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Yesterday, January 11, was “Human Trafficking Awareness Day.” I partner with Trades of Hope to fight sex trafficking and poverty around the world. Here is a recent post from their Kindred Blog.
by Trades of Hope | Artisans
How do you move a mountain?
One stone at a time.
Face the Mountain
As the trending topics of human trafficking and abuse make their way into mainstream news, social media feeds, and more and more daily conversations, it’s tempting to become overwhelmed.
It’s tempting to start thinking that human trafficking and abuse are unmovable mountains that can never be conquered.
It’s tempting to think ordinary people like you and me can’t make an impact on these growing national and global epidemics.
But it is possible.
And it is happening.
Join Forces
When it seems impossible to completely eradicate human trafficking and abuse from every unjust corner of the world, we must focus on the positive impact we can make… using what we have… where we are. As individuals, our impact often seems small and insignificant, but…
…what if we consistently and persistently chip away at the mountains of human trafficking and abuse… together?
What happens when hundreds… or thousands… or more… ordinary people like you and me… each removes a stone from the mountain?
Together, we can make a meaningful and significant impact on the lives of men, women, and children around the world who are victims of human trafficking and abuse. When ordinary people with willing hands, perseverance, and love for the people under the mountain join forces… we become a powerful force for good.
Raise Awareness
Annual events like National Human Trafficking Awareness Day help open people’s eyes and raise awareness about the reality and magnitude of human trafficking and abuse that’s happening all around us.
“Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation.”*
Events that raise awareness are vital to conquering the mountain of human trafficking and abuse.
But as events come and go, then what?
Create Sustainable Solutions
For many women and girls in the Dominican Republic, there’s no need for an annual holiday to raise awareness of the reality of human trafficking and abuse. For them, it’s a daily reality.
In the third fastest growing sex trafficking industry in the world, women and girls in the Dominican Republic have little or no legal representation to protect them and prosecute their abusers without the help of a small handful of private advocacy groups. Extreme poverty and isolation contribute to the disheartening number of young girls who are betrayed and trafficked by their own family members.
Although recent cooperative international crack downs on human trafficking have included arrests of human traffickers in the Dominican Republic, to many local human trafficking advocates, it often feels like a drop of water in an ocean of need.
So, what can you and I do to help?
We must do what we can… with what we have… where we are… with every opportunity.
Trades of Hope is partnering to create sustainable solutions for neglected, abuse, and trafficked women and girls in the Dominican Republic. We partner to support a safe house where women survivors can experience healing, hope, safe housing, education, counseling, job skills training, and legal representation against their abusers and traffickers.
Move the Mountain
How can you help?
Trades of Hope is offering you an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of neglected, abuse, and trafficked women and girls in the Dominican Republic. Every purchase of our designs from the Dominican Republic directly supports women survivors of neglect, abuse, and human trafficking who are overcoming their pasts and creating new futures for themselves, as Artisans and independent businesswomen.
Yocasta’s Story of Hope in the DR
“My life was very bad before I became an Artisan. I was sexually abused my entire childhood by my father and was sold at 11 years old to a man I did not love. Now at 21 years old, I’m free, I’m happy and my life has changed. My four beautiful children will be the first generation in my family to grow up in a safe home without poverty, violence, sexual abuse or trafficking. Your purchase makes that possible.” – Yocasta, Artisan in the DR
Discover more about Yocasta here.
Each of us has an opportunity to do what we can… where we are… with what we have. Together we become a powerful force for good.
Sometimes mountain movers are just ordinary people with willing hands, perseverance, and love for the people who are trapped under the mountain.
Trades of Hope is partnering to empower human trafficking survivors in the Dominican Republic.
Every purchase of Trades of Hope designs from the Dominican Republic directly supports trafficking survivors in Yocasta’s community.
Shop to support trafficking survivors in the DR.
* Public domain. “The World Factbook.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/fields/328.html.
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—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
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Did you know that January 11 is “Human Trafficking Awareness Day”? What can you do to make a difference, with what you have, right where you are?
Together, we can make a difference! Check out Trades of Hope and see how you can make a world-changing, life-transforming purchase!
Shop our “Cultural Threads” online store for products made by survivors of human trafficking around the world.
Trafficking is a crime against humanity. I am so glad some people have gotten together to rehabilitate these helpless women and provide them with a means of livelihood . Thus empowered, these women can bring up their daughters educated and save them from the clutches of future traffickers.
I so agree with you, Soma! It is a crime, and we can all play a part to help bring awareness to this global crisis. No matter where we are, we can make a difference in these women’s lives!