Raise Your Arm for Anita
Raise Your Arm for Anita
On April 1, we begin our #RaiseYourArmChallenge! We want you to know WHO you are raising your arm for as you take the simple challenge with us this month.
This is Anita, a survivor of sex trafficking. After years of being sold for sex, Anita was rescued and has since found new life and hope, for both herself and her daughter, through Freedom 4/24's partner in India, Freedom Firm. Her story is powerful, showing the atrocities of human trafficking as well as the beautiful hope of freedom and restoration we fight for every day at Freedom 4/24.
Remember her story as you write Anita's name on your arm over the next 30 days and pray for her and other victims and survivors leading up to Run 4 Their Lives event on April 30th. Let it break your heart, inspire you, and move you to greater action. Start by watching, then click here to take our #RaiseYourArmChallenge. Together, we can bring freedom!
The Story of Freedom 4/24
Share Our Story!
This morning, Freedom 4/24 founder Christine Gelatt, shared the story of Freedom 4/24 with more than 10,000 college students at Liberty University during campus convocation. Christine was a 19-year-old college student at LU in 2008 when she founded Freedom 4/24. The journey since then has been nothing short of a God-sized movement.
Please share this video with your family and friends and consider joining us for Run 4 Their Lives on April 30. You can participate no matter where you live! Run the race in Lynchburg or participate in our Virtual Race from any location.
THANK YOU for being a part of our story as we work together to bring freedom and justice to women and girls around the world!
February 2016 Freedom Forum
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A Simple Gift: A Story of Bracelets, Beauty, and Bangkok
“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
Getting involved with us in the fight against human trafficking needn't be complicated. In fact, it often begins with creatively using the resources right in front of you. That's the story of Joy Johnson. Her heart was compelled by the stories she saw and heard from our team in Bangkok, Thailand, and knew she can to do something. So she used the thing she knows best--her business and jewelry--to help convey love and honor to girls halfway around the world.
#12. Joy Johnson & the One-for-One Campaign
Occupation: Director & Stylist for Stella & Dot Location: Forest, VA
Joy, you decided to utilize your role with Stella & Dot to impact girls in the red light districts and at Beginnings, our partner in Bangkok. Tell us what you did.
In 2014, I partnered with Johanna [Calfee, Freedom 4/24’s Communications Director] to raise funds for her trip to Thailand. I donated 100% of my commissions from a Trunk Show she hosted towards her missions trip. At that show I felt led to do more. I wanted to go beyond funding her trip. That is when we came up with the idea of a “one for one” campaign. With this campaign, I personally offered to send a matched bracelet to Thailand for each one purchased. My mission was not only to send these bracelets to impact the girls with a message of love and hope, but also to raise awareness here. I asked the buyer to wear their bracelet as a reminder of their matched girls’ need for freedom.
We had an overwhelming response and were able to send 100 bracelets that first year. This past December, we decided to do this again but with a goal of 200. We have had such an amazing response and met our goal!
What inspired you to send bracelets to these women?
Just thinking of these girls makes my eyes fill with tears. They are girls, not women! They are forced to do things that we can’t even bear to imagine. Their innocence, their heartache, their strength, their need to be needed by someone who truly loves them, motivates me. I pray and hope each year that when they receive the bracelets and message of someone wishing for their freedom, moves them to know they do have value. They are loved. They are made with a purpose and made for more.
What reactions have you seen from other people when they find out about these bracelets, and realize they have an opportunity to touch these lives in Bangkok?
I have had such an amazing response. Most people don’t realize what Freedom 4/24 is and what they’re doing at Home of New Beginnings [Freedom 4/24’s partner in Bangkok, Thailand]. When I am able to let them know about the ministry and what the bracelets will represent to these girls, they are deeply moved. I have had the privilege of sharing this campaign with several women at Stella & Dot Home Office. They have been inspired to spread the information about Freedom 4/24. With that, I hope to spread awareness and acquire more monthly sponsors!
What is it about Freedom 4/24, and the girls and women of Bangkok, that connects to your heart?
I have always had a heart for the emotional lost and burdened. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology because I wanted to work with children of divorce. I personally know the emotional trauma of a broken home, and the need to feel wanted loved and needed. I can’t even imagine the magnitude of these emotions the girls in sex trafficking experience. If this bracelet can give them one small ounce of love and acceptance, then my mission is accomplished. I know that through so many prayers going up for them through this, many of them will find the ultimate love in our Savior. Without His love and acceptance, I am nothing. With that, I am connected to these girls.
Our teams on the ground in Thailand both years sent back pictures and stories of the big impact this simple gift had on the girls there. What was your reaction to seeing this?
