus tells his disciples not to be anxious or worried. He talks about feeding the birds and clothing the lilies of the field. If The Father cares for the birds and lilies, how much more will He care for His children.
Our desire is to teach our girls about Jesus. Through knowing Him, they can have Hope without worry of tomorrow.
Consider the Lily is not the answer. Jesus is.
But Jesus has given Consider the Lily the desire and passion to rescue and provide a family home for as many girls as possible.
Q: From your experience thus far, what would you say is the toughest challenge for Consider the Lily in helping survivors?
A: There are many generational chains that come with the sexually abused and breaking chains is long hard work. Sometimes coming into a new place that functions in Christ-like manners it can be confusing and hard to learn so the fight or flight instinct can emerge. Once a girl turns 18, Consider The Lily can no longer force a girl to stay and sometime they decide to leave. It is challenging and heartbreaking. Plus wrangling 45 girls every morning for school has its challenges as well. 😉
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory that Consider the Lily has witnessed?
A: There are so many stories I couldn’t say I have a favorite.
Cherry was growing up in whats known as “Helping Land” or “Trash Mountain” - the community of Tondo, Manila Philippines was home for Cherry till she was 17 years old. Cherry grew up having no idea where her next meal was coming from. School wasn't even in her thoughts – “future”? Maybe prostitution she thought… at 15 years old, she started making plans with her best friends to run away and start working in the clubs of Ologapo City… “At least then I'd know I could eat every day and it would get me out and away from this place I’m living in. I could send money back to my family and help provide for them as well.” As her and her best friends were making plans for this run-away; Cherry slipped down some dirt stairs outside her home, braking her hip. Since money was scarce and her family barely ate, going to the hospital was a definite no. As she laid for months on the dirt floor in her home, her best friends decided to leave her behind and start their future in prostitution. They are there today.
After nearly a year of having a broken hip, and laying on the dirt floor of her family's home, bed sores were in the process of killing her. A group visiting and doing charity work around her community, stumbled upon Cherry and next thing she knew she was on her way to the ER. This is where we met Cherry.
Cherry had been sexually and physically abused in her early years by her father, leading to an abnormal growth in her bone structure. It took us a year to get her body healthy enough for surgery. But she got her new hip and today at 19 years old, she “Loves The Lord her God with all her heart!”
She has been miraculously healed from the inside out. The past 2 years, seeing her go from bed rest, to wheelchair, to walker - flat on her back to playing volleyball with all her sisters, has made her our miracle girl, and has been a story of HOPE for so many!
Q: What are the current needs of Consider the Lily? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: CTL is in the process of opening two new homes. One in Manila and one in Zambales. This letter is from Ella, the oldest girl in the home that has graduated from college and is hoping to start her own home. Zambales is a port city 4 hours from Manila and has the second highest rate of prostitution. Child trafficking and poverty is huge in Zambales and many girls need to be rescued.
A message from Ella
May pag asa kay Lord.
There is Hope that comes from Jesus.
I say this to my girls whenever they are facing a situation where there seems to be no way out. And I thank God for this same Hope I receive from the Lord.
I grew up in a broken family. My uncles sexually abused me and my aunts were involved in prostitution. As a kid, I believed that my future would revolve around the same things. I thought I would grow up to be a teenage mom, or a prostitute in Angel City, Pampangas, dancing for and surrounded by foreign men.
My future changed when I came to know and accept Jesus into my life. Through my years in the CTL home, God has shown me there is always a way out through Him, with Him, and by Him.
I took my first trip to Zambales in 2015 with my CTL family on a vacation. I went back again later that year, and in one night, God revealed His plans for me.
I saw a teenager walking back and forth in front of a bar that was full of foreigners. That night, I knew that God was speaking to me. I still remember specifically what He said to me, “My child, I am going to use you and show them the same Freedom and Redemption I have given you.”
From that night on, from 2016 to 2018, I began to visit Zambales every month.
After graduating from college, I knew that the Lord was calling me to do more than just visit. Starting October of 2018, I became a missionary and moved to Zambales with Kath, my missionary partner, on behalf of CTL.
In the beginning, I only knew one girl *Andrea (name changed for safety). Now, I have gotten to know more than 100 people from three different communities here. As of now, we have 56 youths who regularly attend our weekly Bible studies. On top of that, my CTL sisters also visit me whenever they can, and help out with my girls.
Our hope is that someday, we would be able to provide a place for these girls to one day call home.
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You can also support Consider the Lily by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the wonderful work this organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until SEPTEMBER 13 will be donated to Consider the Lily. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Consider the Lily, please visit their:
Website: CONSIDERTHELILY.ORG
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10% of our sales until June 12, 2020 will benefit Street Grace. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until JUNE 12, we are featuring Street Grace. They are a faith-driven organization collaborating with faith, business and community leaders providing a comprehensive path to end the sexual exploitation of minors (CSEC).
Click the button below to learn more about their work!
Street Grace is one of the pioneers in the human trafficking “space” — a $290 million illegal industry in major US cities. They are a faith-driven organization collaborating with faith, business and community leaders providing a comprehensive path to end the sexual exploitation of minors (CSEC). This crime involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, and/or the obtaining of a child under the age of 18 for the purpose of a commercial sex act. Their Mission is to demand an end to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Breanna Fetkavich, the Director of Outreach at Street Grace, was kind enough to do a written interview with us and share about their hard work to combat sex trafficking of children:
Q: Street Grace was one of the pioneers in the fight against sex trafficking ever since this organization was established in 2009. Could you share with us what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: Street Grace was founded in Atlanta, Georgia and was birthed out of several of the faith communities there. These churches decided to join forces to fight this darkness after they became aware of the atrocities of sex trafficking happening in their city.
It quickly became evident that Street Grace wanted to focus on protecting children, as the average age of entry into sex trafficking is just 14 years old.
This group felt passionate about reducing the demand and took a “boots on the ground” approach to deterring potential buyers. In our very early days, a handful of volunteers would set up a few laptops in a conference room every Saturday. They would post fake ads offering sex online and answered the calls when people responded to those ads and told them about the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The early team wrote curriculum and started presenting to students in schools and getting this information out to as many people as possible. Since then Street Grace’s reach and influence has exploded over the years. We have utilized technology in ways we never could have dreamed of. We recently launched Street Grace offices in California, Texas and Tennessee and our policy and demand reduction efforts are present in over 15 states across the nation and will continue to grow.
Q: Could you tell us what are the ways in which Street Grace is combatting human trafficking, especially in domestic minor sex trafficking?
A: Street Grace is combatting domestic minor sex trafficking by providing a comprehensive prevention and protection approach that unites faith communities, businesses, and schools to create a web of protection around our kids. We use evidence based, demand reduction strategies to do this. Our work can be broken down in to 3, easy to remember “P’s”: PREVENTION, POLICY, and PURSUIT.
When it comes to PREVENTION, we believe that students have the ability to keep themselves and their peers safe from any kind of sexual exploitation. The way that we encourage that is by going into schools, and providing an empowerment based, and identity focused training for middle school and high school students. We also provide training for school teachers, counselors and staff. We offer similar trainings in communities, businesses and civic organizations. We even offer a program specific for parents called Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital Age.
The next P stands for POLICY. Proper legislation is essential to protect our children. Therefore, Street Grace is heavily involved in creating and facilitating the passing of legislation that protects victims and creates harsher punishment for both the buyers and sellers involved in this criminal industry.
Our last P represents PURSUIT. Specifically, pursuit of the buyers of sex. We pursue those buyers through our online, artificial intelligence program that is a chat bot we call “Gracie.” Gracie posts decoy ads on numerous websites where people are soliciting sex online. When a buyer clicks on one of the ads and initiates a text conversation, they will get a deterrence message outlining the criminal penalties they could be facing if they are caught, as well as a message linking them to resources for help and counseling for sexual addiction.
Since Gracie was launched, she has intercepted 140,000 text exchanges and disrupted over 12,100 transactions of those who would attempt to purchase sex with children. We are expecting those numbers to double in 2020.
Q: From your experience thus far, what would you say is the toughest challenge for Street Grace in fighting sex trafficking?
A: From my experience thus far, the toughest challenge for us at Street Grace is fighting to end the demand, as well as educating the community about the misconceptions they may have surrounding what human trafficking really looks like here in Texas. Historically, organizations, churches, communities, and the legislature, have focused all their time, money, and efforts on helping survivors and providing care and resources for them. While this is vital, and that work certainly must continue, we will never end sex trafficking if we fail to look at the other half of the problem, the demand.
Without a demand, sex trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children ceases to exist. Therefore, at Street Grace, we are continuing to develop our demand reduction strategies and programs.
Many Texans have heard of human trafficking. But very few of them have an accurate understanding of what this issue really looks like in our communities. One of our passions is spreading truth and hope in a sensationalized and fear-driven society. We teach people that human trafficking doesn’t discriminate. Every child is vulnerable, no matter their race, socio-economic status, religion, gender, social status or physical appearance.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory Street Grace has witnessed?
A: Street Grace is a survivor informed organization. We believe it’s crucially important for those who have overcome sex trafficking to influence our initiatives. One of my favorite stories of victory involves one of our incredible survivor leaders, Kayti. Kayti was repeatedly sexually abused by a family member beginning at age 2. When she entered her teenage years, this family member began trafficking her to his friends and members of the community. Other members of Kayti’s family had no idea this was happening. She was a star player on the softball team, and a good student. Yet none of her teachers, coaches or friends suspected the horrible things that were happening to her. Kayti’s pain and exploitation was hiding in plain sight, just like so many other children across the country. Today, Kayti is a strong, respected, leader in the anti-trafficking movement. She has been personally invited to sit on the Governor’s Commission Against Human Trafficking. She speaks around the country and her story is inspiring people to step up and help keep our kids safe. According to Kayti, the opportunity to do what she is doing now, standing up for the voiceless, is what makes her story worth it.
Kayti urges everyone she meets not to be intimidated because this problem is too big, but that everyone can step up and help.
Q: What are the current needs of Street Grace? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: Our vision is a world where no child is sexually exploited. In order to accomplish that vision, we need the help of every day people. We believe the more people in a community that are educated about the realities of human trafficking, the safer our children will be. Therefore, if individuals can connect us to their place of worship, child’s school, philanthropic organization or business, we would love to come do a training for you! All the events we offer are completely free. We are able to offer incredible programing, as well as a first of its kind, demand-fighting program, all because of our generous donors. We have a ton of new ideas for our student programs, as well as ways to make our demand fighting program even better, and as a result, protect more kids. We need more financial support to make those ideas a reality, and we would be honored to partner with the every day person in that way! The only way we can win this fight to keep our children safe is by working together!
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You can also support Street Grace by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and other products, while sharing about the wonderful work this organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until JUNE 12 will be donated to Street Grace. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Street Grace, please visit their:
Website: STREETGRACE.ORG
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10% of our sales until March 11, 2020 will benefit Rescue America. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking & exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until MARCH 11, we are featuring Rescue America. Their mission is to empower survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation to exit the life via its 24/7 local hotline network and an emergency assessment program.
Click the button below to learn more about their work!
Rescue America was set in motion with the discovery that millions of women, children, and men are sexually enslaved in the world today, with thousands located right here in the U.S. After seventeen months of extensive research on the complex issue of sex trafficking, it was confirmed there was a gaping hole in the anti-sex trafficking landscape in America. Simply stated, there was a need to separate victims from victimizers and set them safely on a path of healing and restoration. Currently operating in Houston and Denver, Rescue America's mission is to empower survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation to exit the life via its 24/7 local hotline network and an emergency assessment program.
We had the honor to do a written interview with Tiffany Pardue, Vice President of Rescue America, and asked her to share a little bit about their hard work to combat human trafficking :
Q: Rescue America was started in Houston in 2014. Could you tell us what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: In 2014, the foundation for Rescue America began to form, beginning with a 24/7 hotline. After first encountering sex trafficking in India, Founder and President Allison Meier Madrigal was led to examine the state of her own home in Houston. Through her research, she became aware of the gap between local outreach efforts to survivors and the safe Homes that support long-term healing. Meanwhile, Allison was connected with Atlanta-based Out of Darkness who provided her with the protocols to begin a Houston hotline — minus the community to do the work! Back in Houston, the community got equipped to serve as Hotline Advocates and Exit Team drivers, and we partnered with Elijah Rising to begin distributing the hotline during weekly outreach.
Q: Could you share with us what are the ways in which Rescue America is combatting human trafficking?
A: Our 24/7 hotlines (currently in Houston and Denver) provide the strategy and transportation required to exit a sexually exploitative circumstance, as well as placement in safe shelter and connection with a trauma-informed program. The 24/7 hotline is our lifeline to survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
No matter how many times an individual may leave and return to the life, it is our commitment to answer the hotline and help each one continue her or his healing journey.
To better support the healing journeys of survivors, Rescue America launched and is continuing to refine a highly therapeutic, 60-day emergency assessment program that one survivor said was like a “rehab from the life”. Our holistic program empowers survivors to continue healing and navigate critical life choices during, and maintain them beyond the eight-week program. The RAEA (Rescue America Emergency Assessment) Program reduces survivor relapse by providing the immediate assessment and stabilization support essentials to facilitate the most appropriate placement for each survivor’s long-term care.
