Human Trafficking

Man Enslaves Girls for a Year

Two girls, 16 and 19 years old, were found in the basement of a man in northeastern China. The two girls had been held captive for a year, chained by their feet. They tried to get help by writing emergency notes and sticking them in places like trash bags that would be taken outside.

Eventually they were discovered after they stuck a note into a broken television that a repairman found. The note indicated one girl's father's contact information as well as the captives' location. When authorities found them, they were less than a quarter of a mile away from one girls' home.

Submitted by LaurenHughes2012 on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 18:20

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the problem:

http://www.raphahouse.org/about

vital stats:

people impacted:

6,000

people involved:

why it's important:

I know it is very impossible to solve human trafficking; however, if I can do anything to make a difference in making someone's life better, I will try my best to do it. It hurts me to know that other people are hurting. A girl should not be sold into slavery because her family cannot afford to send her to a school or because they cannot afford to feed her. I wish there could be more I could do to help these girls.

the plan of action:

My plan of action remains the same as it has for the last four years. Each summer, I spend countless hours crafting handmade bracelets. Then, at the end of the summer, my family/friends help me with a fundraiser that usually takes place at a local church; however, we sell the bracelets wherever we are able to. We have bands perform and talent acts take place while we try to sell as many bracelets as we possibly can. People vote on the winner of the show by putting money in a bucket for the person who they think deserves to win. The money from the voting and the money made off of the bracelets is then sent to Joplin, Missouri and forwarded to the Rapha House in Baht, Cambodia.

how you can get involved:

Others help by buying/donating, making, or simply just spreading the word about the Rapha House so others can be inspired to make a difference for the young girls also.

project updates:

videos:

1 comment

Submitted by jalenfaith on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 02:43

the problem:

Rather than trying to solve, I'm trying to provide. I'm going to provide educational opportunities to people wanting to jump high over obstacles that life brings to them, and how they can overcome them.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

I care about others safety, and I know if I was someone in need of education, I would want someone to do this for me.

the plan of action:

I'm beginning with applying for a grant so I can get the website created, and once the website is created we're going to start sharing our information on facebook / twitter. I'm hopefully going to be able to create a club at my school to teach students about the issues my organization is going to provide.

how you can get involved:

By sharing my ideas, and possibly joining in!

project updates:

Submitted by becca_agan on Sun, 01/29/2012 - 15:48

the problem:

My project was about helping children who have been affected by sex trafficking. Love146 is an organization that houses and helps children directly involved in sex slavery, and I choose to give to this organization.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

Its important to help children and adults involved in sex slavery because every human deserves to live. These people are looked at as nothing more numers and not as living and breathing people. Seeing I've been so blessed in my life when opportunity arose to help I took action.

the plan of action:

When I was senior in high school, just last year, we were given a senior project. We could choose any subject we wanted so I knew right away I would want to choose something that would help others. I organized an art show to raise money for Love146 and with everyone who came and bought or donated I was able to give the organization 500 dollars. People were astonished that a little high school art show could raise so much money and hearing about it made students realize they too could help. It helped people realize that even though we're young we can make a huge difference.

how you can get involved:

I had plenty of help from my high school counselor and a fellow student. I couldn't have done it without their support.

project updates:

Submitted by Together We Rise on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 12:58

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the problem:

Together We Rise is trying to solve the problems associated with the broken foster care system and the lack of awareness about this issue.

Together We Rise is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of foster children in America by funding programs that give a sense of normalcy, comfort, and self-esteem to combat the disproportionate opportunities available to foster youth.

vital stats:

people impacted:

3,000

people involved:

100

why it's important:

The devoted and enthusiastic staff of Together We Rise (TWR) work tirelessly to solve the many challenges that foster children face. The life of a foster child is often bleak and the statistics clearly display this. For example, nearly 23,000 foster children will die of neglect or abuse by their 5th birthday and almost half of those children will become homeless within 18 months of leaving the foster care system by 2020.

