Grace as Justice July/August Edition, Vol 3. Issue 4 by Voices of Justice (formerly Grace as Justice)

The fight against human trafficking

GRACE AS JUSTICE Volu m e 3, Issu e 4, JULY 2017

inspire

empower

educate

Women and Children

Hope for Justice Educational Programs for Survivors

Unchosen Stay Safe from Slavery

...A N D M O R E !

Women at Risk International

CONTENTS Edit orial

Hepzibah House

Cindy Powel l and

Becky Diamond

Rachael Wil l iams-Mejri

Cherish

Women of Vision

Rut h Israel

Jenna Funkhouser

Jul ie Cooper

NOVA

GAJ

Kay Duf f iel d

Marked f or Great ness

S-Cape

Kay Duf f iel d

Juanit a Wel don

Ascent 121

Unchosen

Tricia Pricket t

Hope f or Just ice

Jú lia Tom ás

W.A.R. In t l.

Andrea Bail ey, Ngin Sam Onn

Brit t any Jacobson

Nourn Vanna 2

EDITORIAL I am very pleased and to announce the arrival of Grace As Justice's new Editor, Cindy Powell. I have had such a wonderful experience beginning GAJ and nurturing it over the past two years. I was both pleased to see it thrive as it took on purpose and meaning in this fight to end one of the world's oldest and most heinous crimes. One of the most wonderful aspects of GAJ was being able to have relationship with the kindest, most hard working and caring individuals on this planet. I will miss working with them. I have great hopes for GAJ that I know will be founded with Cindy, and I look forward to turning over this endeavor to her fantastic skills and ideas!

I?m very excited to be joining the team at Grace as Justice! I often refer to myself as a simple girl with simple faith. My desire is to love God and love people well. A big part of that means being faithful to use the gifts God has given me for the purposes He has set before me. That, in a nutshell, is what led me to this new opportunity.

that as few as 1% of all human trafficking victims are ever rescued, but together we can change that statistic and eradicate this gross injustice. I?m so grateful for the great foundation Rachael has established. I'm sure there will be changes in the days ahead, but the heart and purpose of GAJ will remain the same. We need to make our voices heard on behalf of the ones whose voices have been silenced. They can?t speak out, but we can. We can and we must. I hope you?ll join me as we continue the fight.

I have long desired to have greater impact in the fight against human trafficking. As many who read and contribute to GAJ know, once you have glimpsed the nightmare experienced by those trapped in the living hell of modern-day slavery? particularly those exploited in the sex trade? looking away isn?t an option. You need to do what you can. This is me doing what I can. I am thrilled to be able to contribute toward educating, empowering, and inspiring others to do what they can. None of us can do everything, but we can all do something. Some statistics indicate

Cher ish By Ruth Israel

Teenagers. They believe they can conquer the world. In fact, they know they can conquer the world; and that without the help of boring, prudish, overbearing adults. It?s the same the world over, and a part of the process of gaining independence and maturity. Something I have seen specifically in sub-Saharan Africa is that teenagers are also actually very good at making a plan, solving a problem, and getting through a challenging situation even with very limited resources. While growing independence and inherent resourcefulness are blessings, I wonder if they are sometimes harmful.

probably working long hours for little money, just to make ends meet. A babysitter or registration to a child-care facility is often an unattainable luxury. So Lerato is given the responsibility to care for baby brother after school. In addition to watching her younger sibling, Lerato will have numerous household chores to take care of. While it is beneficial for young people to learn responsibility relevant to their age, these children often carry a burden much heavier than might be perceived as healthy. Fast-forward 10 years, when Lerato is now becoming a young woman. She has already learned so much about taking care of herself, being independent, and managing challenging situations. No longer content to play in the street with a skipping rope, she now needs a cell phone, branded fashion items, and the latest in make-up. Not to mention school uniform, textbooks and money for school fees. While her Mom continues to work long hours to

Let me explain. Children living in extremely economically deprived areas often have to grow up very quickly. Imagine seeing Lerato, a 7-year-old girl playing in the streets of Johannesburg with her friends. While the girls enjoy skipping with a rope, Lerato?s baby brother crawls around in the grime on the edge of the pavement (sidewalk). Because Mom might be the only adult in the home, she is

pay the rent and put food on the table, Lerato is left entirely to her own devices to access resources for anything beyond survival.

cherished and valued, and meet her desires for the latest gadgets or clothes. In the absence of healthy male role models, ?blessers?are seen as a good option.

And you must bear in mind that with an unemployment rate of around 26% , there are very few jobs for South African students to earn their ?pocket money?. What is Lerato to do? She knows her Mom?s resources are stretched to the limit. And yet she desperately wants to fit in with her peers. She knows that she needs to make a plan. This is where her resourcefulness may be her downfall. Lerato is vulnerable to falling prey to a sugar daddy, or ?blesser? as these men are known in South Africa. In addition to providing gifts and finances, having a ?blesser? gives many girls a sense of status, identity and belonging. Of course the intentions of these men is to sexually exploit young girls, using gifts and the pretense of relationship as the bait. Sadly, protecting these girls is not as simple as telling them they are worth more than being used in exchange for gifts. Many young people in South Africa are growing up without a father, which gives rise to a poor sense of identity. A vulnerable young woman is likely to do whatever is necessary to meet her need to be

We have found that providing a safe space in which girls can ask questions and share their concerns about relationships is an important step towards protecting them from ?blessers?. Cherish is a program that gathers small groups of teenage girls, with a trained adult woman facilitator. As the group meets week after week, girls open up their lives, often sharing stories of trauma and brokenness. While taking part in Cherish doesn?t fix every problem, it is a place where girls are taught their true value, empowered to make healthy choices, encouraged to find life-giving solutions to issues of poverty and isolation, and introduced to a loving father God. Cherish groups have been running across Southern Africa for 10 years. More recently Courage, a similar program for boys has been launched. It goes without saying, that in order to break this cycle of broken girls being used by broken men, both girls and boys need to experience the life transforming power of the Gospel. Through Cherish and Courage we hope to do just that!