Q: From your experience thus far, what would you say is the toughest challenge for Rescue America in helping trafficking survivors?
A: The toughest challenge has been building and implementing the infrastructure required to sustain and support the expansion of our 24/7 hotline and emergency assessment program! Because we are receiving calls from all over the nation, an ongoing initiative is to increase partnerships with trauma-informed shelters and programs across the country — emergency/transitional shelters and programs, as well as long-term referral partners.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory Rescue America has witnessed?
A: Absolutely! Victory is measured in moments and looks so different for each survivor. Here are three amazing stories you can read:
Strength to Rise: A Survivor’s Story
She was introduced her first pimp when she was 21 years old. Living in Austin, Texas, estranged from her family, Tasha was vulnerable and alone. She recalls, “I didn’t know he was a pimp. I just thought he was a regular dude who was trying to help me get on my feet.” That’s how it began.
For the next six years, Tasha found herself a victim of sex trafficking. She tried three times to leave the life but didn’t have the support to stay out. It wasn’t until she was badly burned with a flat iron by her pimp that she finally broke free. “My arm was a wake up. Bad stuff happens in that life. It could have been worse.” // Click to read her story
Sonja’s Escape
While hosting a Rescue Houston booth at Methodist Hospital, I received a call alerting me that a victim of trafficking, Sonja, had been assaulted and needed medical attention. Immediately my colleague and I left Methodist to extract her and bring her to Ben Taub.
During her exit and the hospital in-take process, Sonja’s phone continuously lit up; several Johns (buyers of sex) and her pimp were trying to solicit her. The phone is a trafficking victims’ tether to her traffickers. Her phone emotionally and physically attaches her to everyone who uses her. I tried to gently persuade her to give us her phone so she could rest, yet she refused, frantic and anxious to hold on to her phone. // Click to read her story
This Is Worth It, She Is Worth It
Her pimp reached out to her and talked her into seeing him one last time. When I dropped her off at the new shelter she seemed a little bothered. After dropping her off I went to dinner with a good friend of mine. During dinner, I got the most disturbing phone call ever; it was her crying and she sounded out of breath. “I need you Taylor I’m on the side of the road.”
I ran out of the restaurant and went to her as fast as I could. We ended up at LBJ hospital for 7 hours. She could have died that night but I truly believe God was with her. She told me his eyes were evil. He wasn’t the same. I told her she was different and no longer sees him the way she used to. // Click to read her story
Q: What are the current needs of Rescue America? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: Rescue America is able to reach out to thousands of victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation each year because of our passionate and dedicated volunteers.
Our why is simple — love. Untwisted, pure love for those trapped in sexual bondage is what motivates every policy, program, and service we provide.
If compassion for the enslaved has ignited a fire in your spirit, take our hand to bring hope and freedom to those trapped in the darkness. Volunteer opportunities include distributing our hotline at a Phone Bank, serving as a Hotline Advocate, Exit Team member, Restoration Driver, and Mentor.
Another way to get involved is by joining our Community Board. Members contribute their influence, intellectual capital, and investment to strategically impact the fight against sex trafficking through supporting fundraising initiatives, expanding the organization’s network, and providing intellect to strategic initiatives.
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You can also support Rescue America by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and products, while sharing about the wonderful work this organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until MARCH 11 will be donated to Rescue America. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Rescue America, please visit their:
Website: RESCUEAMERICA.NGO
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10% of our sales until November 27, 2019 will benefit Elijah Rising. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking & exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until NOVEMBER 27, we are featuring Elijah Rising. Their mission is to end sex trafficking through prayer, awareness, intervention, and restoration.
Click the button below to learn more about their work!
Houston is one of the biggest hubs for human trafficking in our nation. Because of the position of the city and the I-10 corridor that passes Houston, it makes it a prime location for human trafficking. According to Robert Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, "There are more brothels than we have Starbucks in our city." (Houston Chronicle, January 22, 2018). Thankfully, many people and anti human trafficking organizations are rising up to fight this heinous crime. One of these organizations is Elijah Rising.
We had the honor to do a written interview with Samantha Hernandez, the Mobilization Director of Elijah Rising, and asked her to share a little bit about their work to fight human trafficking :
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of this organization?
A: Elijah Rising was founded in 2012 as a prayer gathering that focused on ending sex trafficking in Houston. Across Houston women and girls were being sold for sex, but there was little outcry, so Elijah Rising began hosting Van Tours and showing the public that sex trafficking is happening across our city.
Q: Could you tell us what are the ways in which Elijah Rising is combatting human trafficking?
A: Elijah Rising is ending sex trafficking through prayer, awareness, intervention, and restoration. We are focused currently on opening our restoration campus that will house and help recover women who have survived sex trafficking. The Elijah Rising Restoration Campus was created as a safe haven for survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation to heal; a place for women to learn, to create, and to develop the skills they will need to thrive as healthy, independent leaders in our communities! Residents of the ERRC will have the opportunity to focus wholly on their journey to healing, at a trauma-informed, holistic program… at absolutely no cost. We at Elijah Rising are a community of faith, and we live out that faith by serving exploited women with the love of Christ. We want our campus to be a sanctuary where survivors can feel safe, and begin to heal from their trauma as we simply provide them with tools that they need to become whole and healthy. That is our mission.
PRAYER
Elijah Rising operates on a foundation of prayer. We believe that sex trafficking and sexual exploitation are spiritual issues. Our staff hosts two informal prayer meetings a week as well as musician-led prayer at every outreach. We encourage churches and worship teams to engage this issue in individual and corporate prayer.
AWARENESS
Injustice thrives in the darkness. We aim to drive the reality of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation into the conscience of our society through van tours and our Museum of Modern-Day Slavery, an exhibit that combines information and artifacts to tell the story of sex trafficking in our city. Our staff is also available for speaking engagements, documentary screenings, and Q&A panels.
INTERVENTION
Elijah Rising fights sex trafficking by training people to reach men and women trapped in sexual exploitation. We host open interventions twice a month, and offer training to anyone wanting to get involved with hands on intervention.
Q: From your experience in the life of Elijah Rising, what would you say is the toughest challenge(s) in helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: The hardest part about caring for survivors is holistically supporting the drastic need for trauma-informed care. It takes all the gifts and talents of the body of Christ to surround and encourage women who have survived this evil.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory Elijah Rising has witnessed?
A: I have seen multiple women who have survived to trafficking not only be rescued and begin the restoration, but also we have seen them restored to their families. Specifically, we have seen women reunite with their children. That moment for us is so special to see them renewed in their sense of self as a person and a mother.
As an organization, we are all parents. We all have little ones. So this is our greatest joy to see not only one healed but a generation.
Q: What are the current needs of Elijah Rising? How can we, the everyday person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: We need prayer warriors, volunteers, donors and especially in this season.... customers! We have a small social enterprise that supports the income of survivors and we appreciate everyone who buys our goods! We want to see sex trafficking end in our generation, but most people don’t know where to start or what to do when they face this issue. We’ve provided a simple way for you to make an impact. When you purchase our products, you become a social advocate in the fight to end sex trafficking by empowering women who are transitioning out of commercial sexual exploitation. To shop Elijah Rising Goods — https://shop.elijahrising.org/
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You can also support Elijah Rising by purchasing 139MADE's shirts and products, while sharing the word about the wonderful work this organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until NOVEMBER 26 will be donated to Elijah Rising. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Elijah Rising, please visit their:
Website: ELIJAHRISING.ORG
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10% of our sales until August 26, 2019 will benefit Bochy's Place. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking & exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until AUGUST 26, we are featuring Bochy's Place. As a transitional home for girls rescued from trafficking and exploitation, their mission is to provide a Christ centered, nurturing family environment to enhance women emotionally, physically and spiritually according to God's design. Click the button below to learn more about their work!
Bochy's Place is a transitional home for girls rescued from trafficking and exploitation, located in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. Their mission is to provide a Christ-centered, nurturing family environment to enhance women emotionally, physically and spiritually according to God's design.
The healing journey from a traumatic experience of being trafficked is not an easy or a simple one. There are so many services that these survivors need after they got out or rescued, including safe houses and transitional homes. Bochy's Place's founder, Carla Shellis, discovered that the prevailing problem embedded in the work of rescuing and restoring victims is indeed their return to the streets simply because they did not know how to transition into community.
We had the honor to do a written interview with Briana Rossiter, the Resident Facilitator at Bochy's Place, and asked her to share a little bit about their work to serve the survivors of sex trafficking :
Q: Bochy's Place was launched in December 2017. Could you share with us what sparked the birth of Bochy's Place?
A: Our Founder, Carla, spent two years serving in a safe house in Dallas ministering to and helping to restore girls rescued from sexual trafficking. Carla began asking the girls, "How can we better help you walk out your life successfully after you complete this program?" Each time the answer was the same, they believed they needed help understanding how to re-enter society, find a good job and fit into a healthy community!
Carla quickly realized the millions of dollars and countless volunteers who are working so hard to help these girls could be in vain if these women are unable to sustain living independently.
Carla knew she had to do something and Bochy’s Place was born out of this burden.
Q: Could you tell us what are the ways in which Bochy's Place is combating sex trafficking?
A: Bochy’s Place operated a safe home for women healing from the trauma of sexual exploitation, we provided a loving family environment where the women could work towards their healing emotionally, spiritually, and physically. After running and developing a successful program for 16 months, we sadly lost the lease on the property as the landlord decided to sell the property. Bochy’s worked hard to place or graduate each resident. Exactly at this time a generous donor heard our Founder speak about our hope to build a safe home and donated a plot of land with planning permission. We are continuing case management with residents who have transitioned into living independently while raising funds to build our own safe home.
Q: From your experience, what would you say is the toughest challenge in helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: From our experience in caring for trafficking survivors, we would say that the toughest challenge is their level of trauma and the difficulties it can present. The brain learns to respond to trauma with automatic reactions that are crucial to a victim’s survival, but these same responses cause disruption when returning to regular environments due to the challenging behaviors that present.
Recovery is tough because it involves therapy to process the past in order to heal and this stirs up emotional memories that can cause a survivor to want to give up or stop part way through.
This is why we believe trauma sensitive care is a crucial element to the curriculum in a restorative home.
Q: Could you share with us your favorite story of victory you have witnessed in the life of Bochy's Place?
A: We took a Bochy’s resident to court to follow up with her attorney and judge regarding her case. Her attorney cried upon seeing the change in her demeanor. The judge expressed her shock in the difference in the young woman she saw before her. The judge described the difference in our resident's mannerisms, speech, and confidence all made it appear that she was talking with a different girl. This was after just 8 weeks in our program! This is definitely one of our favorite victory stories that we have witnessed.
Q: What are the immediate needs of Bochy's Place? How can we, the everyday person, support you in fighting sex trafficking?
A: Our greatest immediate need is for funding to build our safe house! Our aim is to raise $500,000 to build a home on this donated land and the staff team to run it. We are also in need of people or companies to donate their services to help with the building process; one of our big needs is for lumber. The everyday person can also definitely support us in prayer! We are praying for God to connect us with people who have a heart to see survivors restored and that partnerships will be born.
A great way for people to connect with us is to join Bochy's League; a community of people who want to make an impact in the world of sex trafficking but do not know where to start, what to do, and are uncertain about doing it alone. Find our more at https://www.bochysleague.com
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You can also support Bochy's Place by purchasing our shirts and products, while sharing the word about the wonderful work this organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until AUGUST 26 will be donated to Bochy's Place. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Bochy's Place, please visit their:
Website: BOCHYSPLACE.COM
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10% of our sales until May 25, 2019 will benefit
NOVA-HTI. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking & exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue & to rally behind them. Until MAY 25, we are featuring NOVA-HTI. Based in Northern Virginia, their mission is to eradicate human trafficking locally through awareness, prayer, partnerships, intervention, and victim services. Click the button below to find out more about the wonderful work this organization is doing!
Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative (NOVA-HTI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to eradicate human trafficking locally through awareness, prayer, partnerships, intervention, and victim services.
Human trafficking is the fastest-growing organized crime activity in the United States, making almost $32 billion a year for traffickers, while destroying the lives of tens of thousands of innocent children. This crime happens in all 50 states, including Virginia. In fact, in 2015, Virginia is 1 of 10 states that make the MOST calls to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline. Most of these calls are made from Northern Virginia (source: humantraffickinghotline.org).
We had the honor to do a written interview with Anna Hansen, the Director of Operations of NOVA-HTI and asked her to share about their work to fight human trafficking :
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of NOVA-HTI?
A: In 2010, our congressional representative, Frank Wolf, asked the local faith community to be involved in the fight against human trafficking in Northern Virginia. The Pastors Consortium, a local group of church leaders, heeded this call by forming a team called the Loudoun Human Trafficking Task Force.
The Task Force decided the best way to fight trafficking was to serve those already in the fight, such as government agencies, non-profits, and service providers, by funneling community members and resources to them and by creating awareness within the community.
