Tag Archives: Women at risk

Community Awareness: Going to WAR against human trafficking

Citizen Journalism, Volunteers, WKTV Projects, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

For many, human trafficking seems like something that takes place in a faraway land when in reality it could be happening right next door.

“There was a mother who was human trafficking her own daughter,” said Women At Risk Youth Ambassador Jenn Amo, who is the featured guest of the Community Awareness’s upcoming show on Women at Risk, International show set to air this month.

Amo tells Community Awareness host Donna Kidner-Smith that there is a lot of misconceptions about human trafficking in that those involved in the trade will target just about anyone: age, race, income and gender really don’t matter.

“In West Michigan, at any given time, about 2,400 minors are for sale,” Amo said, adding that while most of these are online, the number is appalling.

The goal of Women at Risk, International (WAR), a non-profit headquartered in Wyoming, is to provide protection around at-risk women and children. The organization hosts a number of programs designed to help those in need along with educating the public on a variety of issues such as human trafficking.

Amo visits schools and other organizations talking to students and parents about the signs of and how to prevent becoming a victim of human trafficking.

“We call it our wheel of risk because everybody, no matter who you are, faces multiple things in a lifetime,” Amo said. “Sometimes you can handle it on your own and at other times you don’t know where to turn.”

Through the Community Awareness program, Amo discusses the signs of human trafficking, safety steps people can take to avoid  or prevent it, and the importance that the entire community must stay vigilant in reporting questionable activities.

“The traffickers have always been there,” Amo said during the program. “As marijuana was legalized, people thought it would just eliminated what the traffickers do. Instead, we saw an increase in human trafficking. They basically just changed what they were trafficking.”

Amo also discusses what WAR is about, volunteer opportunities and the WAR Chest Boutiques located at 2790 44th St. SW, Wyoming, and 25 Squires St. Square NE, Rockford. These stores are the retail arm of the non-profit featuring hand-crafted items created by at-risk-women (and some at-risk-men) in WAR’s partnering programs that are in more than 40 countries including the United States.

For more about WAR, visit www.warintertnational.org. The Community Awareness program featuring Women At Risk runs Monday, March 7, at 9 p.m. , Wednesday, March 9, at 11 a.m. and Friday March 11, at 10 a.m.

For a complete WKTV lineup, visit www.wktv.org.

Local Non-profit makes a difference for Women at Risk

Local Business, Non-Profits, ,
By Jessica Rowland
Women at Risk
 The WAR Chest Boutique is a non-profit store-front operated by Women At Risk, International giving people a permanent location to shop a variety of unique gifts made by the precious rescued and at-risk women who flow through our programs in over 40 countries around the world, including the United States.
Come in and be an active participant in our mission statement of creating circles of protection around women and SHOP WITH A PURPOSE!
The store is also open upon request for PRIVATE PARTIES where you and your family/friends/co-workers can come in and learn more about the programs of Women At Risk, International and support our cause!

 

WAR Chest Boutique Wyoming
(616) 530-1234
info@warinternational.org

2790 44th St
Wyoming, MI 49519
WAR Chest Boutique Rockford
(616) 863-0100
info@warinternational.org
25 Squires St. Square NE
Rockford, MI 49341

 

Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) is a U.S.-based, non-profit organization. We currently work in over 31 countries creating havens of safety and healing for at-risk women and children. Our purpose and passion is to give voice to the silenced cries of the oppressed, wrap arms of love around them, and whisper messages of purpose and dignity into their brokenness.

 

Through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects and programs, WAR, Int’l offers these women and children an opportunity to live life with dignity. Although specifically known for our fight against human trafficking and rehabilitating work with trafficking victims, WAR, Int’l addresses 14 different risk issues facing women and children today.

 

This is what we would like to tell you about how your shopping helps us:

 

Dear Precious Fellow Soldier (really shopper):

 

Each time you buy a gift (for another or yourself) made by a rescued or at-risk woman or even a WAR, Int’l book where the sales go to helping a woman, you are a fellow soldier.  You just jumped in the trenches with me and grabbed a baby, a woman, a child who is  hiding there waiting for us to sneak with them to a safe place. 

 

I have been at this battle long enough to know that if we do not give a woman a way to make a living, she will crawl out of the trench looking for food for her  family.  If she doesn’t, her family or some trafficker will come find her, pull her out, and demand she make them a living.  Rescue is not enough.  Please hear this  clearly.  Those who rescue and do no more, do nothing.  Ninety percent of those rescued in a police raid in Cambodia and sent home without job training get resold.  Rescue is ONLY the start. 

 

So every time you buy a piece of jewelry, know  with certainty that you just made the process work!  You just helped  not only rescue but restore and empower a woman or child to survive with dignity.  It is that simple.  One safe house grew 500% when we started carrying their jewelry and product. 

 

Buying the work of their hands gives life and freedom and dignity.  They are not  asking for a handout, only that you enjoy the beautiful works of art they are making. There is dignity for you. You did not give them something for  nothing.  There is greater dignity for them.  They earned the fruit of that beautiful necklace around your neck.  This brings two women together in a very powerful,   primal way.  I have seen women stand and cry as they try on our jewelry.  It is not because the jewelry is high end, excellent quality, and low priced.  It is because of the woman who made it and what the purchase will mean in her life.

 

When you buy a WAR, Int’l product, you are truly a fellow soldier in the battle of a lifetime to set women and children free from the chains of bondage and slavery. This Christmas when you buy a gift, you just gave the gift of freedom. Imagine that you are handing back to God one of his own who is crying for dignity and worth that he created them to enjoy. 

 

We are giving the gift of life, hope, and dignity to wounded women with the promise of a future that we will walk beside them in their journey to recovery.  Thank you for being that army!  Shop with joy and purpose!