TWR makes decreasing these bleak figures the cornerstone of our organization. However, the issues that TWR solve go well beyond what the numbers show; we also work to bring a level of normalcy to foster children's lives.Their lives are often very unstable and changing this is one of major goals.

the plan of action:

Children are the future and we believe they deserve to live the best life possible. They have been put into a situation that they have no control over. We want to show them that there are people in the world who care about them and want to see them grow into successful adults. If we have the ability to touch even one child's life and know we made an impact in a positive way, then we have done our job. We have developed programs that allow them to be successful in society, school, sports, creativity, and life. Our sports camps also help to raise awareness about childhood obesity and teach them ways to stay healthy throughout their lifetime.

how you can get involved:

Together We Rise (TWR) values its relationship with the foster community, its sponsors, and its volunteers. Innovation, creativity, and a strong work ethic are instilled to improve the lives of foster children through integrity, commitment, and dependability. TWR utilizes young adult volunteers through social and digital media to host sports camps and implement educational programs with various subjects. A variety of programs are created to reach the diverse and varying interests of foster children, offering them an assortment of activities to provide a well-rounded experience. We welcome all interns or volunteers from around the nation and encourage applicants to apply through our Facebook page.

project updates:

videos:

Submitted by Briana Fulton on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 16:56

the problem:

I want to raise money to help put an end Human trafficking.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

I have always had a heart for others and am always wanting to help people out. This cause is important to me because hurts my heart knowing that people like me are being abused and fored into a situation where it can seem like there is no hope. I want to help those people find hope. The people who are trafficked many times grow mentally unstable and confused, life for these people will never be the same. It hurts to know that so many people are being robbed of their lives. It's unfair. These people need to be shown brotherly love.

the plan of action:

In the Fall of 2012 I plan to organize a 5K run at a local college or park.

how you can get involved:

I am involved with plenty of clubs who help in races frequently, I plan on the help of friends to help me make sure the race runs smoothly. I am hoping for donations from restaurants to provide for prizes. I still need the number tags for the runners.

project updates:

Submitted by Inspiration Men... on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 08:14

the problem:

Poverty, Gangs, Childhood Obesity, Broken Homes, Lack of Education/After School Enrichment/Mentoring/Role Models/Knowledge/Resources. There are several underprivaledged students that turn to gangs and drugs after school because there are no or very few after school programs offered.

vital stats:

people impacted:

200

people involved:

why it's important:

It is important to me because I've seen several students turn to gangs and drop out of school. So many young ones are underprivileged and forced into negative lifestyles. I take any and all students who want to participate as well as students who are referred by teachers, parents and/or guardians. Typically those students have trouble at home or in school, and I use a one on one tactic to find out what there interests are so I can determine rewards for improvement. A lot of the students I've worked with were caught up in gang life/selling drugs, failing school and not participating in any after school programs because there weren't any offered at their schools. I thought that was one of the main reasons why students were turning to gangs, so I started by mentoring a few boys and they all got out of the gang life and became more focused on school, sports, arts and music. I think students just need the knowledge and opportunities to express there interests and talents to reach their potentials, succeed in high school and beyond.

Obesity is another issue that I have helped students battle. Teaching them how to eat healthier and giving them a work out plan that you motivate them through can do wonders. However, motivation is key and varies from student to student. It might be a work out plan playing basketball, wii fit, skate boarding, hiking or basic lifting/cardio etc. You just have to take the time to figure out what works best for each individual.

the plan of action:

Provide mentoring and after school programs such as Leadership, Music, Sports, Art, Tutoring, Guidance etc. Inspiration Mentoring

Mission Statement: Our goal is to assist students in reaching their fullest potential by offering them one on one mentoring and tutoring as well as several leadership and extracurricular enrichment opportunities they wouldn’t experience otherwise. We focus on students individual interests and reward them when they reach certain goals. Many of our students suffer from broken homes, gangs, obesity, poverty etc. We provide them with the knowledge and resources necessary to overcome these obstacles.

Every student is different, so every approach is different. We develop a, “Success Plan” for every student which includes goals with step by step, day by day, week by week and month by month objectives, so we can measure effectiveness and improvement. No one is turned down and we have a 100% success rate since we’ve started. Students have dropped out of gangs, improved academics and found passion for activities such as music, art, photography, outdoor education, sports, debate etc.

It is our belief that all students have a passion for something and want to learn, it is just a matter of finding out what that passion is and how to motivate each individual. If you can reward a student with an opportunity they’ve never experienced or dreamed of they will do anything to succeed. I have brought students to professional recording studios, vocal lessons, acting auditions/classes, movie sets, mountains for skiing/snowboarding/tubing, youth recognition ceremonies to receive awards I nominated them for, ribbon cutting ceremonies to meet the mayor, community service events and many other places/events all for the first time to show them I care about there individual interests and to earn their respect.

