All across the world, women are forced into illegal sex trafficking and prostitution. While this fact remains relatively ubiquitous, the stories of these women continue to remain under-told and their voice unrepresented. Our organization, Extending the Link finds a great opportunity to highlight the success stories of women who have distanced themselves from a life filled previously with sex trafficking in Nepal. These women are now empowered by Padhma Creation, an organization that teaches them the trade of knitting and sells their products. We aim to help Padhma Creation by traveling to Nepal, hearing the stories from these young women, and creating a lasting relationship between Saint Ben's/ Saint John's university and this Co- Operative.
vital stats:
people impacted:
5,000
people involved:
11
why it's important:
The purpose of [Extending the LINK] is to shed light on under-told, yet significant, global issues through educational documentaries. The production and presentation of these documentaries is intended not only to generate awareness, but to inspire engagement by facilitating educational dialogues, inspiring volunteer action, and encouraging activist support.
Living in a safe environment with educated people and families surrounding, we college students hardly know about a completely different world- the world of sex trafficked women. These women are the same age with us, yet were forced into a life filled with sex trafficking and prostitution. However, they are now living a better new life, earning money by knitting and selling their own products, thanks to Padhma Creation.
This issue is relatively unknown which makes it a critical story to tell. We began exploring this crisis out of curiousity and alumni connections in Nepal, and have since become absolutely devoted through hours of research, fundraising and planning.
the plan of action:
A group of students from College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University in Extending the Link will travel to Nepal to hear the stories of these previously sex- trafficked women. Our aim is to highlight how Padhma Creation- an organization founded by a Saint Benedict alumnus- actually helps those women to have a better life, by teaching them the trade of knitting and subsequently selling their products.
Our purpose is not only to reflect those meaningful stories but also to provide and outlet for service and activism to students, faculty, staff and community members to support this organization.Extending the LINK plans on meeting these goals through both organization and flexibility – and works hard to evaluate our progress in a timely and consistent manner.
Objectives for the coming year are as below
a. A minimum of one fully completed documentary
b. A cohesive member body composed the following:
i. 10 students, minimum
ii.3 faculty advisors, minimum
c. Documentary showing at the following:
i. Formal premiere event at CSB-SJU
ii. 2 academic conferences, minimum
iii. 5 film competitions, minimum
iv. 2 other college campuses and other educational institutions
d. Media coverage through the following:
i. 8 newspapers, minimum
ii. 2 radio stations, minimum
e. Continued student involvement through the following:
i. 3 on-campus fund-raising events, minimum
ii. Benefit concert
2. Padhma Creation Knit Sales
ii. Initiation of a sponsorship program
iii. Volunteer trip to host country
how you can get involved:
We hope to create a lasting relationship with Padhma Creation, by bringing their products here and sell them in the U.S. With any purchase of those products, or any kinds of donation, the students, faculty, staff and community members will demonstrate a sympathy and help these women reaching towards a better life.
project updates:
Final Grant Update
03/07/2011
Extending the Link
12
500
It gave us national recognition (co-director Emily Bina was featured on the NY Times online video during the Bootcamp in Chicago!); and inspiration that we're not the only ones working hard to do good things well.
1. Our trailer premiering on campus
2. Meeting powerful and courageous women in Nepal who are taking a stand and creating a better standard of life for their children
3. How truly involved and excited our immediate audience already is... and that there's time for more!
Our project is still unfolding and developing, but already our community has been impacted. Our team returned from Nepal at the end of January after filming a documentary on domestic abuse and trafficking, and so far we've held a benefit concert, brought a guest speaker on trafficking from Nepal, negotiated Padhma Creation's (an outlet for helping previously victimized women) placement in our bookstores, and premiered our film trailer (full-length film due in April!).
03/07/2011
We got back from filming our fourth documentary, Pragati Nepal (Pragati means progress in Nepali) more than a month ago already! It was humbling and empowering to be there - and ETL came back ready to be agents of change. We just premiered our film's trailer (check out the link!) and are in full swing for our full-length documentary's premiere in April.