I was astonished! I had no idea what to expect. Johanna’s team said giving out those bracelets to the girls they connected with in the red light districts was one of the most moving parts of the trip. Their reactions to this simple act of receiving these bracelets brought many of these girls to tears. Truly, it is such an amazing gift to say I played a small role in bringing a smile to their faces.
I plan on doing this every year going forward. My heart is telling me that I need to be a part of hand delivering them next year!
Inspired by Joy's story? Want to join the fight? Start today by giving a gift or creating a fundraiser by visiting Freedom424.org.
January 2016 Freedom Forum
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Bare 4 Freedom: A Make-Up Free Challenge
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“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
#11. Go Bare 4 Freedom with Makaila Redden
Age: 20 Hometown: Belfast, Maine
What is Bare 4 Freedom? How and why did it get started?
Bare 4 Freedom (B4F) is a social media movement to raise awareness about the human trafficking industry and raise funds to rescue the women and children enslaved by it. The idea is to go without makeup for a day, a week, or an entire month! It started when I was considering going lighter on my makeup during the first month of the new year to remind me that I am the daughter of the King and that I don't need makeup to feel confident or comfortable. I had been praying about Freedom 4/24's cause and had the idea that I could go without any makeup at all and raise awareness and funds at the same time!
What is your goal?
My financial goal is $300 in January, but I'm less concerned with that. The true goal behind B4F is two-fold: first, my prayer is that women and children trapped by this crime could be freed from the chains they are in (literally and figuratively) by the simple act of denying myself something as silly as makeup, and that they would come to know freedom in Christ. Second, I truly hope that more ladies will join in this vision, and that they will be more confident in the person God created them to be without having to hide behind a mask of makeup. Beauty comes from having Christ inside, it shouldn't be based upon how much mascara we're wearing!
How did you learn about Freedom 4/24?
My friend Abigail Lord oversaw the Run 4 Their Lives 5K in Bangor, Maine, last year and my husband and I ran it. We've been following the organization ever since!
Bangor Race Vidya
What about Freedom 4/24's mission resonates with you?
I think it's exciting that there is an organization out there providing resources beyond money to these human beings being exploited! It's more than just rescuing them, it's rehabilitating them and teaching them about a different life of freedom they can have. It's more than just raising money for the organization—it's about teaching people how to act against this.
What's your long-term vision for Bare 4 Freedom?
Let's take a stance together! I want this to be something women participate in every year to teach their community that sex trafficking happens everywhere, not just in rural countries. I believe we can really make a huge dent in the sex industry if we are educated and take a stand. I would love to see other ladies join with me in that.
Whether you want to commit to one day or the entire month, or even longer, we're excited to support you in what can be scary for some women to do! Tag Instagram, Twitter or Facebook photos with #bareforfreedom and check out our Instagram profile @bareforfreedom! When your friends and family ask where to donate, either create your own charity GoFundMe page for Freedom 4/24 or send them to gofundme.com/bare4freedom!
Pray for Thailand Team
And they're off! Please pray for the Thailand team as they are traveling now from Dulles to Bangkok. They will bring us stories from the ground, including highlights of the Christmas parties that will be thrown next week. During these parties, girls and women trapped in the red light districts will be offered a pathway to permanent freedom through our partner in Bangkok, Home of New Beginnings. Follow along right here!
News Anchor Rides for Freedom
If you were't able to make it out to Freedom 4/24's inaugural Ride 4 Freedom on October 10, check out his blog review below from cyclist and WSLS 10 news anchor John Carlin as he describes his first hand experience as a participant. A HUGE thank you to John for taking the time to share his view point on the event and to advocate for the work for Freedom 4/24!
John Carlin, center, rides into an aid station with fellow cyclists during Ride 4 Freedom
A GREAT RIDE FOR AN EMERGING AND IMPORTANT CAUSE.
by John Carlin
Ride start
Riders learn about the horrors of human trafficking.
424 stands for the low price to buy a young girl being trafficked in Thailand and surrounding countries. Translated, it means you can buy a young female sex slave For 24 hours for 24 dollars. A Lynchburg based non-profit called Freedom 4/24 is doing what it can to stop it. Toward that end, the group has done a number of runs as fundraisers – and this past weekend (October 10, 2015) – their first organized bike ride.
I joined other members of my usual riding group from both Roanoke and Lynchburg in support of the cause on the rolling 42.4 mile loop that started at the Blue Ridge Community Church.
“We didn’t know how far or how hard to make the ride,” said National Race Director Joy Marinelli at the ride’s rest stop. She said they talked about century rides and metric centuries and 50 milers but ultimately thought the group’s signature number worked well. Members of our group would agree.
Freedom 424 National Race Director Joy Marinelli offered a reminder of the cause at the halfway point in the ride.
Freedom 424 National Race Director Joy Marinelli offered a reminder of the cause at the halfway point in the ride.
