Where Do We Go From Here?

Hi Everyone

I've arrived home safely from Kolkata and it's great to back with my family.  But I wanted to do a final blog with some final thoughts on the trip and openly process the road ahead and how we all can contribute to making change for the girls and young women that I"ve met.  Additionally, I just want to express how truly grateful I am to all that rallied around my family to make this trip possible.  To those that donated so that I could travel with TEN, made a meal for my family, took the kids for a playdate, called to check in, sent me letters and emails of prayers and support, and anyone that has decided to open their hearts and minds to the cause, I love you.  I know it's hard to understand, but this trip was a dream come true.  And it truly took a village to make it happen.  Thank you.

So after months of preparation, immunizations, fundraising, paperwork, and cultural study, my adventure to India has come to a close.  All of the energy I used to learn about human trafficking, all of the anticipation I had to travel across the world to touch this cause, has come and gone.  And while I know it will come again - yes I've already promised the girls I'll be back next January.  Which to me is no surprise to me since I got a ten year Indian visa from the start, knowing this wouldn't be a stop over, but a destination to be revisited again and again.  I'm now left asking myself where do we go from here?  There is no unseeing what I have seen.  There is no unknowing what I have learned.  So what can I do in the next year to impact change for the girls I have met.  Indeed, I did pinky swear to their sweet faces that I absolutely would not forget them.  If they only knew.  So I start by asking myself, how can I be part of the solution when it seems so great a challenge?  How can I continue to advocate for global women's rights while I stand in the midst of my own life - running a household, raising five children, endless community service, bills to pay, family to visit, dinner to be made?  Well, I've given all of this some thought and shared in many lengthy discussions on this very topic. 

In my weeks in India, I visited seven locations for survivors of human trafficking, sex slavery, high risk girls and orphans.  I have been to day shelters, night shelters, full time live in shelters, and fair trade production centers.  And I now know that there are two key elements at work in "slavery proofing" these survivors.  The first is hands down the most crucial - education.  The girls that are attending school are set up for future independence and limitless potential.  This is especially true for high risk girls still living in the red light districts.  An opportunity to attend boarding school means they physically leave the brothels and given shelter, food, and education among upper and middle class girls.  Their sense of self, their confidence, their future is developed in a nurturing, healthy, academic enviornment.  Upon completion of boarding school, college becomes a realistic option.  And ultimately, personal freedom from the great cycle of slavery, prostitution, and poverty becomes the solution. 

Currently, TEN's partner boarding school has one hundred openings for high risk girls or survivors.  For $45 per month, one of these beautiful children can have food, shelter, education, and opportunity.  It will be my personal mission to raise funds, awareness, and campaign to fill as many of the one hundred openings as possible.  Now it is so clear.  What I have studied, what I knew to be true from my own childhood, what every woman who has ever fought for personal freedom or global change knows to be true, education is the answer.  So I am reaching out to everyone to consider sponsoring a girl by visiting http://www.madebysurvivors.com/content/ten-school-sponsorhsip.  Unlike some of the larger child sponsorship programs available, TEN does not take an administrative fee or overhead costs out of your donation.  100% of your donation goes to fund the schooling of a child.  And if you cannot sponsor a girl on your own, please consider a donation in any amount to The Emancipation Network - noting sponsorship donation, by clicking here - https://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=37-1497985. 

Additionally, there are some young women who have missed the opportunity to attend school.  They were rescued during their late teens there was no funding, or simply were not ready to reintegrate in a school enviornment because of the trauma they experienced.  These young women are slavery proofed with job training - cooking, tailoring and design, jewelry making, and block printing.  Choosing to purchase fair trade, survivor made products, ensures that each young women is given a fair wage, in a healthy working enviornment.  I have visited these facilities.  I have seen the joy that comes to these women when they use their skills to create products.  When they take an opportunity to grow and learn a trade to earn an income.  These women are so empowered by the purchases we make.  We have a great responsibility as consumers.  What we buy can change the lives of others.  Please continue to support The Emancipation Network's MadeBySurvivors line at http://store.madebysurvivors.com/. 

I am currently putting together some speaking engagements, awareness events and fundraising opportunities for The Emancipation Network. I will be talking about my trip, the cause, and raising money to send as many girls to school as possible.  Please let me know if you would like to host an event in your home, want to bring awareness to your business or organization, or want to partner for a fundraiser. 

Thanks again for all of your generosity and support during my trip to India and the even greater journey ahead.

Namaste,
Janell