Survivors Connect

Today, January 11th, is the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. If I had been better prepared, I would have had this post ready to publish first thing in the morning, but I did not, so here it is.

You can call 1.888.373.7888 any time, day or night, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year to report a case of human trafficking. Human trafficking can take the form of slave labor (including domestic servitude) or forced sex labor and can involve adults and children alike. The average age of a trafficked child is 12 years old. Victims of trafficking find themselves there by methods of force, fraud, or coercion. They might be paying off “debts” with enormous amount of interest. They may be threatened with violence or abused as well as their families. They can often be taken across national borders to a country where they don’t speak the language – their paperwork could be forged or missing entirely and they often fear the police as much as their captors. This fear is usually justified as when the crime is found, they are lumped in with the criminals instead of treated as a victim – many times they are sent back to their own country to live in their shame and risk being trafficked again.

This modern-day slavery is more heinous and comprehensive than the form of slavery fought over in the Civil War. It is the fastest growing organized crime and second only to drug-trafficking (which is estimated to be surpassed very soon). If you think that the United States is exempt from this, you are sorely mistaken. Cases of human trafficking have been reported in every state. The US has been found to be a source, transit, and destination country for trafficked individuals.

I’m going to list quite a few organizations/people/businesses I follow, either on Twitter or Facebook or whatever. I would really recommend checking them out. This is something that burns in my heart – as children of God we are called to loose the bonds of those who are held captive. Educate yourself and then take up the banner – become an abolitionist.

*and really, these are just a few of the newly blossomed organizations ready to fight human trafficking. If I’ve left out anyone note-worthy, let me know and I’ll see about adding them! Thanks!

Organizations

Beauty From Ashes

(Fort Myers, FL)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: BeautyFrmAshes

Cincinnati Union Bethel

Social service agency: early childhood education; the Anna Louise Inn (housing for women) and Off the Steets (services for prostituted women. (Cincinnati, OH) ***Not only for trafficked individuals, but they deal with it enough to be included***
website · facebook · twitter: cinunionbethel

DACS United

Designers Against Child Slavery
website · facebook · twitter: dacsunited

DNA Foundation

founded by Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher – to eliminate sex slavery worldwide. “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls”
website · facebook · twitter: dnafoundation

FAIR Fund

Preventing human trafficking of youth worldwide (Washington, DC)
website · twitter: FAIRFund

Free Generation International

committed to eradicating human trafficking in Africa (Africa/US)
website · facebook · twitter: FreeGeneration

Forsaken Generation

leading a national movement to end youth homelessness and child sex trafficking in the US. (New York)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: forsakengen

Hagar International

organization restoring exploited women and children’s lives in Cambodia, Vietnam & Afghanistan
website · blog · facebook · twitter: HagarIntl

Hookers for Jesus

Destiny Houses are a SAFE haven for ladies in sex slavery (Las Vegas, NV)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: hookersforjesus

International Justice Mission

Head Quarters (Washington, DC)
website · facebook · twitter: IJMHQ

Justice Campaigns
website · twitter: IJMcampaigns

International Sanctuary

website · facebook · twitter: isanctuary

Love 146

end child sex slavery and exploitation
website · blog · facebook · twitter: OfficialLove146

Rob Morris – President and Co-founder
website · twitter: ROBLOVE146

Adam Young – of the Dayton Ohio Love 146 Taskforce
blog · twitter: youngadamc

Made By Survivors

fights human trafficking and slavery with empowerment & education
website · blogs · facebook · twitter: madebysurvivors

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Not only are they concerned with Cincy’s history in the fight against slavery, they are seeking to build up modern-day abolitionists (Cincinnati, OH)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: FreedomCenter

Not For Sale

campaign for all justice seekers, united to fight human trafficking
website · facebook · twitter: Not_For_Sale

Polaris Project

a leading non-profit organization committed to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery. (Washington, DC) **They even have an office in Japan now!**
website · blog · facebook · twitter: Polaris_Project

RedLight Children

website · facebook · twitter: RedLightCC

Restavek Freedom

ending child slavery in Haiti
website · facebook · twitter: RestavekFreedom

She Shall Go Free

To break all these sufferings, all these fetters of slavery.
blog · facebook · twitter: sheshallgofree