At the beginning of 2013, we re-branded ourselves as the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative (NOVA-HTI), officially becoming a 501(c)3 organization, and in 2014, we revised our mission statement to clarify our role in fighting human trafficking and caring for victims.
Q: What are the ways in which NOVA-HTI is fighting sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Northern Virginia and in the U.S.?
A: To network, serve, pray, and create awareness to mobilize the local Church and community to make a difference in its own neighborhoods and ultimately, eradicate human trafficking in Northern Virginia. NOVA-HTI stands on the front lines of human trafficking by connecting with the public, law enforcement, service providers, and volunteers to identify those being trafficked and provide intervention, crisis response and aftercare services.
Our Intervention Team builds relationships with domestic victims as they are being trafficked. These relationships allow them to begin to trust again and assist them on their long journey to freedom and healing.
We provide important crisis response the first 48 hours after victims are recovered. If they choose to continue with our trauma-informed case management, we provide a full assessment of needs and begin to build a strong support structure that will help them successfully reintegrate into society.
Q: Could you share with us the critical function of your Drop-In Center?
A: The NOVA-HTI Drop-In Center is a refuge for victims of human trafficking to find support, encouragement, and access to resources throughout their journey. During operating hours, survivors and clients will be able to meet with our Case Manager for referrals and application assistance, as well as attend educational classes and activities. One of the main components of the Drop-In Center is mentoring. We have volunteer mentors join our clients during activities, outings, and classes to build relationships and help restore a sense of community.
Q: From your experience in the life of NOVA-HTI, what would you say is the toughest challenge in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: One of the toughest challenges in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors is housing. We are able to provide a wide variety of services through our Drop-In Center, but the most needed and the most unavailable service is affordable housing, or housing programs. That is why NOVA-HTI is moving in the direction of providing housing as an organization in the coming year.
Q: What advice would you give for someone who wanted to really make a difference? How can the every day person help you in what you are doing?
A: A NOVA-HTI Ambassador is someone who carries the cause of eradicating human trafficking into communities through awareness and prayer and partners with NOVA-HTI financially with a minimum $30 monthly to help NOVA-HTI in its mission to eradicate trafficking and restore those impacted by it. NOVA-HTI will provide an Ambassador Tool Kit containing everything you need to start the conversation about human trafficking in your community. We’ve created a private Ambassador Facebook page where we’ll keep you informed about local trafficking cases and you will have a forum to share ideas with other Ambassadors. We’ll also provide a few perks available only to our Ambassadors!
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You can also support NOVA-HTI by purchasing our shirts and products, while sharing the word about the wonderful work this organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until MAY 25 will be donated to NOVA-HTI. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on NOVA-HTI, please visit their:
Website: NOVAHTI.COM
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10% of our sales until FEBRUARY 24, 2019 will benefit
OneVOICE4freedom. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking & exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue & to rally behind them. Until FEBRUARY 24, we are featuring OneVOICE4freedom. Founded by author, speaker, and sexual abuse survivor Nicole Bromley, they seek to be a strong VOICE and SOLUTION to fight sex trafficking, internationally and domestically. Click the button below to find out more about the amazing work this organization does!
OneVOICE4freedom was founded by Nicole Bromley, who is a sexual abuse survivor, author, and international spokesperson on sexual abuse and human trafficking.
We met Nicole in person back in September, and we were so inspired by her heart and passion, to use her story bravely to fight against sex trafficking! Her work began as a voice for sexual abuse survivors when she founded OneVOICE in 2003, an organization dedicated to creating awareness about sexual abuse and empowering survivors. She has since written several books and become an international activist. As many of the stories she heard of sexual abuse began to overlap with stories of trafficking, Nicole began to clearly see common threads and links and had an urge to be part of the solution to sex slavery.
We had the honor to do a written interview with Nicole, and asked her to share about OneVOICE4freedom :
Q: Nicole, could you share with us what sparked the birth of OneVOICE4freedom?
A: In order to talk about the birth of OneVOICE4freedom, I have to first talk about my own story a little bit. For as far back as I can remember I was sexually abused by my stepfather.
I lived in silence and shame until I was 14 years old, when I finally found my voice and broke my silence over what I was going through.
Through my journey of healing, I understood more and more how powerful and needed my voice was in helping other survivors find theirs. In 2003, I began an organization called OneVOICE, which is dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence and empowering survivors. I speak at universities, churches, conference, telling my story and I listen to the stories of other survivors. Through years of being the recipient of survivor voices, I realized how many stories of sexual abuse overlap with stories of sex trafficking. So many survivors of abuse were telling me that they had runaway from home—where their abuse was occurring—and unknowingly ran right into the arms of a trafficker, someone who seemed like the answer to their prayers, but ended up being their worst nightmares. My heart broke for these survivors and I decided I had to whatever I could to be part of the solution to sex slavery.
In 2010, I began a campaign across East Africa to "Stamp Out Child Sexual Abuse and Trafficking" and I had the opportunity to become the first woman to give a public address on sexual abuse and child sex slavery in the country of Uganda. My involvement in anti-trafficking work grew and, in 2012, I had the incredible opportunity to travel with a film crew into the brothels of Southeast Asia. I interviewed enslaved girls as well as mothers in remote villages who had been tricked into selling their daughters into slavery. The stories I heard were horrifying. I returned home completely heartbroken from the experience, but through those cracks in my heart, God began to shine light in, fill me with passion and give me a vision for changing the story of sex trafficking. Within a few months, OneVOICE4freedom was born—an organization that stops child sex trafficking before it starts.
Q: OneVOICE4freedom is doing wonderful work both domestically and internationally. Could you tell us what are the ways in which OneVOICE4freedom is combatting sex trafficking?
A: At OneVOICE4freedom, we get in front the problem to stop sex trafficking before it starts. One of the ways that we do this internationally is by offering a free pair of shoes for a child if their caretakers will attend our educational presentation on child sex trafficking. In Cambodia and East Africa, children are often trafficked through deceptive tricks that involves traffickers offering free education and a paying job for children from remote villages. In desperation and love, parents send their children to what they believe is an opportunity for them to escape poverty. The children are unknowingly being sold into sex slavery, and the heartbroken parents never hear from them again.
In our educational presentations, we warn them of these deceitful tactics, the long term effects and ask them to pledge to protect the children of their villages.
We beat traffickers to the villages they target and empower families with resources and tools to drive evil traffickers out of their villages.
We also build safe house schools, hire teachers, and support students. Lastly, we distribute copies of my book, Hush, which has been translated and published in Cambodia and East Africa. This book further tells my story and the stories of many other survivors, and of finding freedom, hope, and healing after child sexual abuse.
Domestically, we work to empower at-risk youth and to support survivors. By distributing "freedom bags" (backpacks full of basic needs hygiene products, nonperishables, and resource cards) to victims working on the streets and to those coming off the streets, we help girls and women feel loved and supported as many of them take a huge step in their healing journeys, entering safe houses and recovery homes. We also serve hot meals, hand out freedom bags, and build relationships with homeless youth and runaways, who are some of the most at-risk population for becoming victims of sex trafficking. We host "pamper parties" for women who are still being trafficked or women who are in recovery to help them feel seen, valued, and loved. We also provide unique curriculum and educational programming to community organizations, churches, universities, schools, and prisons.
We empower survivor voices to educate our youth and help them notice red flags in their own relationships or lives of their friends at school or church.
We help all audiences learn about human trafficking and we empower everyone to be a solution. By employing survivors as empowered advocates and speakers, we support their journeys and help them use their voice to change the world.
Q: From your experience, what would you say is the toughest challenge in helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: One of toughest challenges is to stay hopeful when you find that a girl you helped get rescued and into a recovery program has returned to one of her traffickers and is back working on the street. You have to have a lot of patience and meet these girls where they are at, over and over, and never give up on anyone.
Q: Could you share with us your favorite story of victory you have witnessed?
A: In 2010 I met a single mom in Cambodia named Yem. She had been tricked by traffickers and put her daughters on a bus, thinking she was sending them off for a better life than she could provide them, but when one daughter returned a couple of years later in a coma and eventually dying from the trauma inflicted on her as a a child sex slave, Yem was willing to do all she could to find her other daughter. When every possible road ended in a dead end, she became so grief stricken and sad. It was the deepest pain I have ever seen. And, as a mom myself, I know what its like to have your heart running around in little bodies everyday and her pain hurt my heart more than anything.
We did everything we could to help her stay afloat. We bought her a house, supported her recovery, and I paid for her bus ticket to come see me every time I returned to Cambodia to do anti-trafficking presentations. Every time I saw her, she cried and cried and the first thing she asked me was whether or not I had found her daughter. It never changed. I came home from one of those missions and told my closest friends that I felt like Yem needed to begin to accept that her daughter was dead, so she could begin to heal. As much as I had tried to help her hold onto hope, I was beginning to lose hope myself. A couple of months later, I received a message that I never expected. Her daughter has been returned!
Six years after I first met her, her daughter escaped and found her mom! It was a clear reminder to me that WE ALWAYS HAVE HOPE!
Never give up on any person or any situation, because there is always hope. It was just what I needed to energize me as the visionary in this work and to keep up the great fight.
Q: What are the immediate needs of OneVOICE4freedom? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting sex trafficking?
A: Number one, stop and listen to the stories of those around you. Change begins in our own neighborhoods when we value each other's stories and treat each other gently and with compassion. Be a safe person for your friends and acquaintances who might be silently suffering with shame or fear or circumstances you have no idea about.
Secondly, there are a number of ways that you can get involved with OneVOICE4freedom.
Empower: Educate your school, community, church, or small group about sexual abuse and human trafficking. Contact us to have a survivor share their story and empower your community through awareness, hope, healing, and being a solution to injustice.
Volunteer: Partner with us as we make and provide basic needs bags, serve meals, and host pampering parties.
Donate: One of the simplest ways to get involved is through monetary and practical gifts. Become a monthly or one-time donor by using our online giving tool. Follow us on Facebook for the most current list of practical items needed for our upcoming outreaches and pamper parties.
Shop: Support us when you shop through Amazon Smile and check out our online store where we have books, designer apparel, and accessories. All proceeds fund our anti-trafficking and sexual abuse awareness efforts.
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You can also support OneVOICE4freedom by purchasing our shirts and products, spread the word about this amazing organization and their fight against the injustice of human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until FEBRUARY 24 will be donated to OneVOICE4freedom. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on OneVOICE4freedom, please visit their:
Website: OneVoiceForFreedom.org
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10% of our sales until NOVEMBER 23, 2018 will benefit
Created Gainesville. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking & exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue & to rally behind them. Until NOVEMBER 23, we are featuring Created Gainesville. They seek to empower by walking alongside women in their journey toward healing and restoration. Find out more about this amazing organization!
Created Gainesville is committed to reaching and restoring women coming out of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in Gainesville, Florida. They seek to empower by walking alongside women in their journey toward healing and restoration. They provide holistic and individualized, focusing on providing physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual healing, specialized for women who have been sex trafficked and exploited.
We love the wonderful work they are doing to fight this nefarious crime of sex trafficking. We interviewed Created Gainesville to find out more about what they do:
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of Created Gainesville?
A: Created Gainesville has been around since 2012 and has worked with 1500 women since. The founder, Alison Ungaro, started this organization when she was shaken by the realities of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation stateside. Nationally, 1 in 5 boys and 1 in 3 girls experienced some form of sexual abuse, incest or molestation. 92+% of the women in the sex industry were those vulnerable girls and most have experienced compounded traumas. So, Created goes to the places where exploited women are- the streets, the strip club and the jail offering, offering hope in Jesus, community and a path towards restoration.
Currently, there are 9 women in the Created Care program. Created is raising money towards overall programming and the eventual opening of the first residential facility in greater Gainesville area for survivors. Three acres of land were recently donated! This home will truly benefit women all over our state.
Q: Could you tell us what are the ways in which Created Gainesville is combatting human trafficking?
A: Created goes to the places where exploited women are — the streets, the strip clubs, and the jails, offering hope in Jesus, community and a path towards restoration. When we raise awareness by sharing the statistics about the prevalence of molestation/incest/sexual abuse, we are frequently told by people from all walks of life — who have not ended up in the sex industry: teachers, lawyers, store managers and business people — of their past abuse.
It is a beautiful move when people who have been able to walk in freedom use their position to reach out and help those who haven't yet experienced redemption.
The Created Care program is non-residential at this point although we do help with housing scholarships. Created Care is our long-term, restorative care solution for women who are looking for a fresh start. We seek to empower by walking alongside women in their journey toward healing and restoration. Created Care is holistic and individualized, focusing on providing physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual healing, specialized for women who have been sex trafficked and exploited. Currently, there are 9 women in the Created Care program.
Created Care includes:
• Housing Assistance
• Trauma and Addiction Counseling
• Spiritual Growth and Development
• Job and Life Skill Training
• Education Assistance
• Community
• Mentoring
• Court Advocacy
• Accountability
We also do Outreach Programs:
STREET OUTREACH — We go to the streets of our city to find women where they are and offer Christ's love and a way out.
