| Yesterday I told you about this week’s charitable mission to give a little bit of money away each day to a nonprofit that could really use the help. A little goes a long way and I may not have a lot to give but you all can help. Comment on this post with your ideas for other charities to support so that other readers can get ideas. The top five suggestions will go up in a poll Friday for you all to pick who the last $25 goes to. Plus every comment to each day’s post earns the organization another 25 cents in donation (up to a max of $40 for each day’s post – can’t afford more than that guys).
So without further adieu, here is today’s featured organization:
For her birthday, the lovely Ms. Morgan Siler (a/k/a Modern Single Momma) asked people to donate in her honor to Transitions Global, a Portland charity that assists survivors of sex trafficking in the U.S. and Cambodia. Since Morgan has already done an AWESOME job raising for them, I am sharing their info with you but choosing the organization of a commenter to her birthday event post, Born2Fly.
1.2 million
Number of children trafficked each year for sex around the world. (UNICEF)11
Average age of sex workers around the world. Some are as young as 5 years old. (CIA)100,000
Number of children and young women who are trafficked in America today. They range in age from 9 to 19, with the average age being 11. (FBI/ABC News)200,000
Number of U.S. children at risk for commercial sexual exploitation. (US Department of Justice)30
Number of years that U.S. citizens can spend in prison if they’re convicted of traveling to another country and engage in child sexual tourism. (US State Department)$9.5 billion
Amount of money generated annually by human trafficking. (FBI)3rd
Ranking of human trafficking among all income-generating syndicates (drugs and guns hold the top spots). (Stop the Traffic)We can change these statistics.
The B2F Project
Most kids are lured into sex slavery because they don’t know the deceptive tactics of traffickers. Wherever awareness training takes place, the rate of trafficking plummets. There’s just not enough, nor is it available in the languages of most at-risk kids.The Born to Fly Project is a strategic 4-stage plan to educate kids, parents, and teachers about the dangers of child trafficking—with the ultimate goal of ending it.
Stage 1: Write a children’s book called Born to Fly, an allegory about the world of child trafficking that teaches kids to make wise choices as they pursue their dreams.
Stage 2: Develop a wordless book based on the Born to Fly storyline and distribute it to kids worldwide. Why wordless? So we don’t have to translate it into hundreds of languages—saving thousands of hours and dollars.
Stage 3: Produce a companion curriculum to teach children the important concepts found in the wordless book, and distribute it to schools, community centers, and NGOs worldwide.
Stage 4: Create multimedia awareness materials including posters, fliers, DVDs, web-based games, etc. to supplement and expand on the B2F message.
“Given all the power and resources that God has placed in the hands of humankind, I have yet to see any injustice of humankind that could not also be stopped by humankind. I find myself sympathizing with a God who, speaking through the ancient prophet, told his people, ‘You have wearied the Lord with your words…by saying,…”Where is the God of justice?”‘ (Malachi 2:17 NIV)…The more I have come to know him, the harder it has become for me to ask such a God to explain where he has been. In fact, surprisingly, I don’t generally hear the victims of abuse doubting the presence of God either. Much more often I hear them asking me, ‘Where have you been?’”
—Gary Haughen, president, International Justice Mission, from Terrify No More“Imagine what a dent we could make in the trafficking pipeline if we could educate girls and their parents before the traffickers show up at their doorstep. That’s the goal of the Born to Fly child-trafficking awareness project: to produce materials that educate at-risk kids and their families. Traffickers willingly pay $300 to buy a little girl. It costs much less to tell her (and her parents) that she’s not for sale.”
—Diana Scimone, founder and director, Born to Fly International“When you choose to look past the horizon, the sky is the limit.”
—AnonymousBorn to Fly International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations in the U.S. are tax deductible. We value your financial partnership and work diligently to make sure your donations are invested wisely.
Born to Fly International is also supported by sales of Adventures With PawPaw children’s books.
How much is a little girl worth? To a child trafficker—about $300. That’s what he’ll pay to buy her, knowing he’ll recoup his money and more (if she doesn’t die of AIDS first).
“I’ve seen the horror that awaits girls who are trafficked. Cages that hold them til they no longer have a will to resist. Brothels where they’re sold—sometimes to 20 customers a night. Many of these girls are just 5 years old.
“If you, like me, find that nauseating, let me tell you there is something we can do about it.
“We have the potential to educate millions of girls, their parents, and teachers about the dangers of trafficking through the Born to Fly Project, which creates awareness about child trafficking with the ultimate goal of ending it.
“Will you partner with us to complete the task?”
—Diana Scimone, founder and director of Born to Fly International
Thank you for choosing to support Born to Fly and using your site to bring sight of this very real crisis to blind eyes.
JubileeJean
This organization touches God’s heart profoundly. Hopefully it will touch the lives of many “at risk” children all over the world.
Great dialogue of posts — I’ve just submitted some funds via the CHIP IN widget — please do the same if you’re reading this and keep up the good work!
TJ
This is wonderful. I can’t think of a better cause. B2F (Born to Fly) is a wonderful ministry.
