Team India 2010

These reports are the blog post of the volunteers and TEN members, some in the US and others traveling and working with us abroad. Please

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Thanks Rosie and the team at Rosie Radio!

Submitted by Sarah Symons on Mon, 07/26/2010 - 13:57

Rosie O'Donnell and Sarah Symons discuss Human Trafficking I was on Rosie Radio with Rosie O'Donnell, and not only did I have a great time, but wow - Rosie's listeners really came through and supported Made By Survivors! After the show we have our best sales ever, we had 12 new children sponsored for school, scores of party sign ups and a huge jump in our facebook and mailing lists. So a big thanks to Rosie, her senior producer Deirdre and the entire crew. If you missed the show - we put the interview to pictures and you can hear/watch it here:

Sarah Symons talks Human Trafficking on Rosie O'Donnell from john berger on Vimeo.

Love and Freedom

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Mon, 08/16/2010 - 19:09

About one month ago, I crept downstairs from my bed around 1:00am. I was tossing and turning, consumed by an on-going discussion that my husband Adam and I had been having. The Freedom Festival 2010 was on our minds. We are founders and co-chairs of this event that benefits The Emancipation Network. And almost every e-mail and text we sent each other, almost every after dinner clean-up conversation, and almost every late night chat involved the Freedom Festival. As the weeks crept closer to our mid-August event date, we were ironing out and coordinati

Back in Action...

Submitted by Paul on Thu, 08/05/2010 - 15:32

It's been a full week since I've been back in India and it's been a whirlwind of emotions and memories. I've seen familiar faces that I've missed dearly and it feels good to be back in the company of such amazing people. On my first day back at the jewelry program the girls threw me a surprise welcome back party with balloons, confetti, streamers and candy! I was also treated to several performances of dance and song and was eventually pulled into the fun and danced along with them. It was one of the best days of my entire life and one I will remember and think about often for as long as I live. It made me realize how much of an impact someone can have on another persons life, even in a small amount of time. They have become a second family for me and it's a relationship I will cherish forever.

Freedom Festival 2010

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 19:55

So I'll gladly take this opportunity as a chance to proudly promote a very special upcoming event. Saturday, August 14th will be the 2nd annual Freedom Festival to benefit The Emancipation Network. If you are anywhere in the area stop by Heritage Museums and Gardens, at 62 Grove Street in Sandwich, Massachusetts. We have a full lineup of artists planned to start at 3:00 and end at 10:30. Tickets are $25 and children under fourteen are free! All proceeds will go to TEN in an effort to reach more survivors, more women and children at risk of trafficking, and assi

Salute to Becky Bavinger!

Submitted by Paul on Thu, 07/15/2010 - 22:48

This week Becky Bavinger, Co-Founder of Destiny/Reflections and TEN's representative in India is coming back to the United States after 3 years of living and working in India. Becky has done an amazing job of positively impacting the lives of hundreds of people that she has come in contact with over the years and her impact will be felt for a very long time to come. Words can not express how invaluable and successful Becky has been and we at TEN/Made By Survivors consider ourselves lucky to have had her partnership. This weekend, as Becky takes the next step in her journey at NYU this fall, we want to take some time to honor her and the work she has done.

Inspiration

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Thu, 07/15/2010 - 01:50

After a laptop crash, repair and ultimately a replacement, I'm back in action as a regular blogger for TEN. Please forgive my absence. And know for certain that the “India girls” (as my children call them), the cause, the inspiration were always on my mind, even when I couldn't get the words to you. It's good to be back.

Warrior Divas - Fighting Slavery with Martial Arts

Submitted by Sarah Symons on Tue, 05/25/2010 - 16:33

There are so many ways that people can use their unique gifts and experiences to fight slavery! I am continually inspired by the creativity and diverse approaches that volunteers are bringing to this cause. One of the latest and coolest efforts - Warrior Divas: The Emancipation Network Project - is dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking through martial arts.

Personal Message to REDBOOK Readers

Submitted by Sarah Symons on Mon, 05/24/2010 - 16:44

Thanks for taking the step of coming to our website after reading about me in REDBOOK Magazine. I am truly honored to have been chosen as a REDBOOK hero! I am a REDBOOK reader too, because I love how the magazine focuses not just on how women look but on the beauty that is inside each one of us. Our survivors also possess deep inner beauty and courage, far greater than the damage and evil that has been done to them. They are the true heroes of our organization, and I thank you for caring enough to want to help them.

The quickest way you can help is to buy a survivor-made product, and spread the word every time you wear it. You can also make a donation to help support our many programs - the Destiny center in Calcutta, our new jewelry program, the Freedom School for former quarry slaves, jobs and education programs for survivors in Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Uganda and New York, clean water, aftercare and rescue. Believe me, we stretch every dollar, re-use every box, and keep overhead costs in the US to an absolute minimum so that every donation can go where it is needed most - to help people get free from slavery and remain slavery-free through empowerment and education.

Celebrating a Hero in the Movement to End Human Trafficking: Maiti Nepal founder Anuradha Koirala

Submitted by Sarah Symons on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 15:09

“First you have to take them into your heart as your own child. Then the strength comes out of you to protect them” Anuradha Koirala.

Anuradha Koirala, founder of Maiti Nepal (one of TENS partner shelters) has been nominated for a CNN Heroes Award, which she richly deserves to win – Anuradha is a true hero for our times. I first met Anuradha in 2004, when I visited her Kathmandu shelter along with Joe Collins and Brigitte Cazalis Collins of Friends of Maiti Nepal, the US arm of Maiti Nepal, with whom I volunteered for a year when I first became involved in anti-trafficking work. This amazing trip changed my life forever. In fact, it was Anuradha who planted the seed for the creation of The Emancipation Network, when I asked her what kind of help she needed most at that moment.

The World is Yours To Change

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 00:12

This week I was invited to speak at a local private school about modern day slavery. They have been studying Indian philosophy and religion in their Humanities program for seventh graders. The teacher, so very wise and open minded, thought that I should do a presentation on my trip, discussing the social issues I had encountered while volunteering with The Emancipation Network. Considering India and Africa host most of the world's 27 million slaves, I thought this to be a wonderful opportunity.

Team India 2010

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