Ruth is passionate about training & releasing leaders for holistic community transformation. She has worked cross culturally since 1999, during which time she has developed & led training programs, mentored individuals and small groups, and served in a variety of often neglected places. Cherish & Courage are discipleship programs Ruth developed to inspire and equip young people to live pure lives. While Cherish & Courage were birthed in South Africa, their reach has extended from Africa into Central and South America. Ruth is available to bring teaching or training to envision & train churches in holistic community engagement, facilitate a Cherish & Courage leadership seminar, or assist Kingdom people to become relevant in their communities. Ruth can be reached at +27 84 899 8102 or ruth@hope4africa.org.za

Cl ick t hese l inks f or more inf ormat ion on Rut h, Cherish, and Hope4Af rica.

A N I N TERVEI W W I TH JU LI E C O O PER O f H eroi n e Fel l ow sh i p a n d Ba ck 2Ba ck M i n i st ri es

After living and serving with Back2Back Ministries in Mexico for eleven years, Julie Cooper has witnessed the exploitation of vulnerable children first hand. Now back in the States, Julie continues to serve with Back2Back, primarily providing training in ?Trauma Competent Care? for ministries and after-care programs who work with trafficked and abused children. In addition to her work with Back2Back, nearly five years ago, Julie helped established Heroine Fellowship, an organization that inspires and mentors young women in biblical social justice. In May, GAJ was privileged to catch up with Julie. How are Heroine Fel l owship and Back2Back Minist ries invol ved in t he f ight against human t raf f icking?

How did you f irst personal l y become invol ved?

human trafficking then, but I worked with teenage boys who had been trafficked, raped, molested, or experienced other types of sexual trauma. These boys then became perpetrators themselves. Even though some of them had committed horrible crimes, I had such compassion for them because they had first been victims. There was such tension in that role because no one stepped in until after the damage had already been done. I didn?t feel equipped to help in a significant way at that point. I transitioned into orphan care, where I could be involved in more of a preventative role. There is such exploitation and risk among that vulnerable population. We were in Mexico for eleven years, mostly working in the areas of prevention and community education. About four years ago, my family and I moved back to the States. I am currently leading the Trauma Competent Care Team at Back2Back, as well as working with the mentoring program at Heroine Fellowship.

Twenty years ago, I began working in the field of mental health. You didn?t hear much about

What are some of t he biggest obst acl es you?ve f aced?

With Heroine Fellowship, we have the opportunity to equip an emerging generation of young women in the area of social justice. This current generation is more aware of social justice issues than any previous generation. By mentoring them from a young age, they develop the desire and confidence to make a significant contribution with their lives. We train and mentor high school and college age women in areas such as poverty, human trafficking, crimes against children, discrimination against women, etc. We want to help them find the specific area where they are called to serve. My current work with Back2Back is primarily focused on the area of equipping and training care-givers who work directly with victims.

In addition to the trauma of trafficking, often the teenage girls we serve are also dealing with the heartache of betrayal. We have developed resources to help kids heal, but we need to be able to connect them to the resources through consistent and safe relationships. So many of those who are drawn to serve as caretakers in this field come from backgrounds of trauma themselves. Often these caretakers are triggered when working with a vulnerable population. We have found that one of our biggest obstacles is less about having great resources and more about having emotionally healthy workers. We need people who are emotionally healthy enough to be in it for the right reasons. To commit for the long haul, they need to have already invested in their own healing.

What brings t he most grief in your work, and what brings t he most joy? What grieves us is when we miss the underlying family issues. The youth who find themselves on trafficking?s doorstep arrive with their emotional bags already packed full of trauma. Even after the completion of counseling and other programs, there is often still depression and grief due to family issues. When we miss that piece, we miss the heart of restoration. What brings the greatest joy, is when we do see family healing. Sometimes that missing piece is as simple as providing family education and support. If t here were one t hing you woul d want peopl e t o know about human t raf f icking, what woul d it be?

How are you overcoming t hese obst acl es? Through a lot of training for the care-givers. We?re specifically adjusting our training to include a greater up-front emphasis on self-care. We tell our caregivers that they can?t take someone where they haven?t been. If they haven?t experienced their own healing, they?re not likely to be an instrument of healing for someone else.

We are all able to contribute. All our efforts count. We owe it to the population of people who are being exploited to not be indifferent. Don?t focus on the huge things you can?t do, focus on what you can do. Find a way to do something.

Another way we?re addressing this obstacle is through Heroine Fellowship. In developing a healthy sense of service in these young women, and by providing tools and mentoring, our hope is that the emerging generation will be equipped for sustained, healthy service.

Âˇ Educate yourself and those around you

Here are some of t he ways you can hel p:

Âˇ Get involved with supporting at-risk families in your own community Âˇ Support micro-financed businesses around the globe

Julie Cooper has been with Back2Back Ministries for 14 years, with 11 of those living in Mexico. Currently she is the supervisor of Back2Back?s Child Development Team and travels nationally and internationally to train others on how to care for children with a trauma background. During this time Julie has been challenged to address the complexities that surround the global orphan crisis, poverty and social justice. She enjoys wrestling through these realities with younger women through mentoring, helping them gain their own insights into tough issues and discovering how God might want them to engage in the effort.

Ma r k e d f o r Gr ea t n es s By Juanita W eldon What is child sex trafficking?

Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that exists throughout the United States and globally. Child sex trafficking is when a child (a person under 18 years of age) is induced to perform a commercial sex act, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion against the child. The average age of a child being sex trafficked in the United States is 11-13 years of age. Each year as many as 300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked for commercial sex in the United States. No child should ever live under

the control of a trafficker and be subjected to fear, abuse and denial of their basic human rights. For years, the issue of sex trafficking has gripped my heart and I have asked the question, ?what can I do?? I believe strongly in the principle of using what is in your hand. What can you do with the resources and talents you have? I began asking around in my county to see if there were any programs in schools to educate kids about sex trafficking and how to stay safe, but we were unable to find anything. As I saw

Ea ch yea r a s m a n y a s 30 0 ,0 0 0 A m eri ca n ch i l d ren a re a t ri sk of bei n g t ra ffi ck ed for com m erci a l sex i n t h e U n i t ed St a t es. different statistics on sex trafficking and what is happening in the United States, I knew something had to be done to educate vulnerable 11-13-year-olds. We know that if a child can be educated at eleven or twelve years of age regarding the dangers of sex trafficking, they will be far

less susceptible to being groomed, lured off the internet, and pimped by a trafficker. Knowing this, I co-founded an organization called Marked for Greatness. Marked for Greatness goes into middle schools and educates kids on internet safety and the dangers of sex trafficking. When we piloted our program in a rural middle school, one child was rescued and a couple others came forward with disclosures. We have high hopes that as kids are educated, they will begin to make choices that will affect their life and the lives of those around them for long term safety. Marked for Greatness holds assemblies for middle school teens, and teaches what sex trafficking is, how to spot someone who is luring you into being trafficked on the internet, and what makes us vulnerable to being trafficked. We share real life

to build public awareness around the issue of trafficking, and put an end to the fastest growing criminal enterprise of the 21st century.

stories of kids who were trafficked and how they got out. We share real life stories of kids who were bullied and how it impacted their lives. We empower kids by teaching them to recognize predators and how to avoid being a victim. Our heart?s desire is to encourage kids that they have a voice and teach them how to use it! We believe that together we can eradicate the modern-day slavery of sex trafficking. We need our kids to join us and be active in the fight. We want to empower them to value themselves and each other,

Traffickers often mark their victims with a tattoo, or sometimes just a number around their necks, as they stand in a slave trade line-up. We want to tell kids they are marked, but in a different way? they are marked by their Creator for a purpose. Traffickers treat their victims like a commodity, an object to be bought and sold, but we want kids to know their lives are significant and that they are priceless in value. Many kids have never heard this, so they walk right into the trap when a predator tells them they are beautiful, talented, and gifted. We want to tell them first. Our kids are full of gifts and talents that resonate with purpose and destiny...they are Marked for Greatness!

Juanita and her husband John, have two beautiful children along with a couple others who call her "mom." Juanita loves hospitality and hosts a private guest house in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Committed to the abolition of sex trafficking, Juanita co-founded a nonprofit, Marked for Greatness, that provides awareness for teens on the dangers associated with this modern-day slavery. Learn more at: www.markedforgreatness.org

By Trisha Pricket t , MSW, LSW For many followers of Jesus, we can point to a moment when we felt the call to be a part of something bigger. Bill Hybels refers to it as our ?Holy Discontent?. It is something you have a difficult time seeing, hearing, or feeling without doing something about it. This is how I felt when I was first introduced to the issue of human trafficking through a film that chronicled what was happening in the brothels of Thailand. I felt the Spirit?s nudging to get involved, but had no idea how this would come to fruition. This evolved into a 7-year journey, including obtaining my MSW, educating myself further on the issue of human trafficking and being introduced to my current employer Ascent 121.

and families in the community, an aftercare program for girls who have completed treatment, awareness and outreach presentations, and discipleship training. There are many things I have learned throughout my tenure at Ascent 121. The list is too long to be recounted here. However, two things stand out. One is that suffering is exists in various forms. We cannot be afraid of it and we cannot avoid it. The journeys I have entered with these young women reveal how pain exists in heartbreaking ways. I have encountered several individuals and families in the throes of deep hurt. But acknowledging the suffering helps it lose some of its power. Suffering sheds light on our humanity. It corresponds with David?s writing in Psalm 34:

Ascent 121 is a faith-based, non-profit based in Indianapolis that offers recovery services and advocacy for teen survivors of trafficking. We serve over a hundred kids every year. Through partnerships with local law enforcement, other agencies and the faith community, we offer a continuum of care that provides for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of teen survivors. Our programs include residential services, clinical support services for teens

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." -Psalm 34:18 NLT

This leads me to the next caveat I have come to see daily. God is present and ever moving. Don?t get me wrong. Some days it feels like death has the final say. Recovery for these survivors is a process; it is not linear. Yet, I am learning that on the days I feel the darkness has won, I am relying on myself. It is not my job to ?save? or ?rescue? these women. Rather, I have been called to stand witness to the experiences of these young survivors as they voyage towards hope, healing, and safety. To reveal to them that they are seen, known, and they are not alone on their journey. God continually unveils how he is a master potter making beautiful artwork from the clay of these young women. I could not have foreseen how a ?Holy Discontent? several years ago would bring me to where I am today. My heart is a little more battered and bruised; my soul weary on the more difficult days. But I am so grateful that I said yes.

Trisha Pricket t , MSW, LSW Therapist with Ascent 121 of Indianapol is www.ascent121.org

Is t h e r e a p l a c e o f "h o l y d is c o n t e n t " in y o ur h ea r t ? Maybeit's timeto...

