Guest Blogger: Amy T.
Over the last year Amy has traveled to India twice with Faceless International to learn about and work in areas that are greatly affected by Human Trafficking. This time around, she had the opportunity to spend just over five weeks working in shelters that rescue trafficking victims and help the children living in the red light district of Kolkata, India.
We will be working with Amy in the future to develop a scholarship fund for the same children wanted to help you give you some insight to our newest project.
Trafficking is essentially modern day slavery, and currently there are 27 million people in slavery. Of that, 50% are children, 80% are women and girls and 70% of the females trafficked are in the sex industry. Trafficking isn’t just an Asian, African or European ordeal, it is happening on American soil as well; 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. So many products we consume could have been touched by slavery; our coffee, our chocolate, our clothes, the cars we drive, etc. Trafficking has become a $32 billion dollar a year industry.
In Kolkata, I worked at a shelter as a therapist (I’m in my last year of grad school to be an Art Therapist) to the children of the red light district. The average of a sex worker is 9 years old. Driving through the streets, I saw a lot of the women and girls out waiting for men. A lot of the girls I could be the mother of and I’m barely 27 years old. We got caught in a traffic jam (all so common in the streets of Kolkata. I don’t know if it was by construction vehicle or cows) and my taxi was rushed by women with sarees wrapped around them like towels. One of them handed her baby inside the taxi for me to take home with me. I wish I could have but I struggle to take care of myself, and I’m sure that would be bothersome to get through customs.
The kids there were so happy and excited to see me, and we’ve only met one other time. They are such beautiful children and had so much joy.
I will never forget the time spent with those kids in Khidderpore. They were so much fun. Those few hours were filled with laughter and smiling and story telling (a lot of which I couldn’t understand). Looking back, it’s just what I needed. Coming home, I have the opportunity to do something about these kids that spend their childhoods, their lives in the brothels. Literally sleeping in the room next to their mothers/sisters/aunts/cousins “working”.
God is slowly showing what He has planned to do and how He’s going to use me to carry out this plan. It’s incredibly exciting and I cannot wait to get back to those kids at Khidderpore and believe me when I say that I will be back.
I’m so privileged to be apart of a community that supports me and wants me to succeed. The kids at Khidderpore and in other red light districts across the world need to have that too.
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samara.marie
08.10.09
i’m so proud of you beautiful lady. i can’t wait to go back with you!
Ken Whiting
08.10.09
the work done at the feet of a king for his glory will shine forever and ever, Amen!
Abby
08.11.09
amy, you’re awesome! thank you so much for your heart to serve . . . and thanks for getting this project off the ground- what an impact!