The course was almost never flat. We were either descending or climbing. While there were no major mountain climbs – since there are no mountains in Virginia’s Piedmont region – there were several steep pitches that went on for about half a mile or so. Bottom line this is a ride that can be described as both moderate and challenging.
Rain threatened our ride almost from the beginning – but somehow it held off.
Though we were riding under gray – almost misty skies, it was a beautiful ride. This is a part of Virginia where the older homes are really old. And the small farms and beautiful houses made for great scenery.
Though it was their first attempt at a bike ride, the 4/24 folks have their act together.
A good percentage of the riders may have been unfamiliar with the cause. I suspect most of us were looking for a nice, organized ride in support of just about anything. (We are cyclists after all!) But the pre-ride talk was memorable, as we learned more about Freedom 4/24.
The leaders have traveled to Thailand and the surrounding areas and they have seen the human trafficking with their own eyes. They were motivated to begin the organization to fight the issue. They told us the story of two women who have been saved from the system after years of battling to get out – after being kidnapped as children and forced into prostitution when they were 12 or 13 years old.
Organizers asked us to recognize the struggles of young girls being trafficked in 3rd world counties.
Organizers asked us to recognize the struggles of young girls being trafficked in 3rd world counties.
The 4/24 group asked us to write their names on our arms as a show of support for their struggles. It seemed the least we could do.
A volunteer wrote the name Vaishnavi on my arm. Vaishnavi is an 18 year old from India who believes she was taken from her parents at an early age and forced into prostitution at 13. She was rescued several times by a group called Freedom Firm, only to be dragged back to the red light district. Finally, in 2013 she was rescued for good and today lives in government shelter, where she receives counseling, and is learning to live a more normal life.
As we stood with our bikes, ready to ride, Marinelli, and marketing director Johanna Calfee reminded us that while it might rain, and that the hills might pose some difficulty, that it paled in comparison to the struggles faced by Vaishnavi and others. Fair enough. Struggling up a hill in the rain on a bicycle that costs as much as a used car is truly a first world problem. There’s a good dose of perspective there.
Back to the ride
The rest stop at about 21 miles.
The rest stop at about 21 miles.
Organizers offered a lone rest stop at the halfway point. For a ride as short as this – a single stop is certainly adequate. The table was full of goodies, Gatorade, bananas and anything else you might want.
At one point Marinelli asked us if the course was hard enough. Though I’ve ridden a couple thousand miles this summer – I felt like there was ample challenge there. I could easily see how they could (and should) keep the signature distance and add a metric century or 50 mile option, and eventually a full century.
I can say for certain that I was pretty happy to see the finish. The 4/24 group offered a free lunch with what might be the best barbeque I have ever eaten. And that’s saying something – because I eat a LOT of barbeque. There were plenty of other treats, and a warm place to eat inside the church.
This event was essentially a test run for the organizers. There were only about 35 riders, but the hope is that this becomes a major fundraiser for the group.
I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t.
Two Babies & Their Teenage Mothers Saved
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“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
#9 & #10.MEET GRIFFY & PATIENCE
Griffy came to Christine’s House in July, 16 and pregnant. As a Freedom 4/24 rescue home for exploited girls in Gulu, Uganda, the staff at Christine’s House is used to taking in victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking who are pregnant as a result of their abuse. But Griffy is one of their youngest pregnant girls ever to arrive. She wasn't alone either. At the same time Griffy moved in, another pregnant teen from her village named Filder also arrived. When Griffy and Filder were first identified in their village by Aloysius Kyazze, founding director of Christine's House, both babies were in danger of being aborted.
He knew he had to get them to Christine’s House.
Christine's House in Gulu, Uganda.
Now, Griffy and Filder are safe in a loving community environment. At Christine's House, they are learning a trade and receiving trauma counseling and medical services. Both girls have also been introduced to Jesus Christ and His healing love and hope.
Sewing
Griffy and Filder are flourishing at Christine’s House. Griffy is learning the trade of baking and hopes to become a teacher one day. And she now has her first pupil! Her daughter Patience was born on September 20, a healthy 6.3-pound bundle of beauty. As baby Patience grows, the house now patiently awaits the arrival of Filder’s little one, who is due any day now.
Baby
Without Christine’s House, both Griffy and Filder would still be in exploitative situations and their babies may not be alive today. Christine’s House is fully funded each year through YOUR support of Freedom 4/24. A donation of any amount helps to provide a bright future to these girls who have survived so much.
Gift, at the far left, celebrates with the girls at Christine's House shortly after her arrival in July.
For $116 a month, Christine’s House provides the following to the 42 girls who currently receive its services:
- Housing
- Food
- Medical care
- Trauma counseling
- Vocational training,
- Social interaction
- Faith and life skills training
Will you help to invest in the future of girls like Filder, Griffy, and babies like Patience? Begin today by giving a one-time gift or sign up to become a recurring donor.