Educational Programs for Survivors of Sex Trafficking By Andrea Bailey, Ngin Sam Onn, and Nourn Vanna

Hope for Justice is an international anti-trafficking organization with a mission to bring an end to modern slavery by rescuing victims, restoring lives and reforming society. A key part of our work is offering post-trafficking support and aftercare for survivors, giving them new opportunities and reducing their vulnerability to re-trafficking. Education and skills are at the heart of this, and are why Shine Career School was established in January 2011: to meet the educational and career needs of the trafficking survivors helped by Hope for Justice in Cambodia. They have often had little or no formal education, any anything they did have was inevitably disrupted by their trafficking experience. Personal ized care and educat ion Shine Career School was created to provide survivors with education, literacy, higher education support,

vocational

training/ support

and

A student?s perspective... Chea* was exploited and abused as a teenager in her village?but she was rescued just before being sold forever into slavery. Building a relationship of trust wth Chea took time for the caring staff at Hope for Justice. She did not understand at first that what she had been forced to do in her young life was wrong. Hope for Justice managed to keep her engaged in our projects, and she gradually began to learn and to heal. Today, she is excelling in her education and is emotionally stable, as well as being confident, resilient and looking forward to the future. She hopes to do a degree and work in marketing, after a recommendation from Hope for Justice?s career and education advisor. Chea said: ?I thought more about it and realized it?s not beyond my capability.? She added: ?My family was poor when I was growing up, we didn?t have money. I don?t want to live like that again. ?I want to get a job, be able to earn money and see this colorful world. I would like to gain more knowledge and a better education to help the people around me.? *Name changed to protect survivor?s identity

enrichment, giving them the best chance at a successful future in whatever field they choose. Small

classes

environment

allow

trauma-informed

students

get

the

specialized and individually tailored academic, career, and emotional support they need in a safe, stable environment. Cambodia?s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport recognizes and trusts Shine?s programs, and the way they help students whose formal education was interrupted as a consequence of their trafficking. Hope for Justice is the only

Ngin Sam Onn: Director of Operations, Shine Career School

NGO in Cambodia to have the Ministry?s approval

run

educational

program

through grade 10. The Cambodian educational system does not have the capacity or resources to run a ?catch-up? or high school equivalency program for these students, so they really value the work done by Shine, including the fact that its teachers

have

experience.

many

years

Andrea Bailey: Career & Education Director at Hope for Justice

combined

We now have memoranda of

understanding in place with other government ministries too, and the Cambodian government has said it would like our school to be a model for other NGO education programs and the public school system. The teachers follow the Ministry curriculum but with a unique trauma- informed perspective. That means individually- tailored academic instruction,

individual

counseling,

and

vocational training and career preparation so that the girls may explore their own education

Vanna Nourn: Shine Career School Project Manager and Education Liaison to the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

and vocational interests. That is in addition to equipping them with basic literacy in Khmer and then foundational and advanced education in math, English, Khmer, technology and more. Educat ional chal l enges The Shine staff understands the particular challenges that students with a traumatic past can face with respect to learning. This includes, but is not limited to, dissociation, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues. To provide adequate support for these challenges, Hope for Justice employs a dedicated Career and Education Social Worker (School Counselor) who focuses on helping students identify goals for the future. Shine has small class sizes and individualized academic, career, and psychosocial support. Students who come to us with low self-esteem and few hopes or thoughts for their future end up learning marketable skills, exploring their innate creativity, and being challenged to engage in unfamiliar learning activities in a safe, caring setting.

Wider set t ing The great work taking place at Shine is further enhanced by its place within the wider network of Hope for Justice Cambodia projects. For example, our Lighthouse Assessment Center welcomes girls into care from the very day of their rescue for six to eight weeks of immediate crisis support and medical care, as well as family and community assessments. At the Hope for Justice Dream Home, we provide girls rescued from trafficking aged 13-18 with a safe, loving, full-time place to live until they are ready and able to live again their families or independently. Our Bridge Project serves to rebuild, strengthen, and restore the relationship between the survivor and her family, community, and society. Find out more about Hope for Justice?s projects in Cambodia: www.hopeforjustice.org/cambodia NOTE: Photos in header and at the bottom of the first page of this article are attributed to Annelise Blackwood

The full story of the creation of Hope for Justice and its expansion around the world is told for the first time in a new book, ?Impossible is a Dare?, by co-founder and CEO, Ben Cooley. It is a story of passion turned into action, as Ben shares the journey of Hope for Justice from being one man with a wobbly desk to an international organization fighting trafficking in the USA, Cambodia, UK and Norway. ?Impossible is a Dare?is available for pre-order at Amazon.com, with all proceedsgoing to Hope for Justice.

We are looking for submissions for our next edition!

GRACE AS JUSTICE spotlight on...

S out h er n and S out h east

A S IA For more information visit: www.graceasjustice.com/ submissions/ or email graceasjustice@gmail.com Deadl ine is Jul y 25, 2017

H EPZI BA H H O U SE by Beck y D i a m on d , LM H C I was the keynote speaker for the Palm Beach Victims' Right Award Luncheon. Wow!! Quite an honor...but then I panicked! I have been the victim of a violent crime, but NOTHING compared to the women I work with. So, I went to them to get their insight about what I could share that would be relevant and meaningful. Brilliant!!! The theme was "Strength, Resiliency & Justice." As we talked, an idea formed using an amazing piece of art one of our women did... It is titled "Terrance," honoring the memory of a dear friend, the victim of a violent crime together with one of our women. Several months

after

their

escape,

Terrance

succumbed to the trauma, ending his life at 17 years old. The piece has two panels: the left

addresses

victimization,

the

right

frames the passage towards hope and healing from severe trauma. The idea that formed was the significance of strength and resiliency of the victim being a key piece of what helped them survive the experience.

Trauma

can

extremely

debilitating - leaving the victim paralyzed in a victim mindset characterized by a sense of being helpless, hopeless and powerless. The KEY to recovery is moving beyond this outlook, where justice comes in...

The left panel shows her in a pit. The writing on her wrist says, "NO ONE SEES" her in this hellish place. The powerlessness is palpable. In the right panel, she is lifted out of the pit, with a passage from Psalm 40:2, "He Lifted me out of the pit of despair." Strength and resiliency helped her survive being a victim, but now support the seeds of hope. This is the first step in moving beyond a victim mindset signaling the shift to survivor. Robert Frost's poem Lodged defines her sense of hopelessness and helplessness. The face - without a mouth - has harsh, indifferent and unkind sentiments, further illustrating the victim mentality. The left image has a mirror saying "Evil" the metaphor of how she sees herself. In the right panel, the mirror is shattered!! Dancing shoes indicate she is no longer immobilized in hopelessness! Once a victim, now she is a survivor! "God knows what broke your heart and where to find all the pieces. He's gonna love you back together again." Strength and resiliency support this redemptive shift in perspective! At the top of the full panel, there is a passage from Song of Solomon, "His banner over me is love." The lotus flower signifies purity and devotion, or even ascension, revelation, and rebirth. I love the girl holding the balloon - with "hope" written into the string!! She is able to smile and laugh again.