CLUB OUTREACH — We visit women working in the strip club on a regular basis to establish trust and friendship.
JAIL OUTREACH — We offer a weekly Celebrate Recovery program at the jail and we provide assistance in formulating an exit plan upon release.
COURT ADVOCACY — We advocate for women in the court system to have the opportunity for rehabilitative services.
OASIS NIGHTS — We invite the women we meet on Outreach to join us at our weekly Oasis night. We share a meal, worship, and do Bible study.
To find out more about our programs you can visit our PROGRAMS page.
Q: From your experience in the life of Created Gainesville, what would you say is the toughest challenge in helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: The deepest flaw in our ministry is not having a safe home for survivors. After prayerfully seeking, God has blessed us with THREE ACRES of land to build our residential house! It is time to raise $375,000 to invite women home to begin their journey of healing and restoration. Our vision is to have:
The Intake House
This will be a 4-6 week program to assess a woman's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs before moving into the long term residential home.
The Residential Home
This will be a 12-month program. The initial phase will focus on trauma care and healing. The last phase will focus on goal setting and skill development.
Empowered Living Phase
This will be an expansion on the Residential Program for transition into independent living. The focus will be on: working, saving, reunification, and more.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of survivor's victory Created Gainesville has witnessed?
A: A girl named Becky grew up in Gainesville. She never knew her father and was neglected by her mother as a child. On top of that, she was molested by a close family member. By age 12, she was in and out of the jail system. By age 16, she was addicted to powder cocaine. And by age 19, she started “tricking for dope”, or prostituting herself to feed her addiction to crack cocaine. At age 30, In 2013, a glimmer of hope in the form of Created Gainesville entered Becky’s life.
A transformational source of support entered her life through Created Care and Oasis. Becky’s self esteem was no longer based on “the opinions of the world,” she no longer underminded her worth.
Her relationship with the Lord transformed the way she thought about herself. She saw growth not only in her self-esteem and confidence, but in her sense of community.
She no longer saw other women as competition — through Oasis her eyes were opened for the first time to the beauty of women empowering other women. She said her story is “evidence of the healing and redeeming work of Jesus, and the role of Created in her life.”
Q: Created Gainesville was recently blessed with three acres of land to build your future residential home for survivors. Could you tell us more about it? How can we, the every day person, support you in fighting human trafficking?
A: We aim to build the first safe house for sex trafficking survivors in our area. This home will be multi-phase. Eventually, we hope to open three different home of which each phase would be independently housed. A woman initially coming into the residential program, the assessment phase, needs a unique scope of resources that differ from a woman in the residential phase. All women in the survivor home will receive what our Created Care program currently provides however, having a safe place to sleep each night and be in real community with other women will provide the nurturing environment they need to start over. We are in a mentorship under a similar organization who has a 75% success rate for women not returning to the life. 100% of their women get the opportunity to pursue their education and career goals.
The everyday person can help by being aware the signs of human trafficking and reporting what they observe to law enforcement.
Community members can financially support and pray fervently for organizations that offer restorative care to traumatized women in the sex industry. We love our volunteers who go with us on outreach, who lead bible studies with women, who drop of clothing donations, order items such as underwear and bras on our Amazon registry, who cook a meal for our weekly gathering and cover us all in prayer. It truly takes a village to rebuild and restore our sisters.
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You can also support Created Gainesville by purchasing our shirts and products, spread the word about this amazing organization and their fight against the injustice of human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until NOVEMBER 23 will be donated to Created Gainesville. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Created Gainesville, please visit their:
Website: CreatedGainesville.com
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10% of our sales until AUGUST 22, 2018 will benefit
Life for the Innocent. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking & exploitation. Every three months, we are featuring an anti human-trafficking organization to raise awareness about the issue & to rally behind them. Until AUGUST 22, we are featuring Life for the Innocent. They exist to rescue children from sexual slavery; provide for their practical needs; minister healing to their shame; bring joy to their lives, and usher them into the loving arms of a Christian family.
Life for the Innocent exists to rescue children from sexual slavery; provide for their practical needs; minister healing to their shame; bring joy to their lives and usher them into the loving arms of a Christian family.
We love that Life for the Innocent partners with communities around the world to rescue, restore and renew children affected by human trafficking.
We would like to know more about this wonderful organization, so we asked them in a short written interview:
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of Life for the Innocent?
A: Life for the Innocent began with a trip to South Asia in 2004. Chris, a businessman, husband, and father in Colorado, traveled to see his friend’s rescue work, where he witnessed the horror of child trafficking firsthand. With the disturbing memories of young girls and boys being sold still in his mind, Chris returned home determined to help in any way possible. For years, he rallied his church, friends and family to support housing, education and adoptive families to rescued children.
This partnership became the cornerstone of Life for the Innocent, which launched as an official entity headquartered in Northern Colorado, five years after Chris’ experience in South Asia. In 2014, LFTI added staff members (including Chris as Executive Director) and a board of directors, and received its 501(c)3 status in 2015. Chris shares more about what he experienced on that trip and how LFTI began here.
Q: Your operation is in South Asia. What are the ways in which Life for the Innocent is combatting the many forms of human trafficking over there?
A: Life for the Innocent exists to partner with communities to rescue, restore and renew children affected by human trafficking. Every child receives medical care, identification documents, housing, education, counseling, and adoptive families.
LFTI has over two dozen transition homes across South Asia for kids rescued from sex, labor and organ trafficking. The children stay for six to eight months, depending on the level of care needed.
Here, their physical, spiritual, educational and emotional needs are addressed before placement with their vetted, adoptive “Forever Family.”
The families are all members of LFTI’s partner churches in South Asia, resulting in many kids knowing the love of Jesus Christ. Forever Families submit to an 18-month vetting process prior to approval (currently, more than 2,000 families are on the waiting list!) LFTI’s robust two-year follow-up process ensures ongoing accountability for parents and long-term support for the kids.
These services, from the moment a child enters a home to the day of finalized adoption, cost $1,385 per child.
As such, these transformations and life-saving programs are only possible because of the generosity of LFTI supporters. Years after being rescued, children are thriving with their families, continuing their education, and have big dreams for the future.
Q: From your experience of fighting human trafficking, what would you say is the toughest challenge in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: LFTI’s homes are designed to be safe places for rescued children to heal and grow. By nature, the first few months of care is a time of transition and can be challenging. Every child has experienced varying levels and intensities of trauma from exploitation, abuse, and/or abandonment. Building a foundation of trust takes time, and the LFTI staff in South Asia are so committed to them. Over time, the kids gain confidence over time that they are safe, valued, and loved.
Q: To date, Life for the Innocent has rescued more than 6,000 children. That is amazing! This is probably hard to do, but could you share with us a favorite story of victory you have witnessed?
A: We are so grateful for God’s provision for these kids through the prayers and support of the LFTI family over the years.
There are thousands of incredible stories, so it’s difficult to choose. A victory that comes to mind is the story of a young boy who was trafficked in a South Asian brothel for years. When he came into LFTI’s care, he had plenty to eat, a safe place to stay, and attended school for the first time. He excelled at every subject and found a love of learning. His adoptive family loved helping him study, which continued after he went home with them.
Today, he is a young adult. He finished his Master’s degree and now works as an engineering manager! His story is a beautiful display of redemption and victory. It’s exciting to think about the futures of LFTI kids just like him.
Q: What are some of the current needs of the Life for the Innocent? How can the everyday person support you all in fighting human trafficking?
A: A major misconception about human trafficking is that people can’t really make a difference. We all can, and the movement is stronger when we work together, like what 139Made is doing.
PRAY
Your prayers bring light and hope into the darkness of human trafficking. Life for the Innocent provides prayer requests and live updates from the field via text. To receive these alerts, text UPDATES to 21000 (up to 3 messages/month).
GIVE
Additionally, regular funding is a need. The most effective way to do that is by joining a committed group of supporters giving monthly called Sustainers of Hope. You will create steady resources so LFTI can always say “YES!” to intervening for a child. For example, $10/month can provide a child’s full school term. $60/month can provide housing, care and adoption. And $115/month covers the entire cost to rescue, restore and renew a child. Your generosity is powerful! Click here to GIVE.
SUPPORT
Another way to make a ripple with your support is creating your own fundraiser as an LFTI Champion. It’s so easy and spreads the word to friends and family. People have done many fun things: beard competitions, running 5Ks, bake sales, donating birthdays, etc.
Your church or business can also partner with LFTI to care for rescued children. There’s no limit to how you can be involved in the fight!
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You can support Life for the Innocent by purchasing our shirts and products, spread the word about this amazing organizationand their fight agains the injustice of human trafficking. 10% of all our sales until AUGUST 22 will be donated to Life for the Innocent. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Life for the Innocent, please visit their:
Website: LifeForTheInnocent.org
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10% of our sales until MAY 21, 2018 will benefit
Blazing Hope Ranch.
Blazing Hope Ranch exists to RESTORE WHOLENESS to female survivors of human trafficking and WEAKEN THE SEX TRADE through the power of Christ.
Blazing Hope is more than a name. It represents a purpose to change the outlook and trajectory of the lives of women who were robbed of their dignity as precious creations. Each year the human sex trade forces thousands of women into a world of darkness, shame, abuse and depravity. Although not physical, the chains of fear, control and addiction are just as real. Out of the reality of human trafficking in the United States and the need for restoration for survivors Blazing Hope Ranch was forged.
We asked David Haggard, the Co-Founder and Director of Blazing Hope Ranch, a few question in a short written interview below:
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of Blazing Hope Ranch?
A: David and Jo Haggard first began to dream about a ranch ministry together soon after they were married in 2001. Fifteen years and three children later they began making that vision a reality. They believe that God has been carefully developing and gifting them as a team to carry out the unique and challenging task of building and maintaining Blazing Hope Ranch. The ranch was originally conceived as a place where troubled kids could visit and get help. However, about 9 years ago they were introduced to the issue of modern day slavery in the US and knew they needed to use the idea of the ranch and merge it with long-term care for survivors of sex trafficking.
Q: Blazing Hope Ranch is based in Tennessee. What are the ways in which your organization is combatting human trafficking in your state and/or in the US?
A: We are proud to know that Tennessee is one of the top states for dealing with the reality of human trafficking and taking legislative action to fight it. The State has dedicated TBI (TN Bureau of Investigation) agents assigned to the four regions of the State and conduct operations to rescue and place victims of trafficking as well as prosecute traffickers and buyers. Blazing Hope Ranch has begun to approach sex trafficking on three fronts and fight with others in the state to:
1. RESTORE WHOLENESS to survivors through trauma-informed long-term aftercare through our residential ranch program HOPE Haven and help survivors and survivor-serving organizations utilize healing found through horses in our Restoration Reigns horse program.
2. EMPOWER youth, families and communities to RESIST the tactics of traffickers by conducting CAMP RUN FREE summer day-camp experiences for kids 8-13 who may be at risk of trafficking and reduce their vulnerability through activities, interactive learning and horses.
3. REDUCE THE DEMAND that fuels trafficking by raising up leaders to protect the value of women through a community involvement program called Guardians of Hope.
Q: From your experience at Blazing Hope Ranch, what would you say is the toughest challenge in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: Helping people to realize the deep, long-term emotional, psychological and spiritual wounds caused by trafficking and the unique needs and approach necessary to guide a survivor to wholeness and success. There is a significant amount of education needed to bring about an awareness of the need for a holistic program like Blazing Hope Ranch and resources required to make it effective.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory in the life of Blazing Hope Ranch?
A: The story of Blazing Hope Ranch is one of miracles. When David & Jo began to work on designing how the ranch would work on paper, they literally had zero resources. They rented a home in town, did not have any horses and possessed no land. God began to slowly put the pieces together, from donated land to donated homes to donated horses to generous, giving individuals.
Our victory story is really a story about a God who has a heart for these women and will move whatever barriers are in the way to get them the help they need and to help them see his extravagant love.
In under three years all of those pieces moved into place and Blazing Hope Ranch became operational.
Q: What are some of the current needs in your organization? How can the every day person support you all in fighting human trafficking?
A: Everyone has something to offer. Maybe it a heart to consistently pray for the women and our ministry. Maybe it is the ability to share the blessings that God has given them with the ranch so we can afford to fulfill the clear calling and mission of God at Blazing Hope. Perhaps there are those with physical abilities and skills they can put to use in any number of ways on a ranch that is still rough around the edges. Or maybe their are those out there who could meet a physical, emotional, mental or spiritual need of the women through the offering of their services or goods, thus offsetting the expense to the ranch.
Thank you for sharing with us your heart and ministry, David and Jo!
"He works justice for those who are pressed down by the world, providing food for those who are hungry. He frees those who are imprisoned; He makes the blind see. He lifts up those whose backs are bent in labor; He cherishes those who do what is right." (Psalm 146:7)
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You can support Blazing Hope Ranch by purchasing our shirts and products, and spread the word about human trafficking injustice and this amazing organization. 10% of our sales until MAY 21 will be donated to Blazing Hope Ranch. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Blazing Hope Ranch, please visit their:
Website: BlazingHopeRanch.org
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10% of our sales until FEBRUARY 20, 2018 will benefit Chain Reaction.