How Giving of Time Gives Freedom
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“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
How can the simple act of volunteering bring freedom and do justice to victims and survivors of sex trafficking? Read on as our Administrative Assistant, Emily Worsham, explains the crucial connection based on her first-hand experience of transitioning from a volunteer college student to full-time freedom fighter.
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#9.MEET EMILY WORSHAM
Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator, Freedom 4/24
Emily, as our volunteer coordinator (among many other things), you are on the front lines of connecting people to the work we do to fight human trafficking. What would you like those who consider volunteering with Freedom 4/24 to know?
Volunteering with Freedom 4/24 is such a great opportunity not only to get a behind-the-scenes look at a nonprofit organization, but also to fight for the freedom and justice of victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Freedom 4/24 volunteers need to be flexible with their hours as well as the tasks they help with. You may be a graphic design volunteer, but we would love to have you at some of our events or helping with administrative tasks in the office.
You actually started as a "volunteer" of sorts when you interned in college before being offered a role on staff. How did the internship open your eyes to the work of Freedom 4/24?
I remember meeting with the former volunteer coordinator and being told that Freedom 4/24 does not work directly with victims of human trafficking. I love to “get my hands dirty” and have always desired to work on the front lines, so this initially discouraged me. However, I really needed an internship, so I figured I would give Freedom 4/24 a try. It wasn’t long before I truly fell in love with the work that this organization is doing.
I was able to see the way that ordinary people—stay at home moms, businessmen and women, even school children—could have a deep and lasting effect in the lives of trafficking survivors. These individuals gave up their time, money, and resources to fight alongside us for the cause of bringing freedom and doing justice for women and girls around the world. It was an experience I will never forget, and I am so thankful that the Lord chose me to have this experience.
Megan MacDougall (left) and Libby Bundrick volunteer at Frocks 4 Freedom.
What are our current greatest volunteer needs?
Freedom 4/24 really needs volunteers who are able to come into our office during normal business hours to help with administrative tasks. A few hours every week or every other week would be awesome. We also have needs that require specific technical knowledge such as web design and development, and graphic design. For those looking to give more than just a few hours here and there, we have needs in areas such as event administration and marketing/communications.
What characteristics do you look for in volunteers?
One of the most important characteristics I look for is a desire to work. You don’t have to be skilled (although that is a plus), but you should be willing to learn and try things that maybe aren’t as exciting as helping with a big event. I also look for individuals who are passionate about the cause and who stand behind us as an organization.
How do you believe our volunteers help to bring freedom and do justice to girls around the world who are victims or survivors of sexual exploitation?
I can say this with all certainty: Freedom 4/24 would not survive without our volunteers. When I correspond with potential volunteers, I work to be up-front and honest with them regarding the work that they will be expected to do. Things like data entry, sending emails, making phone calls, keeping the office clean and organized don’t seem like they are really making a difference in the fight for freedom. However, had it not have been for our hard-working and passionate volunteers, we would not have been able to help provide freedom for more than 347 women and children last year. Some of the smallest and most tedious tasks are the most important ones. Just because you are not on the front lines conducting raids and counseling victims does not mean that your work is unimportant.
Committed volunteer Tobey Thurston (right) slices up bananas to offer to Run 4 Their Lives Lynchburg participants.
Describe a positive volunteer experience.
Last year was a stressful year for me as I was finishing up my bachelor’s and starting a brand new job. There were many times when I wasn’t really sure what I had gotten myself into. Just when I needed her most, the Lord provided me with a passionate volunteer that I could always count on. There were many times when I would text or email her at the last minute and she almost always came through. She always has a positive attitude no matter what she is doing, and she has really encouraged me on some of my hardest days. She is one of my hardest working volunteers, even while she was working part-time and taking a full college class load. We are really going to miss her when she graduates!
How can someone become a volunteer?
To become a Freedom 4/24 volunteer, simply fill out the volunteer application to answer some basic questions about your interest and skills. After reviewing your application, I will be in touch regarding available positions.
Making a Difference at Any Age
“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
“Teaming up with Freedom 4/24 allowed us to support a local organization, learn more about this local and global epidemic, and become inspired by one young woman’s dream to make a difference.”
#8. MEET JENNY ANDERSON
Director of Global Studies; Chair of the World Language Department at Virginia Episcopal School (VES), Lynchburg, VA
This spring, Jenny and the student body at VES held a Global Symposium focused on human trafficking and supporting the work of Freedom 4/24. Watch the video below for a quick look at how Freedom 4/24 played a leading role, then read on as Jenny explains in her own words how it inspired students and faculty alike to make a difference at any age.