From the left panel, her mind, impacted by a lifetime of trauma is "OUT OF ORDER." In the right panel, her mind is able to think clearly: You are lovable. It was NOT your fault. "No" is a complete sentence. My voice matters. There is hope for me. There are safe people. The survivor mindset is shifting to that of being an overcomer: This trauma will not define her life or limit her trajectory! "I BELIEVE" is significant in a number of ways: 1. For a survivor to believe that someone can be trusted, that there are actually safe people in the world is HUGE! 2. When she is given the gift of credibility, another monumental step takes place. This affirms and validates her pain and confusion - which is necessary before she can take the next step. The first step towards justice is being believed when she shares her story. The mouth-less face has a number of comments where this facet of justice was denied her.

survivor, from survivor to overcomer, and now on to triumphant! Part of justice is being able to share her earned authority, having overcome and been triumphant - with others. Strength and dignity on display! This is what we do at Hepzibah House... We endeavor to be "God with skin on" helping victims become survivors, survivors become overcomers, and overcomers to rise triumphant over the trauma of their experiences. Our mission statement is Recovery, Restoration & Release from the nightmare of human trafficking. AND there is room for YOU to partner with us. Visit our website (link below) for information on volunteer training and other ways to get involved. We are always grateful for intercessors to join us, and funding is a critical need since restoration is an expensive proposition. Please consider where you might be able to contribute time, energy and resources in this important work!

In contrast to Frost's Lodged, a quote from AndrĂŠa Balt identifies the shift from powerlessness to empowerment facilitated by justice in being heard and believed, on top of strength and resilience: "Freedom is not about the size of your cage or power of your wings or non-attachment to a person or thing. Freedom is about being so truly, madly and deeply attached to your own soul that you can't bear ? if only for a moment ? a life that doesn't honor it." . "She is clothed in strength & dignity" heralds the last step - having come from victim, to Beck y D i a m on d , LM H C , i s t h e Presi d en t a n d Fou n d er of H eza ba h H ou se. To l ea rn m ore, vi si t t h ei r websi t e a t : w w w.h epzi ba h h ou se.org

Will you do. . .

. . . what' s in your hand? 19

Women of Vision

By Jenna Funkhouser When a girl is born into poverty, she enters one of the largest groups in the world to experience a lack of basic needs and human rights: poor women.[1] A girl growing up in a poor community today is less likely to finish school, less likely to receive enough food, and more likely to experience abuse, trafficking, and exploitation than the men around her. The United Nations estimates that women and children currently make up 70-80% of the world?s refugees and IDPs (internally displaced persons), and an estimated 215 million laborers worldwide are children ages 5-14. It?s not hard to see how poverty increases a woman?s vulnerability to exploitation and often keeps her from providing adequately for her family, perpetuating a cycle of poverty in her children that is difficult to overcome without intervention.

In the face of such insurmountable obstacles, can anything be done to break this cycle? World Vision believes so. Rich Stearns, President of World Vision, writes: ?In my opinion, the single most significant thing that can be done to cure extreme poverty is this: protect, educate, and nurture girls and women and provide them with equal rights and opportunities? educationally, economically, and socially.? Women of Vision is a volunteer ministry of World Vision, mobilizing and uniting women called to invest their time, intellect, compassion, creativity, and finances so impoverished women and children might find hope and experience a tangible expression of God's love.

Chapters have sprung up across the United States, comprised of volunteer leaders and supporters who help to build awareness and raise funds to support World Vision?s work by hosting community fundraising, education, advocacy, and service events. The projects these chapters support are sustainable, strategic developmental projects that empower women and children in some of the most vulnerable areas of the world.[2] From safe spaces for the children of sex workers or refugees, to clean water and healthcare improvements, to microloans for women to begin their own businesses, these initiatives echo the words of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: ?No tool for development is more effective than the empowerment of women.? World Vision believes the best way to change a child?s life, and specifically a girl?s

life, is to change the community in which they live, and this includes issues of gender injustice. Because of this belief, World Vision facilitates a training called Channels of Hope for Gender in project locations around the globe. It addresses gender inequality with faith leaders in a community, training them to explore issues of gender inequality through a series of workshops and facilitated discussions. For example, COHG trainings in Ethiopia address issues including child marriage, gender-based violence, child rape, female genital mutilation, and gender disparities among families and community members and in churches. After receiving the training, some members formed an association called Women and Men arise, focusing on gender advocacy and child protection in that community.

Gender justice is not just the absence of violence and exploitation, but the presence of just and right relationships, mutual respect and accountability, and the rights of both women and men to live life in all its fullness. Women of Vision is committed to linking arms with women in their communities and across the globe to accomplish this goal together. Would you like to join them? Click here to see if there is a chapter in your area, or talk to Women of

Vision about starting your own. You can also head to: http:/ / strongwomenstrongworld.org To learn more about World Vision?s strategic focus on women and children in community development programs. Together, we can stand up for women and children across the globe! The end of poverty begins with her...and the change to make that happen may just begin with you.

Jenna lives in Portland, Oregon and graduated from Corban University in 2013 with a degree in English: Creative Writing and a Minor in Youth and Family Ministry. She is a sucker for the underdog and is passionate about the use of storytelling and communications to empower & inspire change. When she's not writing for nonprofits and other justice projects, you can find her on Twitter @downwindofgrace.