Stop Child Trafficking

(New York, NY)
website · facebook · twitter: SCTNow

Stop Modern Slavery

Washington, DC
website · blog · twitter: DCSMS

website · facebook · twitter: survivorconnect

Unbound Movement

A Modern Day Movement to end Modern day Slavery – in all it’s forms! (Cincinnati, OH)
website · facebook · twitter: unboundmovement

Vision Abolition

dedication to prevention, rescue, and restoration (Arizona)
website · blog · twitter: VisionAbolition

Shopping

*Made by Survivors, mentioned above

Night Light Bangkok

business as a mission offering employment to women formerly in the sex industry.
website · blog · facebook · twitter: NightLightBKK

Nomi Network

leveraging the marketplace, fashion, and film to eradicate sexual slavery (New York)
website · facebook · twitter: nominetwork

Stop Traffick Fashion

a boutique about restoration and change for survivors of human trafficking. (Cincinnati, OH)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: stoptrffckfash

Individuals

Amanda Kloer

– writer on Change.org
twitter: endhumantraffic

Thought I’d send you some links to great projects that could use your support this month. You can go each day to Pepsi Refresh and vote for up to 10 projects! Quite a few to fight against Human Trafficking, how exciting!

These are the projects with my vote (for more info and to vote for them, click on their Project Title):

Empowering DC teens to avoid & escape exploitation & human trafficking
by FAIR Fund, Inc. – $50k (top 10 get funding)
*Running again in December!*

FAIR Fund is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit working to prevent human
trafficking of youth worldwide by building community leadership, providing education and empowerment programs, and offering compassionate intervention services. We have reached over 15,000 young people 11 countries since 2003.

Goals

Educate 1,000 at-risk teens to stay safe from trafficking

Support teens in danger

Provide access to shelter, medical services, and more for teens

Build a community that can better assist exploited teens

Rebuild the lives of homeless, throwaway and trafficked youth
by Covenant House – $250k (top 2 get funding)
*Running again in December!*

(Also registered for a $50k grant here)

Covenant House is the largest privately-funded agency in America providing food, shelter, immediate crisis care and other important services to homeless, throwaway, and runaway kids. We strive to move each kid forward toward an independent adulthood free from the risk of future homelessness.

Goals

To provide food to 1000 infants & toddlers in our Mother/Child program

To help homeless mothers build a future for themselves & their babies

To stay open 24/7/365 to any kid who comes to our door

Create a SMS: Freedom Helplines to combat trafficking in California!
by Survivors Connect – $50k (top 10 get funding)

I am an anthropologist who has spent the last 5 years studying modern-day slavery around the world. I have worked on the issue in several capacities – from Hill advocacy, victim service and research. My work earned me the Freedom Award in 2008 and since I have launched Survivors Connect.

Goals

To create a text-based helpline for people to contact about slavery

Train human rights advocates and aid workers about slavery

Coordinate a network of first responders to rescue victims

Prevent young people from becoming victim to slavery in the US

Fight Against Human Trafficking & Empower Survivors
by She Shall Go Free – $25k (top 10 get funding)
Yay! They got their funding!

She Shall Go Free was founded by two USC college students dedicated to fighting against human trafficking, gender based violence, and exploitation of women and girls. We focus on empowering survivors, raising awareness of sex trafficking, and supporting projects that aid at-risk women and survivors.

Goals

To purchase 1,000 shirts for our AWARENESS & FUNDRAISING campaign

To fund SCHOLARSHIPS for survivors for job training/basic education

To purchase requested items for LOCAL SHELTERS aiding women/survivors

To provide emergency financial ASSISTANCE to women in need

Teach immigrants English in Philadelphia, PA tended by Project SHINE
by Project SHINE

Develop the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
by Center for Progressive Leadership – $250k (top 2 get funding)
*Running again in December!*

Educate and empower young adults in PA to improve their communities
by Haile B. Johnston
Yay! They got their funding!

Teach Hip-Hop and Respect to inner-city youth
by Elementz Youth Center for Hip-Hop and Respect
Yay! They got their funding!

Open a home and youth center for teens in downtown Birmingham, AL
by The Village