[embed]http://youtu.be/es3eKkli8J8[/embed]
Jenny, the student body at VES recently raised $1,000 for Freedom 4/24. How did you become connected to us?
This entire endeavor was only possible through student interest. VES Junior, Emma Smiley is passionate about the issue of human trafficking. She came to me asking if there was something we could do to bring about awareness to the VES community. I wanted to choose a local grassroots organization that has high impact and is sustainable. Freedom 4/24 was the logical choice as I had heard about its far-reaching influence, the Run 4 Their Lives events, and the fact that it was borne from a student and her compassion and drive to make a difference.
How did you lead and inspire your students to give back?
On April 11, the VES community held its first Global Symposium with the focus on Modern Day Slavery [see video above]. Our goal was to shed light on the estimated 27 million slaves in the world today and to help students become aware of the horrors of human trafficking while understanding that there are ways that they can help to alleviate it.
Students spent time throughout the week learning about the injustice that millions endure as they face forced labor, sexual exploitation, violence, and oppression. The curriculum that we put into place effectively engaged students in these difficult topics and asked them to systematically learn, then act, then reflect in very intentional ways. The content of these units explored many sensitive topics, such as prostitution, gender-based violence, child soldiers, and slavery. Although the topics weighed heavy on our hearts, we believe that it is important to expand the four walls of our classrooms, empathize, and begin to understand the difficult reality of many people all around the world, including many right here in Virginia.
How did the student body go about raising money for Freedom 4/24?
We had a t-shirt drive and a day where students could buy eggs and water balloons to aim at the administration. Needless to say, the students had a lot of fun while knowing that their money was going to a great cause.
What about Freedom 4/24 and the work to fight human trafficking resonates with you?
The work to fight human trafficking resonates with me because it is an astonishing fact that there exists in the world today more slaves than at any other point in our history. If we are even a bit appalled by our country’s association with slavery of the past, then it is impossible to ignore the immense injustice that continues today.
The work of Freedom 4/24 most resonates with me because it is 1) a local organization; 2) very little overhead; and 3) Freedom 4/24 was started by a young woman who wanted to make a difference. She is an inspiration to all of our students to know that, at any age, they can do something to help alleviate injustice.
What was the outcome of the Symposium on your students?
Our final exercise of the afternoon was to sit together and reflect upon what we learned and why we should care. It was emotional to see the number of hands go in the air, the voices that spoke up, and the students that were changed as a result. We were able to visibly see how VES students were able to learn, become aware, envision solutions, and put their voices to action in a very thoughtful and intentional manner.
It was even more powerful because this awareness campaign originated from one of our own students, again demonstrating how the power and passion of one can have a ripple effect on others. One voice can make a difference, but to encourage an entire group of youth to become aware and learn how to make a difference was even more powerful. Most importantly, in the end, my students inspired me.
The Arbor: A Healing Refuge for U.S. Trafficking Victims
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“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
Joanna Jennings
#7.MEET JOANNA JENNINGS
Executive Director at The Arbor, Charlottesville, VA
Did you know that Freedom 4/24 has a dozen domestic partnerships in the U.S.? In May of this year, our Run 4 Their Lives event teamed with one of those partners, The Arbor in Charlottesville, VA, to raise funds and awareness to fight trafficking right here in our backyard.
We recently met with Joanna Jennings, the executive director of The Arbor to talk about the life-changing, restorative work being done there. The Arbor is a newly-opened safe house for adult women who are victims of human trafficking. Joanna is passionate about providing a place for victims of human trafficking in Central Virginia. Not only is she driven to end human trafficking, she’s also driven to provide a holistic recovery process for victims. Here, in her own words, she explains the vital work being done at The Arbor.
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Joanna, tell us about how you became connected to the issue of human trafficking and how it led to the opening of The Arbor?
While I was in NYC working on a master’s degree in social work and working directly with victims of sex trafficking, I became involved with a group of Christians in Charlottesville who wanted to start a similar safe house. After moving to Charlottesville in 2012 I joined the group, which eventually became the board of The Arbor. I was hired on as the Executive Director in June 2014.
What is the mission of The Arbor?
The Arbor provides safe housing and holistic aftercare to victims of human trafficking in Virginia, so they may experience wholeness, freedom, and life. Since opening in January 2015, The Arbor has housed five residents. Capacity is seven. Women typically stay between 1.5 and 2 years.
The Arbor heads women into a direction of recovery with help from case managers, attorneys, trauma-focused counselors, and medical professionals. The women in the Arbor are required to meet with people regularly to heal from trauma and start a life for themselves. Partnerships with local businesses in the area are developing to provide internships and jobs for the women as they prepare to leave the safe house and live on their own.
How do women coming out of trafficking scenarios get connected to The Arbor?
