Saturday, September 22, 2012

What Can We Do to Help?





Five years ago, my daughters and soon-to-be son-in-law's burden for trafficked victims spoke to my heart. At the time, I was brainstorming a story line for my third book in the Born for India trilogy. Listening to my children share stories of victims convinced me that I wanted to build awareness for this horrific crime against humanity. Thus, Chosen Ones was born profiling Punita, an eleven-year-old Nepali girl unknowingly sold to a trafficker by her father.

Since that time, awareness has grown. We now know that not only is trafficking a serious issue in other countries, but also in America. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, human trafficking is the second largest area of organized crime after drug trafficking. Every ten minutes a woman or child is trafficked into the U.S. Every year, 200,000 American girls are at risk for sex trafficking. Every day, 3000-5000 children are being sold or lured into prostitution.

What can you do to help?

1) Read my book, Chosen Ones, then pass it along to someone else or donate the book to your church library.

2) Chosen Ones lists a plethora of resources that can help you put feet to your burden. I support a girl through Destiny Rescue. She is my third girl who's been rescued and placed in a Safe House for counseling, education, and a gospel witness.

3) Contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center if you think someone you know is being trafficked. Victims can also contact the center at 1-888-373-7888.

4) Pay attention to those around you. Children most vulnerable to traffickers are runaways, abused and neglected children, foster kids,and those coming out of women's shelters or detention facilities. Consider serving as a mentor to a girl who fits this profile.

5) Most of all, pray!

And please remember my youngest daughter and her husband training to minister to sex trafficked children.

6 comments:

Kate Dolan said...

Thanks for the ideas. It's painful to hear about a terrible situation and feel helpless and you gave us some ways to get past that.

Eileen Rife said...

Thanks for stopping by, Kate, and sharing this burden for abused and exploited women and children.

Anonymous said...

I recently attended a program sponsored by "Not For Sale" who is also dedicated to stopping human trafficking. It was an eye opener!

Linden Barrick said...

Just wanted to let you know I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award in my latest blog post. Your turn to pass it on! :)

Eileen Rife said...

Yes, I also receive the Not For Sale updates. So glad to know these organizations are reaching out to girls1

And Linda, how do I pass it on? I'm not familiar with the One Lovely Blog Award, or is this something you made up? ;)

Thanks for the thought!

Eileen Rife said...

Yes, I also receive the Not For Sale updates. So glad to know these organizations are reaching out to girls1

And Linda, how do I pass it on? I'm not familiar with the One Lovely Blog Award, or is this something you made up? ;)

Thanks for the thought!

A Grandchild's Lavish Love

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