Information on International Sex Trade
Thank-you Rachel for bringing attention to this world-wide human travesty. In addition to Rachel’s post, (http://www.everysquareinch.net/2008/06/prayer-for-world-sex-trade-in.html?crossingpermalink=true people may be interested in a St. Louis Christian relief organization (International Crisis Aid) that has been trying to make a practical effort in this area. Terry and I have been involved with these folks for 4 years. ( See abridged article below concerning ICA efforts to build “safe houses” in Cambodia and Ethiopia), for pictures go to http://www.crisis-aid.org/ and then download Ethiopia newsletter for May O7)
The sex trade in Africa is especially acute. AIDS, war, and famine have created a tidal wave of orphan children. The girls/young women often have virtually no other way to survive except as victims in this worldwide sin. In addition, details are now emerging concerning the use of mass rape in the ethnic conflicts in Serbia and Eastern Africa. This op-ed piece is not for the faint of heart. What should mobilize Christians are the increasing numbers of marginalized women who are no longer wanted by their own tribes and are forever marginalized and scarred-if ever there were a group qualified for the title: “least of these,” the children sold into sexual slavery and the sexual victims of war should qualify. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/opinion/15kristof.html?scp=2&sq=rape&st=nyt)
Blessings-
David
(From the Bradleys Letter to donors) ICA Launches Outreach Programs in Ethiopia and Cambodia to Assist Victims of Sexual Abuse.
DEARFRIENDSANDFAMILY,
In 1995, I traveled to Bangkok, Thailand to investigate how I might become involved in help-
ing victims of sex trafficking and child prostitution. I met with an organization that explained the problems and corruption that were preventing any real progress at that time. They told me stories that haunt me to this day. Worst of all were the pictures they showed me. Absolute nightmares right
before my eyes. Children in cages, tied to poles and beds for the sole purpose of being raped
by adults…atrocities that you can’t even imagine. I tried several avenues to work in this area but nothing came to fruition. The timing was not right. In the middle of 2006, I started to sense that the
time to move into this area was near and I was eager to develop
a plan of action. We began to research how we could assist women, girls, and even young
boys caught in this horrific and deadly nightmare. One night, in December 2006, Dr. Dane Welch and I went walking through one of the red light districts in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We were accompanied
by an organization in Addis that had just begun working in this field. After seeing so many
young girls standing in door-ways and alleys, being forced to sell their bodies in order to
survive, we decided that we must act NOW! As a result, ICA launched outreach programs in Ethiopia
and in Cambodia to bring direct assistance to the victims of these horrible circumstances.
We plan to have homes for girls/boys ranging from 5-12 years old and from 12-21 years.
During our March 2007 trip to Ethiopia, we opened our first home for seven girls between
Extending The Front Line of Missions
MISSION: ETHIOPIA DATE: MAY2007 THE FRONT LINE REPORT
A dream comes true…
ICA offers a new way of life for young victims of sex trafficking and child prostitution.
Helen, Program Director in Ethiopia,
making beds in the new home.
The ICA safe house in Ethiopia is now home to seven young women.
the ages of 16-21. Each had been forced into a
degrading life of prostitution and never imag-
ined that life could be any different. Because of
your generosity, we have been able to design
and implement a program to give these victims a
safe place to live and a chance at a new life.
In addition to housing, the girls receive food,
clothing, a spending allowance, schooling, psy-
chological counseling, medical care, vocational
training and job placement assistance.
Program Director, Helen, does a great job
offering guidance and encouragement, and helps
the girls learn new skills to support themselves.
In fact, after discovering that all seven girls had
an interest in learning to sew, ICApurchased an
embroidery machine and 6 sewing machines.
They hope to support themselves with a small
cottage industry in dressmaking and tailoring.
Life now holds promise for these girls and for
the first time in their lives, they are excited. They
have something to look forward to…something
to work for and to call their own.
We are in the pilot phase of this project and
will make improvements as we move forward.
“…your gifts are going a long way and are
making a Big difference, Now!”
Yodit, one of our residents, proudly shows off the new
embroidery and sewing machines.
Yodit and Sue Bradley.
Five of the seven residents in our home.
P.O. Box 510167 • St. Louis, MO 63151-0167
Tel: 314-487-1400 • Fax: 314-487-1409
E-Mail: info@crisis-aid.org
www.crisis-aid.org
Tigist (left) and Yodit, two of our residents,
enjoy themselves in their new outfits at
the appreciation dinner.
Helen (left), our Program Director,
shares a happy moment with Malshe,
one of the residents in our new home.
But rest assured that your gifts are going a long
way and are making a BIG difference, NOW!
For me personally, to see the home and the
girls in it was a dream come true. We now have a
way to save these girls from continued abuse,
risk of HIV and death. More importantly, we can
make a positive impact on their lives. They will
be given a chance to have a new life…a life they
could not have dreamed possible.
We also have plans for two homes in Cambodia.
They will be in secure locations and will house
24 girlsbetween the ages of 4-12. (Yes, 4 years
old!) All the girls are victims of sexual abuse,
sex trafficking, forced child prostitution and
rape. These girls will receive the same services as
provided by our Ethiopian program.
I will never forget what one of the girls (who
is now in our home) asked the night we stopped
and talked with her during our walk through the
red light district. We explained that because God
loved her so much, she could leave this life and
start a new one. She asked us three times “could
this really be true?”Because of YOU, the
answer is “YES,” it really is true.
At the end of our medical mission in Ethiopia,
ICAhosted an appreciation dinner to thank the
U.S. and Ethiopian medical volunteers for their
services during our mission trip. Since we had
just placed the 7 young women in our new
home, we invited them to the dinner. Each girl
was given money to buy a new outfit for the
event. We had no idea how this mix of people
would get along but everyone later said that the
dinner was heartwarming and a highlight of the
entire trip.
For the first time in their lives, these young
women were treated like human beings. They
were respected and acknowledged. They enjoyed
good food, wore new clothes and experienced a
joy they never knew before.
You can see from some of the photos, that
their faces went from despair to radiance. The
love and acceptance that they received from our
group was astonishing to them. To think that
total strangers should care so much.
Dear friends, you are miles apart from these
women but you are no strangers. I pray that God
blesses you as you have so richly blessed the
people you make it possible to serve.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Pat & Sue Bradley
One of our new homes in Cambodia
which will house 24 girls.