Footnotes: [1] http:/ / strongwomenstrongworld.org/ why-women/ [2] http:/ / www.womenofvision.org/ about/ history/

WHAT CAN YOU DO? SEND STUFF -

Send things to groups. You can create a drive at your place of worship, in your neighborhood, at your high school or university or even at work. Always make sure to check on the legalities. Even if a particular group doesn?t necessarily have something posted on needs, you can bet they probably need something. Write and ask! One group that specifically asks for things as well as money is Stella?s Voice located in Moldova.

JOIN A GROUP -

There are a plethora of groups that strive to fight human trafficking. Find one in your area

START A GROUP -

If a group doesn?t exist in your area, start one! You do not have to wait to be important, organized, or not busy to do something. Start somewhere and see where it goes.

VOLUNTEER -

Many groups offer volunteer positions making choosing something more difficult than actually going. Volunteer positions exist at home and overseas and can be open even to teens (with parental permission). Volunteering can be incredible as you touch the abused community in some way; but it can be difficult, dangerous and heartbreaking. It is important to realize that the people who are recovering need a kind and non-judgmental touch. They need positive role models, and they need people who will always be there to love them. Volunteering can also be more hands-off for things like administrative work. This is incredibly important and needed, and can be something for someone who wants to make a difference but might be having some problems dealing with the concept of the atrocities.

GIVE FINANCIALLY -

We?ve talked about giving time and things, but finances are also important. Think about something you might be able to give in terms of finance every month. Can you spare $10, $20, $30? Think about if 1 million give $10 every month. That is $10 a month. That?s a lot.

Hu m an Gr ace En v el o p s Tr af f i ck i n g Su r v i v o r s; Northern Virginia Initiative Brings Healing By Jane Leibbrand In May 2016, 14 brave young women ? survivors of human trafficking in Northern Virginia and New York? arose to face and testify against their captor, Michael Maynes, in Alexandria, VA federal court. The 14 women were selected out of a group of 55 victims identified in the court case, with dozens more trafficked over a period of years.

In addition, Maynes and co-conspirator Bonner used physical and geographic isolation to keep control over the young women and to escape detection, constantly traveling the I-95 corridor from New York to Washington, DC. They moved the victims to apartments, hotels, and houses along the way; the girls often did not know what city they were in.

Maynes had lured women into his ?Horse Block Pimpin? prostitution ring, often initially acting as a boyfriend. He targeted vulnerable young women? runaways, those with substance abuse problems, those who needed but could not afford child care, as well as women who had lost custody of their children. His promises of help quickly turned to violent beatings and forced drug use leading to addiction in order to exert total control over his victims; Maynes' associate Bonner and others acted as enforcers. At times they withheld access to a young woman?s child until she had reached a daily quota.

Bringing human trafficking cases to trial is a difficult venture. Survivors of human trafficking are scarred and have several emotional wounds. Most do not immediately self-identify to police out of fear, shame, guilt, the haze of drug addiction and need for their pimp to supply the drugs, and the belief that they are worthless. Trials can take place months or years after initial arrests, and they bring back all of the trauma the victims experienced during their captivity.

Due to excellent work by the Department of Homeland Security and the Fairfax County Police Department assisted by other local

jurisdictions, Bonner, Maynes, and their associates, were brought to justice and convicted; they will serve many years in prison. But without victims willing to testify, there would have been no trial to bring these violent criminals to justice. The Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative (NOVA HTI) is the quiet and unsung partner to law enforcement that helped bring the case to trial. NOVA HTI worked hand in hand with Det. Bill Woolf of the Fairfax County Police Department and agents in the Department of Homeland Security. NOVA HTI, a faith-based nonprofit led by Kay Duffield, RN and ordained minister, stood alongside these young women, counseling them, encouraging them to testify, and supporting them before, during, and after the trial in order to successfully conclude the case. Duffield started NOVA HTI after returning from working with trafficking survivors in Thailand and discovered the scourge is here too. She also serves as coordinator of the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force, a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to combatting human trafficking. NOVA HTI?s mission is to connect the community to eradicate human trafficking. The nonprofit carries out its mission by providing victim services, creating awareness and prevention, conducting advocacy, and holding prayer sessions. Fast Tracking t he Heal ing Process Its Victim Services team provides critical case management to survivors. Immediate needs include food, shelter, and clothing; many have only the clothes on their backs when they come forward. NOVA HTI often helps law enforcement during initial contact with the victim by making the call to a shelter and by being a calming non-police presence.

Kay Duffield?is Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative (www.novahti.com), a nonprofit working to eradicate human trafficking by providing awareness, victim services, advocacy, and prayer. She also serves as the Coordinator for the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force (www.nvhttf.com), a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to investigating and prosecuting human trafficking, providing services to victims of trafficking, and conducting outreach and awareness in the Northern Virginia region. Kay began her anti-trafficking work on the streets of Thailand, working one-on-one and with groups of survivors. Upon returning home, she became aware that the problem existed in the United States, and in Northern Virginia, close to her home, and helped to bring NOVA HTI to fruition.

Shelters are temporary, usually with 30-day stays. The NOVA HTI victim services team coordinates with shelter social workers to seek more permanent housing, provide mentors, and more. One counseling group has agreed for its therapists to provide one hour per week gratis for victims. As part of its faith-based mission, NOVA HTI offers group Bible study. It keeps a list of dentists and health care workers who have agreed to provide pro bono services to NOVA HTI clients. NOVA HTI ?floater? volunteers drive survivors to dentist, doctor, or legal appointments when needed. Trained mentors befriend survivors and commit to stay in touch frequently through phone, text, and in-person meet ups at coffee shops. Mandatory mentor training includes 32 hours of content from law enforcement and Homeland Security experts as well as 22 hours of Department of Justice Victim Assistance Training. Survivors Exhibit Tenacit y, Big Heart s When asked what has made the most impact in working with survivors, Bridget Perkins, NOVA HTI?s Victim Service Director, says, ?it?s their tenacity and smarts, which have kept them alive in dire circumstances, and