Referrals happen a number of ways—through law enforcement, social services agencies (domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, community service boards), and through victim self identification. Legally, these women have to come to The Arbor on their own terms. They are required to go through an application and screening process for the program.
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What does aftercare looks like?
In addition to free room and board, each resident receives comprehensive case management so that she may be connected to existing resources in the community for various components of our aftercare program. This includes medical and dental needs, counseling, legal assistance, and education and job skills training.
How does The Arbor work to transition them back into the outside world?
Each resident is provided with opportunities to receive education and job skills training so that she will leave The Arbor’s program with employment. Each woman is different and forges her own different path toward healing, and we work to honor that each person’s path may look different.
What was the impact of Run 4 Their Lives for The Arbor?
This year’s race was the first race since our safe house officially opened, and the addition of more runners from the previous years also helped maximize impact in terms of awareness. The Point Church also did an amazing job hosting the race, and we’re hopeful that partnership will continue.
Give an example of life-change and healing from a woman who lives at The Arbor.
"I know I have inside me the strength to succeed. But every time I tried to make a new start, I had to live with people who were bad influences and I ended up going back to the life. But this place is so peaceful and homey and when I'm here I really feel like I could make a new life." –An Arbor safe house resident
A Baby at 14, but Gloria has Hope
“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
#6. MEET GLORIA
Last month on social media, we introduced you to 14-year-old Gloria. At the time, she was awaiting the birth of her child and finding hope and restoration at Christine's House. Recently, three advocates for Freedom 4/24 and Sports Outreach Institute traveled to Uganda to develop small business opportunities for the girls of Christine's House. There, they spent time with Gloria and her new baby. Read below as one of the advocates on the trip, Adrian Parker, gives fresh insight into Gloria's heartbreaking and remarkable journey.
"Gloria's soft strength and stillness is no indication of her story. She had her son a week ago by Cesarean section because she is only 14. The baby's father is a child rapist who abducted Gloria and assaulted her while she was walking home. He has yet to be found. He stole her childhood but she is God's child and He holds her future. Gloria and her family welcome the baby boy, nicknamed Aloysius after the respected, Godly leader there.
Gloria is determined to finish school and make a future for herself. She lives at Christine's House, a Freedom 4/24 built and supported program that rescues and restores the abused girls of Uganda. There are almost 30 of them there now, with three more added in just the last week alone. They are strong beyond belief, with bright smiles a faith that surpasses their age. I love these girls. Gloria wants to share her story and thank everyone for their support."
Gloria's fresh start at Christine's House is a result of your monthly support. Would you consider supporting Gloria and the other girls at the house with tragically similar stories by becoming a recurring giver? As little as $24/month helps feed, educate, provide restorative counseling and teach a trade to these remarkable young women. To give today, visit Freedom424.org/give.
Heading Home
Today, Tim and Mitchell's time in India comes to a close. The footage they gathered there will be presented in a video at our 2nd annual Freedom Gala on November 5. What incredible stories they have to share from many rescued women who are free today because of the work of our partner, Freedom Firm. As they prepare to head home, here are Tim's thoughts on the future of human trafficking in India:
It’s hard to believe we’re heading home today but soon, we will hop in a rickshaw and head to the airport to catch our flight home. As we leave India behind, I am encouraged. While there is certainly a lot of work to be done before child sex trafficking here is ended, progress is being made.
There are those who say things will never change but this is simply not true. I cannot say when sex trafficking of minors will no longer be a problem in India but I am certain that day will come. Why? Because of the selfless men and women at Freedom Firm who care deeply about rescuing and restoring young girls from a life of slavery in a brothel.
These dedicated men and women pour their lives into this work. They crisscross the country on long overnight train rides to remote villages to follow up with rescued girls. They work long hours for days on end to see that freedom comes to those who need it most. They sacrifice time with their families—sometimes for days and weeks at a time—to ensure that girls whose families have abandoned them are safe.
I wish I could show you each and every one of their pictures, tell you their names, and throw a parade in honor of the work they do. But in order for them to do this difficult work, their identity must remain hidden. Showing their faces and telling their stories could compromise their ability to continue bringing rescue, restoration, and justice.
If you met them though, you would quickly understand that no recognition is required. Their greatest passion and lasting reward is in the outcome—when one more day of investigation, one more night of footage, one more raid and one more prosecution means one more girl is free and on the path to restoration.
For those at Freedom Firm, and for us at Freedom 4/24, there is truly no greater reward.
Mira's Story: Sold at 2, Rescued at 14, Hopeful at 18
“For 24,” is a year-long campaign telling the story of Freedom 4/24—from the survivors, world-changers, and volunteers to fundraisers, and behind-the-sceners. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and enrich your understanding of Freedom 4/24 and the work we do together.
