Human Trafficking

The Face of Human Trafficking in El Salvador

Free the Girls, Human Trafficking, Justice, Kids at Risk, Prayer -

On Saturday morning I opened the newspaper and began to read the local stories…immigration, crime, the economy. As I flipped through the paper, it fell open onto a story about the recent arrest of 7 people accused of trafficking underage girls for sex.  Five of them are women, and two of them are men. All of them are young, not much older than their victims. This is the face of human trafficking in El Salvador. These are real traffickers who were selling girls in malls around San Salvador, and on their Facebook pages. A news website reported that one of the men had an album titled “My New Girls” advertising young virgins for sale. The article also reported the disgusting fact that the victims were forced to fake their virginity […]

Immigration…It’s Complicated

Gangs, Guatemala, History of El Salvador, Human Trafficking, Immigration, Kids at Risk -

This morning as I was driving in my car listening to talk radio, I heard about the latest public awareness campaign. This one is called “Dream Versus Nightmare” and is targeted at educating would-be immigrants about the potential perils involved in taking the journey North. I also opened the paper earlier this week to read the latest news from last week’s meeting between Obama and Central American leaders. As I flipped through the paper other stories were reported…the skyrocketing number of Salvadoran students killed so far this year, another double homicide, more Salvadorans abandoning their neighborhoods in the dark of night because gangs caused them to fear for their lives. There are complicated messages out there…it is absolutely true that immigration can take a dream and turn it into a […]

Getting Creative

Free the Girls, Fundraising, Human Trafficking, The Lighthouse Project -

Next week is Semana Santa (“Holy Week”) and everyone goes to the local beaches during the vacation days. Costa del Sol is a popular beach in El Salvador, and next week it will also be the site of an art exhibit featuring original paintings by men, women, and children involved in our programs and ministries. The idea is a creative one, and it was developed by a generous donor and friend who offered to sponsor an exhibit featuring works of art painted by survivors of trafficking, and men and women who have lived on the streets of San Salvador. The artwork will be sold, and the money invested back into our projects. This past week our artist friends have given several painting workshops and we have all worked to help […]

Connecting

Free the Girls, Human Trafficking, Urban Ministry -

When a women is sexually exploited she is entrapped, held down, by lies that are like iron chains. The lies are strong and hard to break and they wrap themselves around her soul. The chains are engraved with words that whisper in the night. You are worthless. Sex is the same as love, and it’s the only love you‘ll get. You deserve to be used. You are alone, and no one cares. You are ugly and utterly unlovable.  The work before us is not to offer trauma counseling, or legal advice. But rather, our work is to support the women as they walk through those processes, and to walk with them further as they struggle to integrate into a normal way of life. We work to build relationships and offer […]

Love

Free the Girls, Human Trafficking, Justice, Kids at Risk, Thinking About God -

I spend a few hours each week with women and girls that have survived the horror of being sold, and of being exploited for someone else’s gain. I’m not a psychologist, and I’m not a trauma counselor. Those are not my roles in the lives of these women and girls.  I simply try my best to be a truth-speaker, a supporter, and a friend. Every Thursday I have a small group discussion with some of them on a topic related to God. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, so this week, love seemed like the natural thing to discuss. Love. How on earth could I begin to talk to these girls about love? They’ve lived through trauma and pain that I couldn’t find in my darkest nightmares. Life has not brought much […]

Human Trafficking Awareness in El Salvador

Free the Girls, Human Trafficking, Immigration, Justice, Kids at Risk -

Yesterday as I was driving around the city the word “La Trata” jumped out at me. This is the Spanish word that refers to human trafficking…the buying and selling of people. Within an hour I saw two billboards and one bus explaining that “La Trata” is a crime and urging women and girls not to be deceived. This is huge. The truth is that despite the hotness of the topic of human trafficking in the States, many in El Salvador are unaware of the problem. Girls disappear, and women are sold into horrific situations of forced prostitution and domestic servitude. Hopefully that will begin to change. The new campaign, led by the First Lady of El Salvador, includes television commercials aimed at preventing child trafficking, and signs around El Salvador. […]

Christmas Shopping and Fireworks

Advent, Family, Free the Girls, Holidays, Human Trafficking, Kids at Risk, Third Culture Kids -

El Salvador is a nation with many fatherless children. Because of crime, violence, immigration, and poverty many kids are growing up without the love and support that a family provides. These children spend much of their childhood being moved from one protection center to another which offers housing, but little else in terms of support and nurturing. There are also other types of centers, shelters, and private homes around the country and some children find themselves here because they were abused, have special needs, or are victims of horrible crimes such as human trafficking. This Christmas we were able to bring some love to some kids in El Salvador who have no family to love them, to nurture them, or to guide them. We realize that our efforts do not […]

Human Trafficking in El Salvador

Free the Girls, Human Trafficking, Immigration, Justice, Kids at Risk, Urban Ministry -

Today has been declared National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the U.S., and the whole month has been declared Human Trafficking Awareness Month. This is an issue that many people are aware of in the U.S., and great strides are being taken to identify and protect victims. Here in El Salvador, human trafficking or “la trata” as it is called, is an issue too. Here is a quick overview of the situation in El Salvador:  -women and children are far more likely to be trafficked than men -poverty is the number one risk factor for girls and women that become victims -the majority of victims are sexually exploited, but there are some who are forced into agricultural or domestic servitude -El Salvador is a source, destination, and transit country -within El Salvador, victims […]

A Smile

Free the Girls, Human Trafficking, Justice, Urban Ministry -

It’s been a few weeks since we started the Free the Girls Pilot Program. The girls that are involved in the pilot program are from the Gerardo Barrios community, and the program has been a learning experience for us all. I’m happy to report that the girls are doing great selling the bras so far. There is one girl, I will call her Karla, that was hesitant to try the program. She is quiet and shy, and doesn’t talk very much. She rarely smiles. She was chosen for the pilot program because at just 15 years of age, she already has a history of being prostituted and exploited. I think of myself at 15 and I can’t even wrap my mind around it. I can’t imagine the trauma and pain […]

FREE THE GIRLS Pilot Program

Free the Girls, Human Trafficking, Justice, Short-Term Missions -

Those of you who subscribe to our e-newsletter have already heard the news that we have a great opportunity to work with a wonderful organization called FREE THE GIRLS ! FTG is dedicated to bringing hope and a new future to women who have been exploited through prostitution and sex trafficking. The program provides woman with the chance to make a living selling bras in the lucrative second-hand clothing market. The bras are donated in the United States and sold in countries around the world by these women. FTG has had great success in Africa and you can watch a CNN documentary about their inspirational work by clicking here. We are excited to test this program out in El Salvador! We have several women already signed up to be in the […]

Search

Categories

Mini Cart 0

Your cart is empty.