Nov
20
2012
Much to Be Thankful For
Melissa Books & Resources, Empower Women, Partner Organization News, Trafficking News & Information 0
There’s lots to be thankful for this time of year. From food to family to finances, most of us have quite a few things going for us. But just like looking past myself in hard times helps me broaden my perspective, being thankful for things beyond my own life enriches this thankful time of year. So here are a few organizations and people doing good around the world that I am very thankful for. They are changing lives in ways that I never could even imagine. They’re empowering women and fighting human trafficking in very real, very powerful ways. IJMRead more
Aug
02
2012
Voices from Haiti
Melissa Partner Organization News 0
By all accounts, life can be quite bleak for kids in Haiti. Human trafficking is rampant, and according to Restavek Freedom Foundation 1 in 15 kids is a domestic human trafficking victim. The Trafficking in Persons Report introduces the problem this way: Haiti is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Many of Haiti’s trafficking cases are the estimated 150,000-500,000 restaveks – the term for children in forced domestic service. The majority of children that become restaveks do so when recruiters arrange for them to live with families inRead more
Jan
26
2012
Meet the STF Volunteers: Jennifer Bast
Stop Traffick Fashion thrives because of the wonderful people who help run our events, tally and tag our inventory, design our print and online materials, photograph our merchandise, spread the word about trafficking, host home parties, and more. They’re an integral part of empowering women and ending human trafficking. Seriously—they’re great people. And we want you to meet them! Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m a dreamer, an introvert, a singer-songwriter/worship leader, and an amateur artist. I love adventure and welcome change. I am always planning and eagerly anticipating my next road trip. I’m 33 years old and haveRead more
Jan
12
2012
Building a Happy, Healthy Haiti
Melissa Partner Organization News 0
Today marks the 2-year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti. The Restavek Freedom Foundation has been working since well before that time to put an end to a system of slavery in the country: restavek. A restavek is a child who is usually from a rural area and is sent to live with a family in the city. They go in hopes of a better life and a chance at an education. Instead they become victims of human trafficking, trapped as servants in strangers’ homes. They work from before dawn til late at night doing whatever is askedRead more