I am a r su r vivo

their big hearts.? She remembers one survivor who first told police about children in harm?s way from her trafficker. ?Her first instinct was not for herself but for children, and they weren?t her children,? says Perkins. What Perkins wants people to remember is that working with survivors of human trafficking is not a quick fix or a one-time deal. Most will be living with PTSD ?for a very long time? and dealing with the trauma, hopefully with counseling resources. Get t ing t he Message Out NOVA HTI also has a strong presence in the community through its Outreach and Awareness team. The nonprofit offers a Speakers Bureau; law enforcement, NOVA HTI leaders, school system personnel, psychologists, and other experts present awareness and prevention information. Too, its Events Management team plans conferences, workshops, and often partners with other groups for fundraising events such as 5k runs. At its first gala in fall 2016, NOVA HTI enjoyed record attendance of 600. Find NOVA HTI on Facebook (NorthernVirginiaHumantraffickingInitiative), Twitter (NOVA_HTI), and Instagram (nova_hti), where current information is posted on upcoming events and activities. Jane Leibbrand is a writer, editor, and communications consultant living in Northern Virginia. She has served in a variety of roles with NOVA HTI.

Matt Friedman speaks about human trafficking. Listen to the podcast here.

By Br ook e Beeh l er Op er at i on s Coor d i n at or S-CAPE

Did you know that there are approximately 20.9 million people who are trapped in slavery at this very moment? Did you also know that only 1-2% percent of these are ever rescued? With these statistics it?s easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged. But, we at S-CAPE believe every life is precious and valuable. For every ONE who enters in the doors of our safe house, we are reminded again that every life matters. Not just the 20.9 million, but the individual girl whose whole world has now been changed. We do everything we can to help bring restoration to each rescued lady who has been entrusted to us whether its for a day or a year. S-CAPE, a non-profit organization based in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa is privileged to work with victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. To date, we are the only safe house which specializes specifically in the care of victims of human trafficking in the country. We offer a safe place which focuses in restoring women by providing shelter and food, health care, skills development, discipleship, therapeutic intervention, legal and migration assistance and future orientation.? A crucial aspect of the restoration process includes empowering and equipping each resident with skills and opportunities. We do this so that each resident may be equipped?to find a job, start a business, or continue with schooling to?be able to live independently and have hope for a better future. We provide weekly skills development workshops such as baking, budgeting, gardening, sports, etc. as well as individualized training. Residents are placed in short training courses such as Job Readiness Training, Computer Training and Barista Training. In addition, S-CAPE helps place?residents?in long term?training courses, schools, internships or?jobs.

Residents also go to counseling, participate in group sessions and are involved in various therapies including horse therapy and art therapy. When necessary, residents are placed in drug rehabilitation. Depending on the individual?s needs, progress, and development plan made with the social worker, residents will eventually move on to the second stage. Here, residents move to another house which allows them to become more independent by putting into practice the life skills they have acquired in the first stage. Here, they practice budgeting, cooking their own meals, are able to come and go from the house when they please, and are either applying for a job, working or going to school. This stage is designed to prepare them to soon move out on their own and live an independently healthy lifestyle. With nearly 70 survivors including moms with their child/ children having come through our safe house since opening in 2011, we have been privileged to walk a journey of restoration with each lady. They come with heavy burdens carrying trauma, abuse, brokenness, neglect, fear, and disappointment. We listen to them, giving them a voice which has typically been taken from them, we empower them, we give them the hope of Jesus. While the work we do is not always glamorous or we see the results we hope for, we consider it an honor to share with them hope and truth in love. We firmly believe that though the circumstances of their past have been unimaginable, they have a beautiful destiny and there is a HOPE for full redemption. We plant seeds and leave the rest up to God, the true Healer. We have been privileged to see some incredible miracles of restoration in survivors' lives that have been turned upside down and are now flourishing with joy, love, light, and a beautiful future.

For m ore inform at ion v isit : ht t ps:/ / w w w .s-cape.org.za/

St ay saf e f r om slaver y: Saf egu ar din g vu ln er able you n g people by JĂş lia Tom ĂĄs Child trafficking is on the rise in the UK according to the National Crime Agency. The National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the government?s official identification system, recorded 3,805 potential victims in 2016. One third of all potential victims are children (1,278 minors), with the majority being exploited in forced labour, which includes forced criminality (i.e. begging, shoplifting, drug trafficking, cannabis cultivation). It is interesting to notice that while the numbers of potential victims increase, positive decisions (which allow a victim to access

government support) have decreased to the lowest point in the NRM history. The statistics indicate a rise in all forms of exploitation affecting children: forced labour, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. Regarding UK national children, there was a 105% increase in 2015 with 362 boys and girls being reportedly abused in sexual exploitation. And although the UK is featured as the most prominent country of origin for trafficked children (255 cases) other countries such as Afghanistan ,

Eritrea, Iraq, Sudan and Syria also featured highly in the figures, demonstrating that asylum seeking children are particularly vulnerable to modern slavery. The vulnerability of unaccompanied children is often increased by being subject to immigration and law enforcement responses. According to the Refugee Council, in 2016 there were 3,253 applications from minors. Out of these, 33% (641 children) were refused leave to stay. For asylum decisions on unaccompanied children who have reached the age of 18 there was a refusal rate of 82% . 71 minors were locked in detention centres, despite the government?s promise in 2010 to end the practice. Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that a large number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children and trafficked children go missing every year in the UK. According to a major national organization that works with trafficked children (ECPAT UK), from September 2014 to September 2015, 167 trafficked children in care and 539 unaccompanied children in care went missing at least once. Of these, 207 children

have not been found. The Department of Education stated in 2014 that most trafficked children go missing within one week of being taken into care, and many within 48 hours. Unchosen believes that unaccompanied migrant or asylum-seeking children who go missing should be treated as potential victims of trafficking. To tackle these staggering figures, Unchosen is conducting a preventative project in the South West, from August to January, called ?Stay Safe from Slavery? that aims at producing effective information materials (eg a short film, stickers, postcards, handbooks, awareness-raising events), which will be delivered directly to young people in care, care leavers, young refugees and asylum seeking children. For this we call upon frontline organizations, local authorities, the police and health services in the South West to collaborate with Unchosen to organize awareness raising events and to deliver our resources. Stay Safe from Slavery will prevent potential victims of modern slavery becoming a victim in the first place.