Chain Reaction is an initiative of a non-profit, Global Renewal, as a response to the horrors of human trafficking. They are an organization that exists to train national leaders, transform communities, eradicate human trafficking and provide shelters for victims of modern-day slavery. Their mission is to inform, influence and empower individuals and communities through love and relevance.
To find out more about Chain Reaction, we asked a few questions to Liney Chako, the Co-Founder and Director of Chain Reaction, in a short written interview below:
Q: Chain Reaction now have operations in 2 countries – Cambodia and Indonesia. Could you tell us what sparked the birth of the organization?
A: In both nations, we came face to face with trafficking and realized that we could no longer assume fighting it was someone else’s job—we had to do our part.
In Indonesia, a brothel opened across from our leadership training center—it was frequented and run by uniformed men. Two ladies from that place ran to our center and asked for help as they explained they were recruited from the village and offered legitimate jobs. To their horror, they were being prostituted instead.
In Cambodia, while teaching trafficking prevention in the villages, a little girl captured our attention. We found out that her mother had been a sex slave and died recently of HIV. Her grandmother kept her chained during the day and allowed anyone to use her at night. She was special needs and thus labeled the village idiot.
She was released to our custody and thus began Chain Reaction…
a movement to combat trafficking through safe houses, prevention programs, and education.
Little Ruthie was the catalyst to launch Selah House—a home for victims of abuse and trafficking to pause, rest, and change direction.
Q: What are the ways in which Chain Reaction is combatting human trafficking in Cambodia and Indonesia?
A: In CAMBODIA: Selah House (aftercare facility), prevention programs in villages, educational scholarships (to keep children out of trafficking—education adds value), and leadership training that emphasizes prevention/identification of victims for pastors and leaders.
In INDONESIA: Selah House (aftercare facility), learning center in a brothel village for children of villagers, and leadership training that emphasizes prevention/identification of victims for pastors and leaders
Q: From your years of experience with Chain Reaction, what would you say is the toughest challenge in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: I believe the difficulty we’ve encountered has never been with the children, but rather with the community/guardians releasing the children to our care. In one instance, 2 young children were living on the street and being abused, but the community refused to release them to us because we didn’t adhere to their religion.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory in the life of Chain Reaction?
A: There are so many! One of my favorites though is of a beautiful 12 year old that we were told was selling herself in the neighborhood! Her mother was a sex worker and this child was disappearing at night. Imagine our bewilderment and concern… would she run away or corrupt the other children? We had never met a willing victim before.
When, however, our team sat down with the child and inquired, we found out she was selling herself to buy paper and erasers for school!
This was the only means of “employment” she had known. Needless to say, we received her into Selah House and she is now healed and one of the best students in her private school! She has the most beautiful smile and is growing up to be a leader and a witness of amazing grace.
Q: What are some of the current needs in your organization/operation? How can the every day person support you all in fighting human trafficking?
A: Our greatest need is prayer backing. We sometimes feel like Moses in front of Pharaoh…and need the collective strength of many voices shouting with us “Let my people GO!”
We also love volunteers to join us. Our office is in Dallas, but there are opportunities to serve stateside (especially in IT and social media and prayer) as well as on the field.
Finance are always welcome. Any donation goes a long way in our efforts. Fathom this: $10/month keeps a child from the slums in school and out of trafficking rings. $100 assists us in a rescue, medical care, new clothes, and school registration fees for a former victim.
We believe that each of us has a part to play in combatting trafficking. We have observed ordinary people who entered an atmosphere in which a calling can be deposited give birth to great vision. No seed is wasted in God’s economy. That’s why many of us sense a discomfort, a stirring, a silent roar rising within our souls. We were born to fight injustice. Each one of us must study the signs of trafficking and be alert in our daily lives. We must look for ways to serve, give, and go.
We must, with open hearts and laid-down plans, ask of Him, the Great Liberator, “what would you have me to do?” And with the answer comes the backing of all of heaven, supernatural ability, and provision for the vision from the Father who so loves each captive!
Stay woke, my friend, and let’s end slavery IN OUR GENERATION!
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You can also support Chain Reaction by purchasing our shirts and products, and spread the word about human trafficking injustice and this amazing organization. 10% of our sales until FEBRUARY 20 will be donated to Chain Reaction. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Chain Reaction, please visit their:
Website: WillYouReact.org
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10% of our sales until NOVEMBER 19, 2017 will benefit Traffick911.
Traffick911 is a team of passionate people driven to free youth from sex trafficking.
At Traffick911, they believe that prevention happens through educating adults and youth about the plight of sex trafficking in America and equipping them with practical ways to keep themselves safe. Traffick911 works to free youth from sex trafficking through prevention, identification and empowerment. Since 2009, Traffick911 has educated over 67,800 individuals face-to-face, identified 720 victims across Texas, and worked with law enforcement in 16 Texas counties. They will continue to expand across Texas and partner with other affiliate organizations in other states, working to reach as many youth as possible with a prevention message, identify victims through outreaches and trainings and empowering survivors on their journey to freedom.
We asked Cheryl Brasuell, the Director of Community Engagement, in a short written interview to find out more about the work and mission of Traffick911.
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of Traffick911?
A: Traffick911 began in 2009 by a local abolitionist who learned about this crime and decided that she couldn't stay silent. After months of research and connecting to networks across the nation, she pioneered training youth and first responders across Texas and built an enormous base of highly-trained volunteers, who have been instrumental in Traffick911’s long-term success.
In 2011, an opportunity to present at a juvenile detention center gave insight on what became a highly effective venue for reaching high-risk youth. Since then, Traffick911's work in partnering with juvenile detention centers has gained national exposure and hundreds of victims have been identified sitting in these jail cells. Outreach to high-risk youth has become a niche and passion of Traffick911.
Traffick911 was named Outstanding Organization of the Year by the Fort Worth Commission for Women with commendations by the Fort Worth City Council, mayor and a State Senator. They have also been recognized by Homeland Security Investigations as a most-valued partner in this battle to save our American children from sex trafficking.
Q: What are the ways in which Traffick911 is fighting sexual exploitation and human trafficking of our youth?
A: Traffick911 exists to free youth from sex trafficking with a three-prong strategy of PREVENTION, IDENTIFICATION, and EMPOWERMENT. We have identified and/or assisted 700 (and counting) victims and our work—in close partnership with law enforcement—has led to multiple state and federal felony arrests and convictions. We also have a youth prevention program called Traps, which teaches youth how to #BeSmartStayFree from traffickers by understanding their tricks, traps and lures.
Q: From your experience, what would you say is the toughest challenge in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: We believe that relationship is the intervention that helps these vulnerable and exploited kids begin to see themselves as survivors. Our advocates walk side by side with each survivor to help them see that their story doesn’t define their future. They are more than their story and more valuable than they can imagine!
Q: Could you share with us some of the stories of victory in the life and work of Traffick911?
A: I will point you to our website to the page where we post letters from the girls we’ve reached through Juvenile Detention Outreach. These are amazing!
To read the letters from the girls, you can go to this page — LETTERS
Q: What advice would you give for someone who wanted to really make a difference? How can the every day person help you in what you are doing?
A: My advice would be to research, watch documentaries and read about the issue and then talk about it to everyone you know. Awareness is powerful and we want people to understand that kids are being exploited every day in plain sight—in our communities. Every person can do something. Not everyone can join the day-to-day fight but every person can give of their resources to make a difference in a child’s life.
As I stated before, RELATIONSHIP IS THE INTERVENTION. It takes people to make a difference in the lives of these kids.
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You can also support Traffick911 by purchasing our shirts and products, and spread the word about this wonderful organization and human trafficking injustice. 10% of our sales until NOVEMBER 19 will be donated to Traffick911. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Traffick911, please visit their:
Website: Traffick911.com
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10% of our sales until AUGUST 18, 2017 will benefit Wipe Every Tear.
WE RESCUE PRECIOUS GIRLS TRAFFICKED IN THE SEX TRADE
Wipe Every Tear is committed to bringing hope and healing in the lives of women trafficked in the sex trade. From safe places to call home, to education and discipleship, we exist to give women the opportunity to have their lives fully restored.
Wipe Every Tear is a non-profit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to breaking the chains of human trafficking. With their main operation in the Philippines, they are relentlessly in going to hell-holes and seeking out the poor of the poor, and bringing hope to the brokenhearted and those bound by chains in the sex trade.
Q: Wipe Every Tear is now operating in the Philippines. What sparked the birth of the organization over there?
A: Wipe Every Tear started in a high school teacher's classroom. As a basketball coach and a father to five daughters and a son, Kenny Sacht had his heart broken for the injustices of the sex trade. It started with the commitment to support one girl. Then everything changed when we met Rebecca Angeles, our Filipino director. One girl quickly became four. Then in 2012 Wipe Every Tear secured the Hope House, the first home for our lovely girls. By providing the good news of a safe place to live, a warm meal, education and discipleship, the lives of young women and girls are being restored.
We have grown from one house and four girls to currently caring for over 70 girls with 5 houses in the Philippines.
Q: What are the ways in which Wipe Every Tear is combatting human trafficking in the Philippines?
A: Wipe Every Tear combats human trafficking by taking a holistic approach. We started with a way out. Our dedicated staff and volunteers seek out miserable bars masquerading as joy filled places to provide women with real hope for a better future and a helping hand to leave their current circumstances. Through genuine relationships and the building of trust we help facilitate their transition from the sex trade to a new life of freedom. Then we provide a safe place for them to heal and live!
Safe homes are an integral part of Wipe Every Tear's mission. Our homes serve as places of safety, refuse, and healing. And lastly, education. Education is essential to Wipe Every Tear's mission. Having a quality education allows women to create a brighter future for themselves and their loved ones! In many areas, a college degree or vocational training means the ability to find a job that can sustain a family for life. Therefore, we believe education is key to breaking the chains of sex trafficking.
With a holistic approach toward these women’s physical, emotional and spiritual health and healing, we commit to providing everything they need for the hope of a new future.
Q: From your years of experience with Wipe Every Tear, what would you say is the toughest challenge in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: The toughest challenge of helping and caring for these incredible women is keeping them inspired and encouraged through school. Many of them were exploited from a young age, removing them from school, which means by the time they transition into our care, they could be 21 years old and still have to complete high school and college. So continuing to encourage each girl that the journey is worth it and the gift of education if vital for their future can be a challenge.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory in the life of Wipe Every Tear?
A: Every story is a story of victory so it is hard to choose one! A most recently beautiful story is one of the first girls who came into our care in 2009. She came into our care because her mom passed away and her aunt forced her and her sister to work in the bars to get money. After she transitioned into our care, she invited her sister into the care of Wipe Every Tear and they have been together every since. BOTH girls graduated college together last week! Which means TWO college graduates in one family! A true miracle! And not only that, but both girls have accepted jobs to work for us in the Philippines. One girl is our new bookkeeper and the other overseas our partners coffee ministry. How beautiful!!!
Q: What are some of the current needs in your organization/operation? How can the every day person support you all in fighting human trafficking?
A: Our current needs are more funding and for more prayers. With our commitment to stick with each girl for the long haul that comes into our care, the pressure of funding is always there. However, we serve a God who LOVES us more than we could ever imagine, so we always trust in his ability to provide! And for those prayer warriors, we ask that you could continue to pray for our incredible girls, for courage to rise up in their spirits and for them to run after the dreams God has put in their hearts!
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Another way to support them is to purchase our shirts and spread the word about Wipe Every Tear and human trafficking injustice. 10% of our sales until AUGUST 18 will be donated to Wipe Every Tear. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Wipe Every Tear, please visit their:
Website: WipeEveryTear.org
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10% of our sales until MAY 17, 2017 will benefit Araminta Freedom Initiative.
A member of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, Araminta Freedom Initiative (aramintafreedom.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to awakening, equipping, and mobilizing the Church and our community to dismantle child sex trafficking in the Baltimore region.
139Made interviewed Alicia McDowell, Executive Director of Araminta, to know more about the work of the wonderful work they are doing.
Q: The name Araminta is so unique. Could you tell us the meaning behind it?
A: Araminta was Harriet Tubman’s given name when she was a child slave on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Araminta means defender and we believe we are to be defenders of those who experience the injustice of modern day slavery in Maryland.
The founders of the organization felt compelled to name the organization after someone who had experienced oppression but overcame the oppression to bring hope. In our work, we desire to honor her abolitionist legacy.
Q: Araminta was launched in 2012. What sparked the birth of this organization?
A: In October of 2010, the eight founders of Araminta gathered with one thing in common – a shared desire to see the trafficking of children in Baltimore cease. Driven by our faith in God’s heart for justice and human dignity, we set out on a journey to discover how to move from simply being aware to action. The founders spent the next 16 months discerning through prayer, research and collaboration with local partners how to create an organization moves the Church and community to stand against the trafficking of children in Baltimore. We wanted to give people with a passion to act a way to do so. Out of this time can the vision, mission, and strategic model that is Araminta.