I base every “Success Plan” on a rewards system that students must earn to motivate them to reach their goals. I combat the lack of role models, broken homes, obesity and gang life on a daily basis. However, it’s these situations that keep me passionate and motivated to help. Some people go to third world countries to help better peoples lives, but I have found that are several people in my own community that suffer from some of the hardships. I believe it is my calling to do whatever I can to help and I will stop at nothing to succeed.

I would like to expand across the entire district and eventually state and country. I have a big vision for Inspiration Mentoring and want it to improve the nations education, obesity rate, crime rate and drop out rate. It will start off small in every school and build every year until every school in the area has a program.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by volunteering, mentoring, facilitating, advertising/spreading the word, donating etc.

project updates:

Submitted by stern9 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 19:32

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the problem:

One is Greater Than None (1>0) was formed in 2007 by eight fourteen year old girls. The girls founded their own organization to sponsor rescue missions in Ghana, Africa to save children sold into the fishing villages of Lake Volta. As of today 48 children has been rescued from the slave trade and reunited with their families. In addition to that, 1>0 sponsors medical expeditions in the USA through RAM, to provide free medical clinics to those in need. 1>0 has helped sponsor over four medical expeditions in American where people received free monograms, dentistry, and other medical needs. Starting in 2011 1>0 is providing funds to build a library in Srafa, Africa. 1>0 was not only formed to help save people around the world, but to inspire young adults and children to do something to do anything to change someone's life.

vital stats:

people impacted:

4,000

people involved:

why it's important:

1>0 is an important organization because if inspires girls and boys around the world to change our world for the better. Not only is 1>0 saving children from slavery, and providing free health care to Americans, but restoring hope to the future generations. In 2009, the girls of 1>0 was named the most encouraging teens in American by The Encouragement Foundation.

the plan of action:

It costs $4,300 to save one child from slavery, and around $3,000 and up to sponsor a medical expedition. To raise this money, the 1>0 girls handmade thousands of jewelry to sell to people across the globe. The girls also talk to local schools to spread awareness of what is going on in our country and in our world today.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by being part of the movement, the movement of change. Wether it is making a lemonade stand for 1>0 of forming their own charity, doing something is better than doing nothing at all!

project updates:

videos:

Submitted by austinclark on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 14:39

the problem:

Despite what we may think. Slavery has not been abolished. In fact, while we sit at home on our computers or watching TV there are men, women, and children being kidnapped, forced into labor or sex, and dying. It doesn't have to be this way. Tampa Bay is the third largest source of trafficking in the United States. I want to shut it down!

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

God hates injustice, therefore I hate injustice. Even in the little things we are encouraging human trafficking, whether it be forced labor or sexual exploitation. Man is made in the image of God, far be it from any to deface that greatness.

the plan of action:

I want put a PSA on TV, at first just locally, but eventually I want to go nationwide. You see PSA's for Animal Rights all over the place, but never have I seen anything to guarantee humans their rights (a much greater cause!) There are so many different things I would like to do, small rallies, even renting space in a mall to get the word out. I want it to stop. I will do anything to stop it!

how you can get involved:

People can spread the word. That's the most vital. And pray, prayer is even more vital. But! There is also the matter of funding it, the more supporters the better!

project updates:

Submitted by imeverything09 on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 23:35

the problem:

There is a huge population in my community of homeless teens. Run aways, Throw aways, and couch surfers. There is currently no type of "shelter" to help individuals in this age bracket. We have a battered women's shelter which allows children; daughters of any age can stay with their mothers, but sons can only stay up to age 15. A newly single abused mother has enough to deal with without losing part of her family. I can't imagine trying to choose between losing my son, and protecting my other children and myself. However, many women in my community must face this choice everyday, fueling Foster Homes, and DFS workers to place perfectly fine, wonderful kids with total strangers.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

This is important to me for several reasons. The first being growing up as one of these teens. The second reason it's important is I believe that everyone should be given a chance at success. Not thrown around from home to home, when there should be a place for the WHOLE family to be placed.

the plan of action:

I am currently enrolled in college and am attempting to get a Bachelorette in Social Work, after this I plan on completing my degree to Graduate School and obtaining my Masters. I'm minoring in Spanish due to the large Hispanic Population in the area, and am thinking of double majoring or minoring in Childhood Psychology.

how you can get involved:

n/a