If you've hung around here long enough, you will know that Kevin and I hate human trafficking. It is evil. It is inhumane. It is just wrong. And it destroys the very dignity of human life.
When I looked into the eyes of the precious girls in the home, I was literally filled with anger for the people that took advantage of these children. How could someone do this?
But it's EASY to come back to our comfy homes in the USA (or wherever you live), and scratch our heads, and wonder, what the heck do I do now? Are there really avenues I can walk that will actually make a difference with the issue of human trafficking?
1. Research trafficking issues in your own town: I knew trafficking existed in my local county, but I didn't realize it was SUCH a problem. Just last month, a girl was murdered in an affluent neighborhood a few miles away from where we live, and it was discovered that she had been trafficked there. Evidently, southern California is a huge gateway for traffickers to move victims through, and there are about 200 people rescued each year. At a conference a few weeks ago, I found out there is a
Human Trafficking Task Force that helps victims of human trafficking. You can volunteer to help drive rescued victims to various appointments they may have, become a mentor, or help out with awareness events. I shared this with my friends, and a group of us are going to the next task force meeting in April to learn more about volunteering. I heard a speaker once say, "If you apply to work for our organization fighting human trafficking overseas, we are going to ask you what you did in your own neighborhood to fight human trafficking." I want my passion to end this issue be important to me no matter WHERE I live. A friend just sent me an email saying she found out there is a home for victims of trafficking opening up in Memphis, and that she is going to start volunteering. Since human trafficking is everywhere, start researching how you can get involved where you are. And if there is nothing, maybe this is your opportunity to start something:)
2. Sponsor a Child: You may be reading this, and wondering how this relates. Well, here's
le deal. Most children who are trafficked around the world are those that are most vulnerable. Children who are most vulnerable tend to be those who live in abject poverty, are possibly orphaned, have no means to go to school, have no food, and in the end, have no hope. These are the children traffickers prey on the most. Sponsoring a child is a preventative way to ensure that one more child is not taken advantage of! Most sponsorship programs provide a child with food, shelter, schooling, and hope for the future! About 6 years ago I started sponsoring an adorable girl in Kenya named Maceline. I chose to sponsor through an organization called
Compassion International. Not only have Maceline and I developed a friendship through letters, but a few years ago I got to go to Kenya and meet her. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Every child matters, and to think we have the privilege to help potentially prevent a child from being trafficked is pretty humbling.
3. Read and Watch Movies: To be inspired to end trafficking, we need to know what's going on. I've read some great books through the years, and have seen a number of good documentaries. There are so many, so I will just give you my favorites. Two of my favorite books have been
Not for Sale by David Batstone, and
Sex Trafficking by Siddarth Kara. Both are a few years old, however the information is just as powerful and haunting. I couldn't put either of them down. Another inspiring book by a woman who started the A21 campaign is called
Undaunted by Christine Cain (I read this on a flight to Amsterdam and was So fired up and inspired!). The BEST movie i've ever seen on trafficking is called
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. I cannot recommend a movie more than this one. It is powerful, informative, and pulls you in from the start. If you want more resources, my friend Chantal has a really great post with more information
here.
4. Reach out to Foster Children: If anything has surprised me in the last year, it has been learning this fact alone: According to Stephen Bauman of World Relief, last year in California, 60% of the victims rescued from trafficking on a particular raid had at one time been foster children. 60%!! I could not believe the correlation between trafficking and foster care. It made me so sad. And yet, it makes sense that children that do not grow up in a family unit and are sent out into the world at 18 with no support system, are generally more susceptible to traffickers. Many times these traffickers pose as their boyfriends, and then begin to force them into prostitution. Spend some time praying today over children in the foster care system. If God has put it on your heart to adopt or be a foster parent, pursue this dream!! We need more loving foster and adoptive parents out there to open their homes!
5. Find a good organization fighting trafficking, and GIVE! We don't have to invent the wheel on how to fight trafficking, but we can support those who are trained in rescuing and rehabilitating the enslaved. There are some incredible people doing wonderful things in the world, and often times what they need to keep going is money. That's just the bottom line. Here are a few organizations that I believe are worth giving to:
A21 Campaign,
Agape International Missions,
International Justice Mission,
Love146,
Tiny Hands,
Not for Sale.
There are also many wonderful businesses that sell gorgeous products made my survivors of human trafficking! Choose to shop responsibly and maybe think about going with one of these awesome companies next time you shop…here are my favorites:
Sari Bari- For stunning quilts made out of old sari's, this is my favorite. I swoon over them all:)
iSanctuary- Lovely jewelry made by survivors in India!
Free Set- This is a great company if you are looking to get bulk orders of bags/shirts printed!
Elagantees- A sweet friend sent me a shirt of theirs recently, and I love their mission!
{this bracelet above was made by
3 Strands, a company birthed out of
AIM)
Friends, we are only given one life to live.
If I were trafficked and held in horrific bondage,
I would hope
someone would be doing
something to find and rescue me.
You are someone.
And
you can do something.
I hope that's enough impetus to get you started today:)
Let's act, because we can.
Happy Tuesday!
love Katie
*just as an fyi, the girls whose faces show in the pictures are not victims of trafficking. I never will post a picture of a child or adult who is a victim of trafficking. The girls faces you see are friends of mine, however their beautiful faces are a good reminder of those who are trapped in bondage*