Q: What are the ways in which Araminta is combatting human trafficking in Baltimore/Maryland?
A: Araminta’s mission is to awaken, equip and mobilize the Church and community in Maryland to end human trafficking through education, prevention strategies, and restorative survivor services.
First, we awaken people to the reality of child trafficking and that the victims are children right here in Maryland. We do this through presentations to churches and community groups. Araminta has also written a bible study, Awaken, to help small groups understand the issue.
Once we awaken, we then equip people to volunteer through our certified volunteer training course. Since 2012, we have trained over 400 people through this course. Volunteers are then mobilized to engage through our education, prevention strategies, and restorative survivor services.
Through our prevention and intervention education programs, we educate adults and youth to understand how someone can become a victim of trafficking, how to identify the signs of potential trafficking and how to respond.
These education programs are available to churches, community groups, and professionals who work with children and youth. Araminta also has a partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education to implement training and reporting protocols for child trafficking throughout Maryland schools.
Araminta’s restorative survivor services surround children, teens, and young women, who experienced child trafficking, to heal in community. As a member of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force Victim Services Committee, Araminta partners with law enforcement, child protective services, juvenile services and other community agencies to be connected to the needs of identified victims. Our mentoring program pairs survivors and highly-at risk teens with a trained volunteer mentor to help them meet their restoration goals.
Additionally, Araminta has been a part of a nationwide pilot to tailor the Open Table model to serve survivors of human trafficking. In 2017, we are expanding our office space to open a drop-in center where survivors can receive life-skills classes, volunteer advocacy, peer-groups and activities. This space will be a place where the power of community will be central. Furthermore, Araminta is actively seeking to open the first specialized home in Maryland to house minor victims of trafficking.
Q: Based on your experience with Araminta, what would you say is the toughest challenge in this fight against human trafficking?
A: The toughest challenge is the lack of awareness that human trafficking is a local problem. People are still largely unaware that human trafficking is happening in the U.S. and that it is mainly affecting domestic children. Because of this lack of awareness, the resources to serve survivors and implement prevention strategies do not meet the current need. But we are hopeful that this is changing!
Q: How can the every day person support Araminta in fighting human trafficking? What advice would you give for someone who wanted to really make a difference?
A: First, you can pray. Only through God is the abolition of this modern slavery possible. You can download a prayer guide on Araminta’s website to help direct prayers.
Second, make those around you in your circles of influence know that human trafficking is indeed happening right here. If you are in Maryland, you can request Araminta for an awareness presentation with your church, school, or community group.
Third, move to action. That could mean supporting a trafficking organization through your financial gifts or volunteering with an anti-trafficking organization. If you are in Maryland, please visit our website for more information about our next volunteer training course!
Finally, do not believe the lie that just because you are not a professional working in law enforcement or social services that you cannot have an impact or do not have anything to offer. You have gifts and abilities that absolutely can be used to end this injustice. It’s only through God’s people moving through His heart for justice that we will see an end to modern day slavery. We have seen it happen throughout history and believe it will happen again.
Micah 6:8 — He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
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Another way to support them is to purchase our shirts and spread the word about Araminta Freedom Initiative and human trafficking issues. 10% of our sales until MAY 17 will be donated to Araminta Freedom Initiative. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Araminta Freedom Initiative, please visit their:
Website: ARAMINTAFREEDOM.ORG
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10% of our sales until FEBRUARY 16, 2017 will benefit She Has Hope. 139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every three months, we will feature an anti human-trafficking organization on our blog to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until FEBRUARY 16, we are featuring She Has Hope. They rescue and rehabilitate human trafficking survivors with the goal of restoring them to a life full of hope.
She Has Hope rescues and rehabilitates human trafficking survivors with the goal of restoring them to a life full of hope. Burdened by the alarming rate of Nepali girls who go missing due to being trafficked within South Asia, She Has Hope was founded in 2012 in partnership with local Nepali leadership.
In 2015 they broadened the reach of our trafficking response program to include The Philippines and Uganda. All proceeds from the sales of their handmade crafts directly support their programs. She Has Hope operates under the guidance and oversight of Peace Gospel International, a charitable organization that began its work in 1993 to serve orphans, child labor victims, and young trafficking survivors in Asia and Africa. They have achieved Gold level status (the highest level) with GuideStar Exchange, the premier source for nonprofit information and transparency (click to review their profile).
She Has Hope's response to the human trafficking crisis in Asia and Africa can be summarized in five categories as follows:
PREVENTION
She Has Hope conducts an ongoing human trafficking awareness campaign to train susceptible young Nepali girls how to avoid the false promises and deceptive offers of traffickers. They have carried out such training workshops in over 100 schools, providing over 8,000 Nepali girls with life-saving trafficking avoidance skills. In Uganda and The Philippines, they conduct similar efforts through the education of at-risk girls, while also providing empowerment for their mothers through craft and skill development schools.
RESCUE
Their kiosk at one of the busier Nepal-India border crossings serves as an important lookout for trafficking activity. Their staff has been trained to look for unusual behavior such as men traveling with teenage girls, and to tip off the nearby border police in such circumstances.
She Has Hope's vigilant team has helped rescue several girls straight from the traffickers. This has led to the incarceration of a number of those perpetrating these horrible crimes.
Rescued girls are provided shelter and hospitality at their transition home at the border until they can determine the best course of action for the girls. Most are enrolled in their rehabilitation home.
REHABILITATION
In response to the human trafficking crisis in South Asia, She Has Hope operates a rehabilitation home in Kathmandu that is home to several Nepali girls and young ladies rescued from desperate situations. At this home, they receive counseling and medical care, room & board, literacy classes, and become proficient in several craft-making, seamstress, cooking and gardening skills through daily coursework offered by their full-time teachers.
RESTORATION
She Has Hope works to equip girls enrolled at the ‘She Has Hope’ rehabilitation home with everything they need to stand on their own, healed and full of hope. Their Nepali rehabilitation home is a great success:
Over 70 girls have graduated, and of these, 8 girls have started their own businesses.
The other graduates are either married or have found jobs related to their newly acquired skills.
SUSTAINABILITY
In all three of their project locations, their goal is sustainability. In Nepal, the garden project at their rehabilitation home continues to flourish—this year they have harvested eggplants, green beans, corn, radishes, potatoes, spinach, green onions, and garlic. The garden project not only provides the girls with nutritious ingredients for their meals but also equips them with knowledge of advanced gardening techniques. They leave the home knowing how to start their own gardens to provide for themselves. In addition to the garden project, their native staff also operates a farmland outside the city which further contributes to their sustainability goals.
Last but not least, the goal of She Has Hope crafts sales is to close the gap and create 100% sustainability in our Nepal program funding by 2020.
In Uganda, the women enrolled in their program not only craft the beautiful products you see here in the shop, but also participate in maintaining a garden project and a catering company which further empowers them with fair wages as well as generating funding for the program. In the Philippines, their trafficking response program is funded in part by a farmland project which includes banana and coconut groves, vegetable gardens, a henhouse and a fishery.
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You can help support She Has Hope’s work in fighting human trafficking by purchasing their beautiful hand-crafted products and support their artisans at their Online Shop. You can also donate to their organization. They are a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Another way to support them is to purchase our shirts and spread the word about this wonderful organization! 10% of our sales from now until February 16, 2017 will be donated to She Has Hope.
For further information on She Has Hope, please visit their:
Website: SheHasHope.org
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10% of our sales until NOVEMBER 15, 2016 will benefit All Worthy of Love.
All Worthy of Love from All Worthy of Love on Vimeo.
All Worthy of Love (AWOL) was founded by Lindsey Fischer, as a non-profit organization that reaches to those enslaved by prostitution through local weekly outreach in Detroit and Austin. The way it began was nothing less than an "undeniably clear" divine appointment. We interviewed Lindsey to talk about this wonderful organization.
Q: All Worthy of Love currently has operations in 2 cities – Detroit, Michigan and Austin, Texas. What sparked the birth of the organization and why those 2 locations?
A: AWOL has a really neat story…. But it’s a long one! Not to get out of answering, but I wrote a blog about this that goes into all the details surrounding AWOL’s birth that I would love you to read here.
With regard to the locations: It has been my vision to be present in the streets of Austin, Texas since the birth of this ministry. Since the age of 12, I have known God had a calling for me in Austin. After living in the city of Austin for several years, I relocated to Detroit, MI as the Lord lead. I knew my time in Detroit was limited and that one day I would be back in good ol’ Texas. Before AWOL was even a year old, I traveled back to Austin to begin developing relationships with other anti-trafficking organizations and to learn what sex-trafficking looked like in that geographical area. I then went back to Michigan and proceeded to birth all that God had imparted into my heart, while believing that one-day Detroit would be the birthplace for AWOL and I would be in Austin following the model of Detroit’s outreach. In May 2014 I relocated to Austin to do just that. I assessed the Austin area, continued to network with other abolitionists, developed a community, joined a mission-oriented Church, and developed an outreach program for AWOL Austin. I soon realized that the need for an outreach ministry like AWOL is ever present in Austin, but it didn’t take long for my vision to quickly expand to that need being ever present everywhere in the US. Sex trafficking knows no geographical bounds, so I refuse to limit the vision of this organization by such. In 2016 we launched to our third state, Indianapolis, Indiana. We are so thrilled by the team God has orchestrated and the 40+ lives that have been rescued through our weekly outreach efforts. I look forward to continuing to duplicate our model of outreach to wherever the Lord leads!
Q: What are the ways in which All Worthy of Love is combatting human trafficking in Detroit, Austin, Indianapolis, and nationally?
A: All Worthy of Love is a justice focused non-profit that reaches out to men and women enslaved by street-prostitution. Our mission is to restore broken dwellings, based on the teachings of Isaiah 58. We work in a three stranded cord; prevention, rescue, and restoration. We prevent sex trafficking through awareness. We promote awareness through various speaking engagements at local churches, schools, and small groups to educate the community of modern day slavery. We rescue victims of trafficking through weekly outreach. We restore victims of trafficking through partnerships with local organizations that offer safe housing and restorative care.
Our main focus is outreach. The vision for our outreach team is building consistent relationships. We currently have over 15 outreaches per month across 5 locations (3 states).
Our outreach team is intentionally kept small and we require a one year commitment so our friends working the streets see the same people consistently and as a result develop deep friendships. A team of 4 goes out to the same outreach area every week. I think what sets our approach apart is our commitment to not just reaching and rescuing victims of trafficking, but also their traffickers. We believe that the women are enslaved to one thing and the traffickers are enslaved to another – but both are worthy of love.
I always tell my team, you’re ready to love the prostitute when you can love the pimp.
We believe that people know what is wrong with them, they need to know what is right with them – so we speak truth in love. Every person we encounter receives a hearty lunch – and I mean hearty. When I first began this outreach program I remember being amazed by a donated peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but the girls on the street were not. At first I was shocked, but the more I studied scripture the more I realized that these women were Jesus and if He were here today and I was serving Him a meal I would make Him the best sandwich in the world. Our standard for sandwiches is just that, what kind of sandwich would you make Jesus? We want women to know they are worth the best. Along with their lunch, we provide a hygiene kit with 9 items, all travel sized.
We recognize that victims of trafficking do not have a consistent home they can keep supplies at, so every week we meet their personal hygiene needs. Additionally, every person receives a hand written card that expresses God’s great love for him or her, a love that is pure, without judgment. We also offer prayer. This part of our outreach is not forced. We trust that the Holy Spirit will do what He can do, and we will do our part. Jesus didn’t say clean the fish and then catch them; He just said catch the fish.
Q: From your years of experience with All Worthy of Love, what would you say is the toughest challenge in this fight against human trafficking?
A: I think the toughest challenge we have as an anti-trafficking organization is after care housing. We are so blessed by the amazing relationships we do have with safe houses, but they are far and few between. Getting a girl off the streets is the most joyous and stress filled moment. There are SO many hoops to jump through; does he/she have an ID, what county does their last known as address reflect, is she pregnant, what sexual orientation he/she identifies with, duration since their last stint in treatment, insurance or no insurance, and the list goes on. We need housing that we can call at midnight and take a someone in immediately, without any red tape. Currently we have 1 place that offers that sort of intake.
Q: Could you share with us a favorite story of victory in the life of All Worthy of Love?
A: When I first started AWOL everyone would ask how many people we rescued and for the first two years the answer was zero. I remember feeling so discouraged and thinking the victory in our ministry was in a number, and I knew in my heart that wasn’t the case. Jesus’ idea of victory is so different than our idea of victory. The Lord began to change my heart and show me that every single person we met, prayed with, or prayed for was our victory. Here are two really neat stories of victory we’ve seen on outreach and in restorative care:
“723pm Headed to meet _______ at _________, she texted that she is sitting on a park bench. She approached the car and Marline asked how she was doing, she said horrible. She went on to say that _______ is a crack head and treats her so badly. She just needed to get away, she said she has to leave when he does crack so she doesn't do it too. Lindsey shared about a safe house we could take her to. She's tired of men being nasty to her. Lindsey explained that earlier in the day the Holy Spirit gave her a vision about bringing her flowers. Lindsey gave her the flowers and said "these are from your Father. He loves you, He sees you, and He wants you to know His kindness is immeasurable." ________ began to cry. Said she hasn't received flowers in years and said she loves us so much. LF continued to speak truth over her and told her that God is a gentleman, He is the kind of God that brings His girls flowers because He cherishes them. We are here because she is worthy of good love, love that doesn't disrespect her or love with expectation and she deserves to know that! Gave her 2 lunches, she hugged us and said we don't know much, much she loves us.”
