Modern Day Abolitionists

This fall I have been going to a Ladies' Morning Out at one of the church's here in the city. There was two studies that interested me when it came time to choose - the one that I chose to be a part of Gammawomen (a pilot project that Jill Kulhawy is leading that came out of Gammagirls that she helped develop. They found that the leaders of Gammagirls where learning a lot about themselves and growing as they went through the training and leading the sessions with the girls.) As I have a few young ladies and girls in my life that I want to be a strong role model for, I decided that this was what I needed at this point in my life.
The other study was a book study on "Not For Sale" by David Batstone. It is all about the global slave trade, whether it is poor in 3rd world countries making bricks and working in the rice mill or young girls sold into prostitution, chained to bed, forced to take drugs while man after man comes to rape them, day after day. Or not chained, but still forced to live this lifestyle, no hope of escape, because honestly where would they go. My friend, A, who is much more of an activist then I, took this class. And it has been heavy.
A is one of those people who makes you want to be a better person. I am running because of her and our other friend. I am more conscious of being green because of A (and my DH). I am becoming more and more aware of Free Trade and what that means... but this is all another post and I wanted to talk about slavery in the world today.
Anyway, today was a chapel day and we watched a documentary called "At the End of Slavery" that was put together and being "marketed" (not sure what word you would use for it) by International Justice Mission. IJM is an organization that no only tried to free people who are the victims of slavery, but they work together with the local law enforcement to bring justice in the situations. They make the people who are breaking the law, the slave owners, the human traffickers, come to justice and pay for their crimes. Because only when breaking the law and doing those crimes are viewed as punishable, as abhorrent will it end. IJM has lawyers and social workers who are native to the countries that they are working in who collect evidence they use to convict those who are imprisoning these innocent people. And the social workers work with the victims after they are freed.
I learnt a lot through the documentary, about how rampant slavery is today, how disposable human life is to slavers, how abhorrent humans are that it is OK to view others that way. But I also learnt things about myself - how I can no longer be all right with sticking my head in the sand and pretending it isn't happening because it hurts me to think that so many kids are being used and abused this way. My heart breaks for those children and men and women who feel there is no other options. (Did you know that places without slavery have less poor and the economy is better than those that do? Just an aside.)
So I have to do something. One woman asked what we could do. He said pray, first of all. I can do that. Support them. Tell others. And that is what I am doing today. Please go to IJM's website, take a look at what they are all about. See if you can put together a viewing of "At the End of Slavery" in your church or with a group of your friends in your home - they have boxes that come with the DVD, informational material, and questions and discussion guide if that would work for your situation. Read "Not For Sale" - I plan to borrow A's copy once she is finished with it. There is another ministry that they have been promoting on Thursday mornings that is called SA Foundation (Servants Anonymous Foundation) that works with women who were in the slavery of prostitution. One of the ways that use to generate income is by selling jewelry that women who were formerly exploited/trafficked in the sex trade. They have wonderful handmade items, called Global Wonders Handicrafts. They actually do home parties, with a cause. The person who brings the items is a volunteer and the hostess does not get anything tangible from it, but she does get to help educate people and bring awareness to this issue and these people who need our support. I must confess that I did some Christmas shopping this morning and cannot wait to not only share the beautiful items got, but what the ministry is that my purchasing them supported. And whenever the people I bought the items for wear the pieces, when they are asked about them, and they will be as they are THAT beautiful, they can share with the people who ask them. It's the gift that keeps on giving. (The pictures in the catalogue DO NOT give them justice. They ar so much more beautiful in person.)
So I am going to challenge you all to go to the links that I have posted, educate yourselves, pass on the information to your friends. Don't stick your head in the sand like I have been doing. These children, women and men NEED us, and we can help!