Somaly Mam

I have to post about this amazing woman again, today, because I am feeling so empowered and inspired by her lately. I am still in the process of reading her book, The Road of Lost Innocence, which I blogged about a couple days ago. Her book is one that I will tell EVERYONE I know to read. It has opened my eyes and changed my life forever. It is definitely a book that you cannot put down and once you read it, you cannot go on living without helping support the fight against human trafficking in SOME way.

Somaly recounts every horrible detail of her life growing up in Cambodia, being sold to numerous "masters" and mistreated by each one of them. The things this woman endured are like nothing we could ever imagine. Even reading her story is like reading a movie script of something that isn't real. It is almost too hard to believe that these things actually happened to her. The only way you can continue reading the book is knowing that she escaped from the hell she was subjected to and has now dedicated her life to doing the same for others.

She came from not even knowing what a real mattress or shower was as a twenty-something young woman who had been raped by hundreds of men in her life since before the age of 10 years old, to having a beautifully written memoir published and running a powerful, world-changing organization that has rescued thousands of slaves in Cambodia. Her story is truly a miracle and one worth shouting to the world from the rooftops. She lived her life being told by everyone she encountered that she was nothing, worthless, and ugly. When in reality, she is a beautiful woman who deserves love, life, and happiness. What a powerful story and one that will change the world forever.

Please please check out her organization - The Somaly Mam Foundation - at www.somaly.org - and PLEASE read her book ASAP - The Road of Lost Innocence. I picked mine up for $15 at my local Barnes and Noble. Part of the proceeds of the book go to the support of her organization which is actively rescuing slaves (some as young as 5 years old) and reintegrating them into society to live healthy, happy lives free of bondage.