This one was a huge praise for our team! I met _________ the first month I began AWOL. I watched the streets slowly take away her life. I was there when she was beaten, raped, and robbed. Still, every week she would wait for our car and plead for us to pray with her. She found herself on the streets with a drug addiction and quickly that addiction lead her to being trafficked. One day she called our 24 hour hotline number and asked us to come and rescue her. She went through an entire year of restoration and found herself ready to make a commitment to make Jesus her Lord and Savior and was baptized!
Q: How can the every day person support you all in fighting human trafficking? What advice would you give for someone who wanted to really make a difference?
A: We have SO many ways people can link arms with us to help abolish slavery. Whether they are near to our outreach locations or far – there is a way everyone can get involved!
• Prayer Support for our outreach
• Host an awareness night
• Compile Hygiene Kits (we pass out 50 kits each week)
• Make lunches (we pass out 50 lunches each week)
• Join our Outreach Team
• Write notes of encouragement
• Pack 'Survivor Packs
• Financial Support. You can donate online by visiting our website.
For more information on ways to help, please visit our blog page where you can find 28 ways people can end slavery.
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Another way to support them is to purchase our shirts and spread the word about All Worthy of Love and human trafficking issues. 10% of our sales until NOVEMBER 15 will be donated to All Worthy of Love. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on All Worthy of Love, please visit their:
Website: ALLWORTHYOFLOVE.ORG
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10% of our sales until AUGUST 14, 2016 will benefit Freedom Firm.
Founded in 2006 in India, Freedom Firm works to Rescue minors who have been sold into the commercial sex trade, Restore their identities, and seek Justice against those who perpetrate these crimes.
We interviewed Becky Morris, a Freedom Firm Senior Representative, regarding their organization and what they do.
Q: Could you tell us what sparked the birth of Freedom Firm and why you chose India?
A: Globally, there are an estimated 2 Million children in forced prostitution. 500,000 (or 25%) of those children are in India.
The U.S. State department calls India the “source, destination and transit” country for a majority of trafficking in Asia.
When Mala Malstead heard about the reality of sex trafficking in India, she knew God was calling her to give her life to this cause. In 2000, Mala and her husband, Greg, moved with their children to Mumbai, India where Greg joined International Justice Mission (IJM). For five years, Greg worked for IJM as their Operational Field Director for Mumbai and established IJM’s first anti-sex trafficking work in India. During his time with IJM, Greg’s team lead and participated in interventions that resulted in the rescue of over 450 victims and prosecution of more than 180 perpetrators, with 6 successful convictions.
Greg and Mala passionately believed that the most effective way of creating change was through the rescue and legal work. But they also recognized that the life of each rescued girl was profoundly damaged through their experiences. The girls needed more than counseling; they needed consistent, thorough restoration.
Combining Greg’s legal expertise with Mala’s creative passion and teaching background, Freedom Firm was founded in 2006. Today, Freedom Firm works to rescue girls, bring their perpetrators to justice and walk alongside the survivors as they begin their journey to restoration.
Q: What are the ways in which Freedom Firm is combatting human trafficking?
A: Freedom Firm seeks to eliminate child prostitution in India by providing Rescue, Restoration and Justice for victims of sex trafficking. We accomplish this by mobilizing law enforcement agencies to rescue victims and arrest perpetrators we have identified, assisting the legal system during prosecution and enabling rescued girls to engage in effective rehabilitation. All three components are vital to the goal of ending sex trafficking in India.
RESCUE – Freedom Firm’s undercover investigators follow leads and monitor red light areas throughout India that have a high incidence of sex trafficking. Using hidden cameras, our investigators identify minor victims as well as their perpetrators. With assistance from Freedom Firm, the police raid the brothels and rescue the girls. The perpetrators are arrested and our legal team files criminal complaints against them. By partnering with the local authorities, we ensure the girls have legal standing and are represented fully as justice is sought.
RESTORATION – Freedom Firm’s team of social workers closely follow each rescued girl as she moves through the government process. They provide ongoing counseling, facilitate medical care and provide access to education and employment. This ensures that each girl is given the tools she needs for a life of self-worth and self-reliance outside of prostitution. Our holistic aftercare program not only facilitates each girl’s emotional, physical and spiritual healing, but also equips her for a future of self-sufficiency and independence. We have 3 unique aspects to our restoration programs: Ruhamah Designs, Leg Up, and Freedom Camps.
Ruhamah Designs
It is Freedom Firm’s micro-enterprise which employs women who have been rescued from sex trafficking. This provides them with a viable, sustainable occupation and an opportunity to start a fresh life with marketable skills. Ruhamah Designs is a reverse business model that revolves around our employees, focusing on their needs and abilities. Honest, hard work lends a sense of dignity and pride as they help themselves instead of depending on charity. You can see our artists’ beautiful work at www.ruhamah.in.
Leg Up
Leg Up provides positive growth for survivors of sex trafficking through assisting with horse therapy for children with disabilities. Situated in the mountains of southern India, we take advantage of both the beauty of God’s creation and the unique social and emotional instincts of horses to provide opportunities for healing in a hands-on setting. For more information, visit www.legupindia.org.
Freedom Camps
Freedom Camp gives us a tremendous opportunity to work in the lives of rescued girls. Most of the girls are from hot cities and garbage strewn brothels. They have been the object of hate, violence, degradation and abuse. The camp gives us an opportunity to treat them with love and provide an environment to have pure, healthy fun, surrounded by the beauty of mountains, lakes and streams.
JUSTICE – At Freedom Firm, we believe it is vital to bring justice through conviction of the perpetrators. When traffickers are imprisoned for their crimes, they are unable to continue exploiting girls and a message goes out to all those engaged in similar practices that they will be held accountable. This creates a strong deterrent to further trafficking. Therefore, justice = prevention.
Q: Freedom Firm has been operating for about a decade. From your experience, what would you say is the toughest challenge in this fight against human trafficking?
A: The toughest part of this fight is remaining faithful despite the numerous and constant challenges we face. Freedom Firm deals with apathetic & corrupt law enforcement, judicial systems and social welfare systems. These broken systems can lead to tip-offs, acquittals of the perpetrators and girls being re-trafficked into the brothels after rescue. Our staff also faces the reality of walking the path to recovery with a young woman for years only to have her make a life-changing bad decision or disappear and cut off contact with us.
The trauma the girls have experienced is not healed overnight and so with the victories comes heartbreak as we watch girls make poor decisions. As challenging as these issues can be, we remain hopeful and cling to the knowledge that God is at work through us.
Q: Could you share with us a story of victory in the life of Freedom Firm?
A: One of our memorable victories was when we received our first conviction of a brothel keeper in 2008. After the brothel keeper was caught selling 15 year old Sunita in her brothel, we successfully asked the court to deny her bail request. Then we worked hard at gathering the evidence, doing the legal research, and preparing the witnesses for testimony. After all was said and done, in December 2008, justice won! The conviction was a huge victory, particularly since conviction rates in anti-trafficking cases are extremely low due to the corruption, poor police investigation and difficulty in getting the girls to testify in cases because they either can't or don't want to testify. We have received 9 convictions since then and praise God for each and every one!
Q: How can the every day person join Freedom Firm in fighting human trafficking? What advice would you give for someone who wanted to really make a difference?
A: Human trafficking is known as modern-day slavery. We need to fight this injustice with modern-day abolitionists! The first step to becoming an abolitionist is to get informed. You can find a number of resources to get you started at the bottom of page on Freedom Firm’s website: www.freedom.firm.in/why-india.
The next step is to roll up your sleeves and get involved. Commit your time, energy and resources to the cause of anti-trafficking. Freedom Firm relies on people all over the U.S. to help us spread the word and raise funds so that our work can continue.
Host an awareness event for your neighbors, classmates, co-workers, church, small group or anyone else you know! We have an award-winning documentary called Horse & Rider that you can show to a small group of people in your home or in a large auditorium setting. Get more information here: www.freedom.firm.in/hosting-a-horse-rider-screening.
One of the very best ways you can make a big impact for Freedom Firm is by hosting a jewelry event! Sign up to host a party in your home, school, office or church and we will ship you a kit full of beautiful jewelry, hand-made by our rescued girls in India. We will even include pictures and stories for you to share with your guests and a video to show about our work. It’s that easy! To get more information about hosting a party, visit www.freedom.firm.in/hosting-a-jewelry-party.
Consider giving a monthly donation to Freedom Firm’s work. Our greatest need is supporters who would be willing to become a sustainer for our mission. A monthly donation of any size allows us to plan and budget our programs accordingly. We are so incredibly grateful to those who would stand with us through their financial support. Donate here: www.freedom.firm.in/donate.
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Another way to support them is to purchase our shirts and spread the word. 10% of our sales until AUGUST 14 will be donated to Freedom Firm. CLICK HERE TO SHOP
For further information on Freedom Firm, please visit their:
Website: FreedomFirm.org
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10% of our sales until MAY 13, 2016 will benefit Freedom Place.
Freedom Place is a Christ-centered care and recovery center for underage female victims of domestic child sex trafficking. It is the first long-term, comprehensive care facility in Texas for underage victims of domestic child sex trafficking and is one of only five such facilities in the United States. Our mission is to offer a successful path to freedom for American children who have suffered as victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
139Made is honored to feature Freedom Place and to support them in their fight against sex trafficking in our Houston Metro area. Since Freedom Place is the first program of its kind in the United States, they have become the model that others look to for best practices in serving victims of domestic child sex trafficking. We interviewed Shandra Carter, the Executive Director of Freedom Place, on a short Q&A about their story, work, and mission.
Q: Could you tell us how what sparked the birth of Freedom Place?
A: In Summary and simply put God sparked the birth of Freedom Place! These girls are important to Him and the ability for them to get the healing they so desperately need is at the core. Several women, in various stages of their lives, found themselves learning more and more about the atrocities of the crimes of human sex trafficking while overseas. Upon returning to the US, a stark realization occurred, no services were available in Texas for minor, domestic girls coming out of this lifestyle. These women had a vision but the plans and the details were not as clear. That is until a "coincidental" lunch meeting sat Nikki Richnow, and Arrow's Founder, Mark Tennant next to each other. Nikki shared the vision to help these young girls and Mark shared that he had 110 acres, used for foster care summer camps that he was trying to identify the potential purpose. Arrow had the experience of being the premier leader of helping abused and neglected children and little did Nikki know at the time, years prior Arrow had legally named the 110 acres... Freedom Place! In March of 2012, the work of many and the divine assignment of the Lord led Arrow's Freedom Place to open it's doors to serve girls in need.
You can also download the full article on the origins of Arrow's Freedom Place.
Q: What are the ways in which Freedom Place is helping survivors of sex trafficking?
A: We are a safe place, but that takes time to fully realize. As we serve these girls, we use the Trust Based Relational Intervention to allow the trauma to be healed and begin to build healthy attachments. Everything we do at Freedom Place is focused on rehabilitative care and this includes therapeutic time all the way to play time! We utilize a fully accredited school to assist them in their educational needs, vocational training to equip them for their next steps after Freedom Place, and incorporate non-verbal communicators to help build trust and value to each girl, including equine therapy, ropes challenge course, and soon a canine therapy program where girls will have comfort and security while testifying on the witness stand when necessary. Transitional planning begins when a girl arrives and is very individualized. All aspects of Freedom Place are focused on helping these survivors become healthy, productive members of society.
Q: From your experience, what would you say is the toughest challenge in the process of helping and caring for trafficking survivors?
A: People coming into the field can often be surprised by the healing process required for survivors. Building trust and connection with a survivor is an earned process. We must earn the trusted place as helper not expect instant gratitude or reciprocity for our compassion. This can be a long and sometimes exhausting path. Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma are always “job hazards” when you choose to work in the field of trauma. Good self-care and healthy boundaries are certainly the prevention to these very real problems but they often get lost in “the work”. Self-care can be seen as a luxury rather than a stewardship or a responsibility. But the truth is keeping ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually nourished makes us much more effective and present in our jobs and better able to do “the work”. The sense of urgency in sex-trafficking work can become consuming and cause workers and volunteers to sacrifice their own personal boundaries. The role in fighting sex trafficking can start to take over other roles, like parent or spouse or friend. When we become last on the list to be cared for, we are left with little to give and lose our spark and passion as caregivers. There is a reason you are told to put your own oxygen mask on in an emergency on a plane before helping others. It just becomes really difficult to do these things when you are constantly surrounded by suffering.
Q: What is a favorite story or a victory you were able to see achieved in the life of Freedom Place?