This is super awesome. Thanks for educating me.
pseudostoops’s last blog post..Giving My Money Away, Part 4: College Summit
Thanks again to everyone again for participating and raising funds for this worthy cause. Just to address Kate’s point quickly about the “awkwardness” of the Babeland advertisement in my sidebar. The advertisement is for a woman-owned business that encourages women (and men) to explore their sexuality in a healthy way. Born2Fly is fighting the sick bastards who abuse children and take advantage of their innocence. As a survivor of childhood molestation and of sexual assault, I think it is important for women to appreciate their bodies and to embrace and own their sexuality (and so do many rape crisis counselors). Sex toys are one way to find out what you like or take care of your needs in a healthy manner without allowing men to take advantage of you or abuse you. Here is an article on Darryl Hannah’s efforts to combat child sex trafficking worldwide. As you think about these poor young girls (and boys) and the pain, shame and degradation they suffer, imagine a world where they can enjoy the God-given right to feel their body’s natural pleasure-giving abilities without others making them feel awkward or ashamed or uncomfortable about something that should be beautiful and natural and is spoiled only by sick people like those who abused these innocent children.
This donation-per-comment is a great idea, and for a fabulous cause. I must say I find it somewhat awkward that one of the ads on the right of this post is for sex toys.
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Born2Fly is a great organization – the cause is more than worthwhile. Bless you for taking this on!
Thanks for giving and for publishing this …
your blog is an awesome idea!
Think there was a problem with my earlier post.
Last night our city council(Rohnert Park, SF Bay Area) unanimously proclaimed Jan. 11 as Human Trafficking Day! It’s only one day, but it’s a start and much attention will be placed upon educating the community.
Very much in keeping w/what you are doing.
Thank you for your efforts!
Happy Holidays,
Karen
http://www.kpgpublicrelations.blogspot.com
http://www.folkheartpress.blogspot.com
Great choice, and great cause! I’ll help spread the word.
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Great timing!
Our City Council last night proclaimed Jan. 11 as Human Trafficking Day here in Rohnert Park (SF Bay Area).
There is much, much, much to do and I’m grateful for what you are doing.
Best,
Karen
Dear PT-LawMom,
How wonderful that you are using your resources for the greater good, here and abroad. And thank you for bringing our attention to issues such as child trafficking and organizations doing something about it, such as Born to Fly.
PTLawmom,
What a great idea! Thank you so much for supporting Born2Fly–I’ve gotten to know Diana Scimone better over the past few months and I don’t think you could have picked a better charity, or person! I’ll definitely link to you and this page on my blog, which looks at issues of child sex trafficking (www.seasonoflight.blogspot.com). Thank you again!
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Fantastic!
I am always so encouraged to see my donations at work. When I contribute to http://www.born2fly.org I know that the funds are used well. Diana is diligent to give us all updates regarding the work and any special projects.
good choice!
Child trafficking is a tragedy in our nation (and globally). Thank you for supporting Born2Fly to stop trafficking!
This is an incredible ministry and a wonderful cause. I know that I’m not destined to be a missionary, but believe that I am destined to be a supporter of important, life-saving charities — and this one is definitely one of them!
Child trafficking is such a horrible crime! Diana has worked so hard to bless and educate children and parents to stop this. Thank you, Diana, and thank you PTLawmom for posting this so others can learn of this worthy charity.
This is a great well run organization. Putting an end to child trafficking is a big job, so I’m happy to have even a small part in it.
Great causes!!! I am 100% behind you.
It never ceases to amaze me how the world allows child sex tourism. How sad.
What a great thing both of you are doing.
Multiply the efforts and finances.
PTL for ppl with vision and the perseverance. One person can make a huge difference in the world. Go, go, go. Open doors!
Although the statistics on child trafficking are alarming and grim, I found it enlightening to read about how the worthy organization, Born to Fly, plans to use their creativity as a wonderful outreach. Wordless books to break down the language barriers is such a wonderful, intuitive way of empowering young people and teaching them about their self-worth. Thank you for making us more aware of such an important cause.
This is so sad…
Born2Fly shares a powerful message! After learning so much through this website about child trafficking, I gladly encourage others to also check out this blog. We really can make a difference in this heart wrenching crisis.
This organization is so wonderful and so is its founder. Thank you for deeming this your charity for today. It is truly a deserving one. So many children will be helped!
This is a great idea. I just got some very good news today and the clinic I worked at during law school dealt with some trafficking victims, so I’ll make a small donation of my own too.
five tomatoes’s last blog post..when it rains, it pours…
Definitely, Ana. Comment every day this week! And I love your idea. I tried that (see Babeland and Amazon links) but only two people bit… so I got about $2.99.
Ha! So I’m trying to give and see if I get. You know what they say…
I have more to say about that thing I e-mailed earlier if you want to get in touch. Just at work working on my paper.
If I missed yesterday, can I go comment now, or is it just on the day that the charity appears? I should probably be doing something like this on my blog – except that I have a feeling that every day I’d post the charity as myself. Monday people could comment to increase my wine fund; Tuesday: ice cream, Wednesday: shoes…That would be fun.
Ana’s last blog post..Talk Amongst Yourselves….
PTLawmom,
I am so honored you’ve chosen Born2Fly for your charity giveaway today! Thank you so much for doing this and for posting our ChipIn widget on your site. We’re really grateful!
Diana Scimone
President
Born to Fly International, Inc.
http://www.born2fly.org
http://www.dianascimone.com (blog)
Twitter: @DianaScimone
PS: You don’t have to give a per-comment donation based on this comment.
Morgan raised some excellent awareness on this cause. I have my own causes that I support (lovin’ the soldiers and all) but I don’t want to take away from this one. Its so sad…
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