#5. MEET MIRA
Mira is a trafficking survivor rescued by Freedom Firm out of Ganga Jamuna, Nagpur’s red light area.
Mira’s story is horrifically tragic. As best as she can recollect, Mira was sold by her family at 2 years old. Within a few years, she was being sold for sex and up until she was rescued in 2011 at the age of 14, it was the only life she’d ever known.
Meeting Mira, you’d never have a clue about her past. She is a vibrant young woman who is thriving. Right now she’s in high school and has high hopes for her future. When she fears that her traffickers might find her and take her back to the brothels, she said she prays and finds comfort in knowing that Jesus is with her and will protect her no matter what her circumstances.
For every “Mira” there are many girls who are not rescued and who do not have hope. This is why we continue to fight and ask you to join with us. Freedom isn't free. The work of Freedom 4/24 and the partners we support is made possible through your generosity. If you would like to give today or on a recurring basis, please visit www.Freedom424.org/give.
Fixing Our Eyes on the Bigger Vision
When it comes to rescuing girls from brothels, Freedom Firm relies not just on research, good investigative work, and cooperation from local authorities but also on patience and a big dose of divine opportunity. Despite best laid plans, things often don't go as planned. Tim and Mitchell witnessed this firsthard. Here, Tim shares why the Freedom Firm team is not shaken, even when plans go out the window.
Today we had high hopes of rescuing a girl from a brothel.
Unfortunately, this was not to be.
Neither the girl in blue nor the girl in white could be found anywhere in the red light area despite the best efforts of three undercover investigators to locate them. Over lunch, a few of us talked about vision and how it guides a team through thick and thin. We’ve all seen our fair share of motivational posters with a picture of some mountain vista with the word “vision” written below it along with a quote from someone famous who lived about a century ago. That’s not the kind of vision we were discussing. Rather, our conversation focused on the kind of vision that binds people together and provides a roadmap to the future.
If I’m honest, I was deflated by the news that there would be no raid, no girl rescued today. But Freedom Firm’s staff was undaunted by this setback. Why? Because their eyes are fixed on the future the organization envisions: a country where minors are no longer sold for sex. Freedom Firm is in it for the long haul, and each staff member knows disappointment is as much a part of their work as triumph. Because they operate with this understanding of the end goal, they know setbacks cannot knock them down or cause them to take their eyes off the vision.
So, what is our vision at Freedom 4/24? Our mission is simple in statement and complex in action: To bring freedom and justice to victims and survivors of sex trafficking around the world. Today in India, I had hoped we’d do just that—bring freedom and begin the process for seeking justice for a young girl trapped in the sex trade. Instead, here I sit in a hotel typing this post. But instead of feeling defeated, I’m choosing to fix my eyes on the future.
If the news that we were not able to rescue a girl today saddens you, I urge you—do not lose hope. Instead, fix your eyes on the goal and commit to being a part of the solution.
Here are three ways you can engage in the fight to end sex trafficking:
- Speak out for freedom and raising awareness of the issues or invite a Freedom 4/24 representative to speak to your church, small group, school, or civic group.
- Give of yourself by volunteering your time, talents, or resources.
- Donate. By making a one-time gift or becoming a recurring giver, you resource organizations in the trenches fighting to bring freedom and justice to women and children around the world.
Though today was not a “win” like we had hoped, we press forward. Though these girls may not be rescued tomorrow, Freedom Firm will continue to search for them until they are found and rescued. This is why we support them through the work of Freedom 4/24. This is why we do not lose hope. This is why we keep our eyes fixed, knowing that the bigger vision is a country, and eventually a world, where people are not for sale.
How much does it cost to buy a girl in India?
“How much does it cost to buy a girl in India?”
The answer: 300 rupees. That’s $5 in U.S. currency.
If you're like us, it's likely that you've already spent $5 today. Coffee runs, drive through lunches, and 2 gallons of gas quickly add up. What if we could, at least for one day, spend that $5 better? What if that $5 could help free a girl instead of enslave her?
Freedom begins with a day. Today, we are asking for just $5 from 100 of you.
Five dollars is not much for most of us, but it has the power to make a profound difference to girls in India who are often bought at that price.
What can $5 do?
- If 8 of you gave $5: It would cover a week’s worth of aftercare supplies for rescued girls through our partner, Freedom Firm.
- If 10 gave $5: It would provide group therapy to rescued girls in the Nagpur shelter home.
- If 15 gave $5: The weekly salary of a social worker who works for Freedom Firm would be paid.
- If 19 gave $5: It would pay for a home investigation trip to determine whether it is safe for rescued girls to return home.
Give $5 and help us reach our goal by visiting Freedom424.org/Give. What will you do with $5 today?
