In the fight against human
trafficking, it can be hard to know exactly where to begin. At first, the enormity
of this injustice can be overwhelming. Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) understands this. But,
believe no matter who you are, or where
you are in life, you can be a voice for the voiceless.
The U.S. government estimates that
hundreds of thousands of American children are at risk of being sold into
sexual slavery. This is not an overseas
problem. It reaches across gender, age and demographics. It is a heart problem.
Three major components guide WAR,
Int’l in its fight against human trafficking. Our goal is to 1) rescue,
2) restore and 3) empower at-risk women, as well as women
who have already been exposed to the dangers and traumas of sex trafficking.
WAR, Int’l understands the power of
team work and community, which is why we have developed a network of
relationships and resources with 170 different organizations around the world
in 40 countries. We truly believe in sustainability
for the women we work with by providing funds for micro-loans so women can
start their own businesses and break cycles of poverty.
As an organization, we personally
believe you don’t have to hop on a plane to Thailand to help those engulfed in
sexual slavery. While there is a time and a place for that, something as simple as mentoring at-risk
kids in poverty right in your community can be a very powerful thing.
Learning about human trafficking in
its entirety is also of utmost importance. The
reality is that human trafficking is here in our state. Educating yourself on
what it looks like in Michigan could actually save a life.
In our fight to rescue, restore and empower, we recognize the need for our
community to be alert so we can wrap
arms of love and protection around those who need it most.
So, the first step in providing
survivors proper care is to get
educated. Find out what trafficking is. Then, volunteer your time, talent and treasure to a local organization
fighting this injustice.
While this issue continues to grow, we hope that as you seek to empower women
around the world, you would personally be empowered to educate yourself,
and take action against this injustice.
Take
Action: Reach out to us if you have
questions about how you can use your talents to end human trafficking. Contact us today at info@warinternational.org. We would love to
connect you with the resources you need to get started.
Brittany
Jacobson and Jennifer Roberts work for Women At Risk, International – an organization
that unites and educates women to create circles of protection and hope around
at-risk women and children through culturally sensitive, value-added
intervention projects. WAR, Int’l address 14 different risk issues in more than
40 countries, bringing a voice to the voiceless.