JĂşlia joined Unchosen in January 2015 as a monitoring and evaluation officer. She was responsible for creating Unchosen monitoring strategy, tools and mechanisms. She now leads the Films Against Slavery DVD outreach strategy and monitoring the impact of this new resource. In addition, she is in charge of Unchosen Data Protection Policies and Code of Conduct. JĂşlia worked four years as an academic researcher at the University of Minho (Portugal), completing a postdoctoral research on media discourses about trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation in October 2014. Previously, she gained an MA in International Public Relations at Cardiff University, followed by a Master of Research and a PhD in Sociology at the University of Montpellier III (France).

UNCHOSEN

If you are interested in collaborating with Unchosen contact julia@unchosen.org.uk

by Br it t an y Jacobson

The one question plaguing the anti-trafficking movement seems to be, At what age can sex be considered consensual? While our country continues to progress in providing holistic care for minor victims of human trafficking, help for those over the age of 18 seems to have stagnated. At Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int?l) headquarters, we receive an average of 30 emergency calls every month from women either desperate to leave the sex industry themselves or encouraging a friend to do so. While our organization does not operate a 24-hour hotline, we have committed to providing our community and communities around the world with the tools and resources they need to heal after trauma and exploitation.

This woman was originally encouraged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline provided by Polaris Project. But the problem, she quickly learned, was that her daughter was no longer a minor. She had turned 18 shortly before that initial phone call. The operator told her that they could not help her daughter because of her age and suggested she seek help locally. Scared with nowhere else to turn, this mom called us.

One call we received several months ago came from a frantic mother, who explained that she believed her daughter was being trafficked. We wept with her, prayed with her, and ultimately found a connection that would save her daughter?s life. But it didn?t come easily.

There are three critical conversations we need to have when it comes to this age-old question of consent:

This is just one example of the many calls we?ve received from those looking for help for women older than 18. While we never discredit the organizations which focus on assisting children stuck in the throes of this heinous crime, we also applaud those who have made it their duty to provide treatment plans for women over the age of 18.

First, we need to talk about sexual abuse. In both working at WAR, Int?l and conducting outreach into local strip clubs and massage parlors, I have personally seen one common

thread running rampant throughout the childhoods of the women we serve: sexual abuse. The attitude shared with us seems to be one of desperation. We?ve heard comments like, ?Well if they?re going to take it for free anyway, I might as well get paid for it, right?? If a woman has known nothing but abuse and neglect her whole life, she hasn?t necessarily received praise or love, reminding her of her incredible value. To many women in the sex industry, this job isn?t a choice; it?s the only conceivable option. Second, we need to ask ourselves why a birthday holds so much weight in light of the sexual abuse these women have experienced. If a girl is trafficked at 15 years old and tries to receive help when she?s 19, why is she suddenly considered irrelevant because of her age? Why is it that in some states she?s considered a victim at 16, but she can be arrested for prostitution at 18? Let?s take a look at a real-life example. We?ll call her ?Emma.? Born to a drug-addicted mother with no father in sight, Emma was placed in the foster care system where she

was repeatedly abused. This abuse by her foster parents was only a continuation of the abuse she experienced within her biological family. At 16 years old, Emma ran away from home. Preying on her vulnerability, an older boy noticed her and offered her a place to stay. She gratefully accepted, but after a few weeks of what she believed to be a dating relationship of sorts, her ?boyfriend? told her she needed to earn her keep by having sex with his friends. By the time she turned 18, she had been sold for sex more times than she could count. But, she had dropped out of school and had no driver?s license, and the only ?job? she?d ever really had was prostitution. Who would hire her with no education, no prior job experience, and no reliable transportation? We seem to believe that women over 18 have the resources to rebuild their lives on their own. Unfortunately in many situations, this is not the case. Finally, we need to understand that generational prostitution is still alive and well in the Land of the Free.

Many of the women we have met on outreach have explained that their mothers, and even grandmothers, have worked on the streets or in the strip clubs before them. Some of these women were working at bars as young teens, watching their mothers dance or perform sexually for men. Some women truly look at the sex industry as what we might call a ?family business.? They may have opportunities to explore other career options, but the expectation to continue in this line of work remains. The psychological manipulation from family members normalizing the sex industry keeps these women trapped. The bottom line is that women deserve a healing journey ? whether they?re 12 years old or 42. We need to shift the conversation and stop assuming that all victims of human trafficking who are no longer minors are there by choice. Instead, we must begin to recognize the unique opportunity we have as community members to come alongside these women in their individual healing journeys. We encourage you to begin changing the negative perceptions that surround modern-day slavery, while finding compassion for both minors and adults who have been unnecessarily exploited in so many ways.

Our goal at Women At Risk, International is to equip and empower communities around the United States to adequately serve victims of sexual abuse, no matter their age. To this end, we have created a Civilian First Responder (CFR) conference that we take all over the country. Bringing the U.S. government, Homeland Security, law enforcement officers, human trafficking survivors, and our president and founder, Rebecca McDonald, into one room to educate communities on the dangers of human trafficking. If you are interested in joining us for one of these conferences, check our website for upcoming events here.

Brittany Jacobson works as a writer for Women At Risk, International ? an organization uniting and educating women to create circles of protection and hope around at-risk women and children through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects. WAR, Int?l address 14 different risk issues in more than 40 countries, bringing a voice to the voiceless.

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