Words can't do it justice

I can't possible recap the last 3 days in a single blog entry.  I've met inspiring people doing challenging, life changing work.  The social enterprises I've been able to visit and experience firsthand are making a profound impact in the lives of hundreds of women who have made it out of the sex industry, forging ahead in a new life for themselves and often their kids as well. 

I've also spent an afternoon at a day center with children of women who live and work in a red light district and then walked them home at the end of the day wondering what their fate would be in the years ahead.  I've seen poverty more pervasive than any I've ever seen before and obvious signs of wealth at the same time.  There's much more to comment on, but my flight to Kathmandu is in a little over 6 hours tomorrow morning so I'm pressed to be brief.

A few main questions sit with me.  First, how is it that so many men visit red light districts here in Calcutta and across the globe, creating the demand for all of this in the first place?  Without these men, there is no red light district, there is no industry.  What can be done to reduce this demand? I'm struck by the fact that each of these men was at one time just like the small boys who I finger painted and colored with yesterday. 

And second, what can be done to help more people realize the value of the products these survivors of trafficking are making?  These are really great products and people buy so much junk.  How can we get a product made by a survivor in every home in America?