Survivors From Myanmar Opening Tailoring Shops

More stories from Myanmar - where 8 out of 10 cases - women are trafficked as brides and another 20 percent are trafficked to birth babies.

Much like the last post - these stories of survivors sound very familiar.  At this end of this article, you will see these women are being rehabilitated and back into community life while learning a trade and getting ready to open their own business as a Tailoring Shop.

In less than a year, the program has already trained 125 trafficking survivors, women in at-risk communities and in Internally Displaced Peoples camps and villages, imparting financial management and marketing skills, linking beneficiaries to training centers and markets, and providing business start-up grants once training is complete.

This is part of the UN Women Program and the article in its entirety can be read here:
http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/1/feature-tackling-human-trafficking-in-myanmar

From Myanmar to China: Birth Trafficking

UN Women reported on a 19-year-old trafficking survivor from Myanmar who was rescued from China and returned to her village. She is now recovering with the support of a programme implemented by UN Women’s local partner, Htoi Gender and Development Foundation. 

She was tricked into thinking she would work in a phone factory or shoemaking factory.  When she arrived she was forced to get pregnant.  

In less than a year, the programme, funded by the Government of Japan, has already trained 125 trafficking survivors, women in at-risk communities and in Internally Displaced Peoples camps and villages, imparting financial management and marketing skills, linking beneficiaries to training centers and markets. 

Her story relates to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, which has a target on ending all forms of violence against women, and SDG 16 on peace and justice, which focuses on ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence.

Read this survivors story at:
http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/1/from-where-i-stand-aung-ja

Cambodia: 3 Survivors Open Salon

In Cambodia, 3 trafficking survivors make over their salon customers as they make over their own lives free from trafficking!

Through UN Women’s new program to prevent human trafficking in Cambodia and Myanmar, they were able to quit their jobs in the entertainment industry and start their own salon.

In Cambodia, a lack of jobs drives women and girls to move from rural areas to tourist destination cities. They are sometimes subjected to sex trafficking in brothels or transported outside of the country.  More frequently, however, they are coerced or tricked into working in “indirect” sex establishments, such as massage parlors, karaoke bars, and beer gardens, where local and foreign men pay tips for sexual services.

Read the full story at:
http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/1/feature-fresh-start-for-survivors-of-human-trafficking-in-cambodia

Free The Girls: El Salvador, Mozambique, Costa Rica

Name of Project: 

Free The Girls

Based In: 

Indiana - United States

Countries Serving:

El Salvador

Mozambique

Costa Rica

Mission:

We exist to help women rescued from sex trafficking reintegrate into their communities.

Vision:
We see a world in which previously enslaved women are leading vibrant, successful, integrated lives. 

About The Program:

Survivors can earn a safe income selling bras in the second-hand marketplace. We journey with them on the path to restore who they were designed to be- whole, worthy, and powerfully FREE.  The surprising reality is that something simple like bras can be a vehicle for freedom and hope!  Bras are a common item in many households around the world.  Many bras in good condition are left sitting in drawers. With our unique model, we allow everyday people to make an impact on a trafficking survivor's life! By collecting bras across North America and other parts of the world, we can ship them to our programs in El Salvador, Mozambique, and Costa Rica, and the women in our program can sell them in the market to make a safe and sustainable income.

Ways To Get Involved:

Spread the word
Collect and/or Donate BrasInvest in FreedomPrayVolunteerHold a Fundraiser

Contact Info:

ADDRESS
 Free The Girls
 1552 Pioneer Trail
Chesterton, IN 46304

WEBSITE
Free The Girls

EMAIL

For General Inquiries: info@freethegirls.org

For Bra Drop-off Inquiries: dropoff@freethegirls.org

For donations of new inventory or corporate/lingerie partners:
inventory@freethegirls.org

For Media/Writing requests:
media@freethegirls.org