A: Freedom Place has been able to serve 86 since its inception. Many of the girls keep in touch with us after they leave. We had one girl who was able to graduate high school during her time with us. She recently called and spoke to one of the team as she was about to walk into her first college classroom. This was a tremendous victory for her.
Q: How can the every day person join Freedom Place in fighting human trafficking? What advice would you give for someone who wanted to really make a difference?
A: The National Human Trafficking Resource Center has a hotline. We always encourage people to put the number in their cell phone. 1-888-373-7888. We want people to do something if they see something but they need a resource. This is an excellent resource. If you have questions or need connection to appropriate local resource, they can help.
Freedom Place is a program of Arrow Child and Family Ministries. We know that 1 in 6 runaways will be victimized by trafficking and of those runaways, 68% have been served by social services. Arrow is committed to helping these children and strengthening these families. Arrow’s foster care programs are what we consider prevention work. Getting involved with Arrow, whether directly with Freedom Place or with their other programs, is a great way to make an impact — www.arrow.org
Thank you, Shandra, for taking the time to do this written interview with 139Made.
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Another way to support Freedom Place is to purchase our shirts and spread the word about them! 10% of our sales until MAY 13, 2016, will be donated to Freedom Place. You can click here to shop our collection.
For further information on Freedom Place, please check out their:
Website: arrow.org/freedomplace
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10% of our sales until SEPTEMBER 10 will benefit Free the Captives in Houston.
139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every two months, we will feature an anti human-trafficking organization on our blog to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until September 10, we are featuring Free the Captives. Houston is one of the major hubs in the nation for sex trafficking and prostitution. Free the Captives is a faith-based, anti-human trafficking organization that fights the exploitation and trafficking of Houston’s youth. They engage and mobilize the Christian community while partnering with other non-profits, law enforcement, and government agencies in the fight against modern day slavery. They also provide direct services for teenaged victims of sex trafficking in the greater Houston area—survivor care, prevention, help for parents, actions to end the demand, research, also education and awareness.
To find out more about this organization and how you can help, please click the button below.
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Free the Captives is a faith-based, anti-human trafficking non-profit that fights the exploitation and trafficking of Houston’s youth. They engage and mobilize the Christian community while partnering with non-profits, law enforcement, and government agencies in the fight against modern day slavery. They provide direct services for teenaged victims of sex trafficking in the greater Houston area. They serve primarily trafficking victims between the ages of 12 and 18 years old, but also continue after they turn 18. Free the Captives' services are listed below.
SURVIVOR CARE
Free the Captives offers a weekly support group for teenaged sex trafficking victims.
It is a safe, nurturing environment for the girls to share about their experiences in a non-judgmental setting. This has been one of their most successful programs for the girls.
Each meeting begins with a hot meal, which is followed by sharing and discussion. Also, girls are provided with material and financial support if needed and the services listed below.
Rescue Assistance for Victims
If a family member or someone in the community is being trafficked, Free the Captives can connect you to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and nonprofits that work to rescue victims of sex trafficking. They work closely with law enforcement to help families find their trafficked child.
Safe Home Referrals
Free the Captives connects trafficking victims to safe homes in the Houston area and nationally. They will refer and help place girls in a home or facility that is geared specifically for victims of sex trafficking. In these homes, victims are safe from their trafficker and receive counseling, an education, medical attention, and many other essential services.
Educational Services
Education is a vital component for survivors to build a new life. Free the Captives provides incentives to survivors of sex trafficking to encourage them to complete their education (GED, high school diploma, technical training, or college). To help them accomplish these goals, they provide individualized tutoring, GED services, also scholarships to victims who are attending college and have participated in their support and mentoring programs.
Job Preparation
Free the Captives provides the girls with job training, which includes interviewing skills, dressing for the workplace, developing a strong work ethic, and interfacing with customers. They also assist the girls in their job search, which is the number one goal for many of these girls. Our New Creations program has played a pivotal role in preparing girls for the workforce.
Financial Planning
After helping survivors gain employment, Free the Captives works with them and their families on stabilizing their financial situation. These services include mentoring, developing a monthly budget, and empowering them to make wise financial decisions.
Medical, Dental and Material Needs
They also assists survivors by providing for their physical needs, including medical, dental and materials (clothing, groceries, and furniture). Free the Captives is seeking medical and dental professionals, who are willing to donate their services for survivors of human trafficking. Please contact info@freethecaptiveshouston.com.
Advocacy and Legal Services
Provided at free or low cost, to both domestic and international trafficking victims. They assist families with navigating the legal system. They also expunge the records of victims of juveniles and assist international victims with obtaining their T-visa and adjustment of status.
PREVENTION
Free the Captives has Small Group Mentoring and Prevention Programming, in which they mentor teenaged girls who are at high risk of being trafficked.
They focus on the issues that make them vulnerable to traffickers such as low self esteem and fatherlessness.
The goals are to prevent the trafficking of Houston’s at risk teens as well as identify victims within this hidden crime. Once identified, they intervene and work with law enforcement to rescue victims and then coordinate appropriate legal and social services. They also provide material needs such as clothing and food.
PARENTS
Rescue
Free the Captives works closely with parents to rescue their child from human trafficking by connecting families with key law enforcement officers. After the rescue, they focus on getting the child into a treatment facility if needed.
Parenting Support Group
Free the Captives offers a support group for trafficked victims’ parents with ongoing support, training, counseling and resources. Stronger family units will allow these girls to recover more quickly and thrive as they focus on their futures.
DEMAND
Sex trafficking requires three parties: a supplier, a buyer, and the product. In human trafficking, the suppliers are the traffickers or the pimps, the buyers are the men who purchase sex (aka Johns), and the products are human beings used for sex slavery. Human trafficking is highly lucrative. When criminals sell guns or drugs, those commodities can only be sold once. However, a young girl can be sold over and over again – in one night.
It was not enough to just help the girls. They had to do something about the demand – the buyers – and fight sex trafficking at its root.
Thus, since 2011, Free the Captives have launched their successful campaign to end the demand. They organized a massive letter writing campaign to local and state officials. Over 15,000 letters were mailed. They also had an effective billboard, TV and radio campaign in partnership with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that warned the buyers about the consequences of their actions. Through that partnership, there has been an increase in the number of men arrested for buying sex. Their work has helped the public and legislators to shift the focus onto the buyers, raised awareness to potential buyers, and increased the number of buyers arrested.
RESEARCH
Free the Captives Presents Research Confirming Houston as a Major City for Sex Trafficking and Prostitution, Caused by High Demand from Buyers. They conducted this research project in collaboration with the Imagine Foundation, by logging in daily to Houston’s Backpage website. Backpage is a large classified ad listing that is often used by traffickers to sell their girls. To read and download the report, you can visit their Research page.
EDUCATION & AWARENESS
Raising awareness and educating the community about human trafficking is one of the pillars of Free the Captives. People cannot act if they are not aware of the severity of the trafficking problem that plagues Houston. Free the Captives has educated and trained thousands of people in Houston and across the country. From churches to law enforcement to students, many people have gained a better understanding of sex trafficking due to their speakers. You can request one of their speakers to come out and educate your organization about human trafficking by filling out this form.
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You can help support Free the Captive’s work in fighting human trafficking by donating to their organization. They are a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and are primarily donor supported. Another way to support them is to purchase our shirts and spread the word about this wonderful organization! 10% of our sales from now until September 9 will be donated to Free the Captives.
For further information on Free the Captives, please visit their:
Website: freethecaptiveshouston.com
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
10% of our sales until JULY 9 will benefit Agape International Missions (AIM).
139Made stands together with abolitionists around the world who fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Every two months, we will feature an anti human-trafficking organization on our blog to raise awareness about the issue and to rally behind them. Until July 9, we are featuring AIM. Since 2005 the ministries of AIM have focused on ending the evil of child sexual slavery in Cambodia. Their projects prevent, rescue, restore and reintegrate. In September 2007, AIM opened a community center, Rahab’s House, in a former brothel in the heart of a Cambodian village where sex slavery is the norm for every girl by the age of 10. AIM now has over 12 projects on the ground that impact over 10,000 people a year.
To find out more about this organization and how you can help, please click the button below.
“The very children I held hands with and saw running in the streets were not just trying to survive poverty. Many were living in hell, enduring torture,” says Don. “I couldn’t believe it was right under my nose and I didn’t even know it.”
Far from hidden, the community of Svay Pak, in particular, is a notorious haven for international pedophiles where girls as young as 8 brazenly wave foreigners toward brothels and karaoke bars to purchase sex. These children were trafficked from Vietnam, kidnapped from rural communities, sold by impoverished family members or exploited by members of their community. Once a girl is controlled by a pimp or brothel owner, she is forced to sell herself up to 12 times a night. UNICEF reports that across the world, there are over one million children entering the sex trade every year and that approximately 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation over the past 30 years.
They determined that it was time to act. After selling their home, quitting their jobs, conducting weeks of research and building a team, Don and Bridget along with a start-up team, moved to Cambodia and developed Agape International Missions. Their first goal was to meet the greatest need they had seen; quality aftercare for rescued girls.
“We learned that undercover operations that rescued girls and shut down brothels were no longer effective because there was nowhere for a rescued girl to go. She ended up in a cycle of hopelessness that put her right back in a brothel.”
WHAT AIM DOES
Sex trafficking is a multifaceted, complex problem that cannot be solved in one step, one program or one year. AIM’s programs fight trafficking, restore victims and transform communities through prevention, rescue, restoration and reintegration, making a holistic and successful strategy in the ground war on child sex trafficking.
In addition to their strategy, their reliance on Jesus Christ and partnership with His Church and His people have been the hammer breaking through impossible obstacles. Daily, they see miracles taking place before their eyes.
FIGHT TRAFFICKING
Pedophiles. Pimps. Traffickers. These people perpetrate and perpetuate the industry of child sex trafficking, taking advantage of the vulnerable and profiting off of the innocent. Whether because of poverty, greed, pain or perversion, these people are the start of the vicious cycle. Reaching them is crucial in defeating child sex trafficking.
INVESTIGATION TEAM
Collecting and acting on intel about trafficking operations and working with Cambodian law enforcement to bring criminals to justice and victims to restoration.
ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING
Equipping you to fight trafficking in your hometown. Coming soon!
LORD’S GYM
Reaching the pimps, traffickers and local pedophiles through relationship.
RESTORE VICTIMS
Girls. Women. Orphans. The innocent who have been devastated in brothels need more than one night raid and one day of healthcare. To be truly rescued, they need solutions for a brand new life that will last a lifetime.
AIM RESTORATION HOME (ARH)
This beautiful center welcomes broken girls into a safe environment, loving relationships and a healing program.
AIM EMPLOYMENT CENTER (AEC)
Where vocation meets rehabilitation, this garment factory gives graduates of ARH the skills they need to build an independent life.
AIM TRANSITIONAL HOME
These safe residences offer a place where young women can transition from brothels or unsafe living situations to independence.
“MADE.” AIM RETAIL STORE
Our first Cambodian retail store distributes the goods created at AIM Employment Center and aids in the stability of reintegration.
TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES
If it is acceptable to sell your child and to buy a girl for a night, the cycle will never end. Humanitarian aid, education and the transformative power of Jesus are changing the communities that allow or participate in child sex trafficking.
RAHAB’S HOUSE
Community Centers in cities known as epicenters of trafficking offer education and aid, giving hope to those who think trafficking is their only option. Our centers serve communities through:
▪ Community School/English Institute
▪ Medical Clinic
▪ Humanitarian Aid
▪ Emergency Foster Care
▪ Kids Club
CHURCH PLANTING
Headed by Dr. Moses Samol Seth, AIM has planted over 1000 churches in Cambodia, creating a network of prevention. Here, entire communities are being changed through relationship with Jesus.
SIEM REAP MINISTRIES
Holistic community transformation through AIM’s Siem Reap employment center, transitional home, outreach salon and community center.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Sex trafficking is so egregious it stirs up the best and worst in us. At times it can seem overwhelming but YOU can make a difference. We all have time, talents and treasures that can bring freedom. Here are ways you can support AIM!
GIVE
›› GIVE DONATION
Just a dollar a day can make the difference between sexual servitude and freedom.
›› GIVE PRAYER
We believe prayers are powerful, they move impossible obstacles and usher miracles to happen. You can sign up to get our prayer updates.
GET
›› GET PRODUCTS
AIM Employment Centers (AEC) enable rescued young women to work in sustainable, restorative jobs. Shop our partners to support them!
›› GET EQUIPPED
Get information on the problem and equipped for the solution with The Pink Room Documentary and AIM’s Sex Trafficking Prevention Workshop.
GO
›› MISSION TRIP
See the miracles in person! We invite you, the church, to join us in this fight. Short term missions teams are a great first step to seeing AIM’s ministries first hand and witnessing Jesus’ transformational and healing power.
›› WORK FOR AIM
We have positions in Cambodia and our headquarters (based in Roseville, CA). If you have a heart for justice and believe that God has called you to serve with us, we welcome you to apply on our website.
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Another way to support them is to purchase our shirts and spread the word. 10% of our sales from now until July 9 will be donated to Agape International Missions.
For further information on AIM, please visit their:
Website: AgapeWebsite.org
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