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
The work of setting captives free is complex and unpredictable, especially when it involves raiding brothels, working with local authorities, and identifying minors trapped in sex slavery. Tim and Mitchell are witnessing this firsthand right at Freedom Firm in India. Here's a real life look from Tim into the work of investigators there, and the difficult decisions that often follow their due diligence.
July 14, 2015
Sometimes you’re presented with two choices and the answer is clear. For instance, if you’re offered cake or ice cream, that one’s easy in my mind. (Ice cream. Always ice cream.) But sometimes, life presents you with choices where a decision is much more difficult to reach or the thought of choosing one over the other leaves you sick to your stomach.
First thing this morning, we reviewed undercover footage that Freedom Firm investigators captured the night before of three possible targets in a red light area. One girl was dressed in blue, one in yellow, and another in white. The girl in blue was in one brothel while the girls in yellow and white were in another brothel two blocks away. Over the next 30 minutes, we poured over three separate videos of these girls trying to determine whether they were clearly minors. (In India, to attempt a raid on a target that is obviously a major—18 years or older—results in losing credibility with the police as majors are allow to prostitute in the red light area, even if though it is technically illegal).
After about 5 minutes, the consensus was that the girl in yellow was difficult to confidently identify as a minor, so our focus shifted to the girl in blue and the one in white. For the next 25 minutes, we debated back and forth trying to answer this one question: Which girl would we attempt to rescue—the girl in blue or the girl in white?
To answer that question, our query turned to determining which girl was youngest. One investigator was certain the girl in blue was a minor and younger than the girl in white, while a handful of us were convinced that the girl in white was a minor and clearly younger than the girl in blue. Back and forth we went, reviewing the footage over and over, looking for any clue to help us make the correct determination. After about 15 minutes I asked, “Why not rescue both girls?”
While it’s certainly possible to attempt two rescues simultaneously, conducting one successful rescue can be difficult enough and attempting two only increases the chances that neither will be successful. We would seek permission from the police to attempt one raid, then after the area had quieted down in a few weeks, Freedom Firm would work to rescue the other girl.
Finally, a show of hands was called to determine which girl was youngest. Four raised their hands for the girl in blue. Four raised their hands for the girl in white.
Deadlock. More evidence was needed.
The investigators left soon afterward to gather more footage of these two girls to better determine which was youngest, while another group went to the police station to seek permission to conduct a raid. By nightfall, the investigators had not found the girl in white and the police were wholly opposed to conducting a raid today.
In the end, our difficult choice was irrelevant, at least for now. We didn’t have to make a call on which girl to rescue, but in this line of work there are seldom quick answers or easy solutions as lives hang in the balance. Right now, all three girls are still in the red light districts. Tomorrow may bring a different scenario, a new set of choices, and a new outcome. The legwork has been done. This is where prayer and planning intersect. Please join us in praying for a successful raid in the near future and freedom for one or more of these girls as a result.
When Ideas Become Reality
No doubt, God is paving the path of Tim and Mitchell in India. Even with the delayed start for Mitchell, He has been so good to us in making up that time by providing amazing opportunities for them in the last two days. Today in particular was the realization of months of planning—planning that needed divine provision from the start. Celebrate with us as you read this update from Tim:
July 13, 2015
Pune, Maharastra, India
You know that feeling when something you have imagined becomes reality? It’s truly amazing and one of the greatest feelings a person can experience.
Today was one of those days.
For months, I’ve been envisioning and planning this trip with Mitchell, our videographer, and Freedom 4/24 staff. In particular, we’ve spent a lot of time talking about the video project we are currently shooting here in India. Developing the overall concept, pre-production storyboarding, drafting shot lists, scheduling interviews, putting your gear kit together, and hopping on a flight are all great but there’s always an amount of uncertainty knowing you can’t control all the variables—especially in a place like India. Case in point: Mitchell being deported from India upon arrival on July 9 and then making it back into the country on a new visa late on July 11.
While we still have a few more days of shooting ahead, today was incredible. All totaled, we conducted six interviews (five with Freedom Firm staff and one with Anita, an amazingly strong survivor of trafficking with an especially heartbreaking story). Additionally, we received permission to conduct two more interviews with trafficking survivors in Mumbai later this week, and to top it off, we captured undercover footage while walking through a red light district just a few hours ago.
All totaled, we shot 91 gigabytes of video today.
Tomorrow, we have a handful of interviews scheduled and we will decide where we have our best chance of a conducting a successful brothel raid/rescue operation, either here or in one of two other locations within a few hours’ drive.
Regardless of whether we stay here tomorrow or move to another location for a raid/rescue, one thing is certain: our ideas have begun taking shape. I can’t wait to launch the finished video on November 5 at this year’s Freedom Gala. We are sure you won’t want to miss it either. Tickets and sponsorships are now available at www.Freedom424.org/freedom-gala.
