The Body Shop

We all know that The Body Shop sells some amazing beauty products to help us enhance our natural beauty and live healthy lives...what some don't know is that The Body Shop is also committed to the environment, and now, to human rights. We are so excited to inform you all about their new (since 2009) global campaign to help fight human trafficking!

As part of their work to support important causes around the world, The Body Shop has recently launched a global campaign to "Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People." They are working alongside ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) in a campaign that seeks to raise awareness and funds for victims and others at risk of human trafficking.

SSTCYP was launched in 2009 and has since then gathered support from more than 40 countries worldwide. Part of the campaign includes the launch of their exclusive product, "The Body Shop Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream."

Proceeds from each hand cream are donated to ECPAT and other various organizations that are actively working to support victims and prevent future trafficking cases. It is estimated that sales of SHKH Hand Cream equal ONE EVERY 30 SECONDS. That means more than a staggering 1.5 Million dollars have been raised for anti-trafficking charity. MAJOR PROPS to The Body Shop for this amazing campaign.

How you can be involved :

1. Tell everyone you know about the SSTCYP campaign to help spread the word about the tragedy that is sex-trafficking and what we can do to help STOP it.

2. Buy a bottle of SHKH hand cream! Online or in stores!

3. Send tips of suspected trafficking reports to protect@ecpat.net

4. Visit The Body Shop's campaign webpage to read more details about the campaign and to sign their petition which is being brought to the UN in 2011 to encourage officials to implement stricter trafficking policies and legislation.

Hope Jewelry

I am SO SO excited about a website that I found today!!

Read on, bloggers!! :)

HOPE JEWELRY is an Arizona based company that sells jewelry made by sex-trafficking survivors around the world. Not only do they raise money and support for organizations in East Asia who are working to bring freedom to women and girls, but they also help spread the word through home gatherings to bring education and awareness to women all over the world that sexual slavery has a global impact and needs to end.

By shopping at Hope Jewelry, you will automatically be supporting the fight against sexual slavery. You will be doing your part to help empower victims around the world to use their God-given gifts as a way out of their bondage. Each item for sale is handmade by a survivor of sex-trafficking. They are each beautiful, unique, and hopeful. Here are a few of my favorites :

Embroidered Headbands made by survivors in India - Only $12 each!

Magazine Bracelets - made of recycled, rolled, shellacked, magazine pages by families in Uganda. Only $10 each!!

Multi-Colored Stone Bracelet made by survivors in Thailand. Only $27

Nepali-Ice Necklace handcrafted by survivors in Nepal. Wear long or loop once or twice for a layered look! Only $30.

French Market Bag - A mini-tote bag made by survivors in Shelano, India - only $22.

And many, many more GORGEOUS items on their website.

"Hope Jewelry isn't an accessory. It's a labor of love made by a woman who has been given an amazing gift...hope."

Check out all their beautiful items for sale, here, and join in the fight to end human sales! Buy JEWELRY to stop the buying of PEOPLE.

Akun

"Akun" in Cambodian means, "Thank You."

I already talked about this in a previous post, but I want to revisit it because I am still LOVING my Akun bracelet from the Somaly Mam Store.

Each bracelet is handmade by a sex-trafficking survivor and signifies their freedom and rehabilitation at the Tomdy Center in Phnom Penh. They only cost $15! Each bracelet is unique and a different color so you don't know what you're going to get until you open up your package! I received a beautiful, bright purple one and I absolutely love it. It inspires me to continue acting out against trafficking each time I wear it.

I encourage you to BUY ONE today!!! You won't regret it and your $15 will go a long way to help those in need.

Largest Human Trafficking Case in US History

6 individuals were busted for trafficking 400 Thai laborers into the US over the past 6 years and forcing them to work in various states across the country. In addition to the help of a Thai recruiting company, the scheme was led by Global Horizons Inc. The defendants face 10-70 years in prison.

Kudos to the FBI and the Department of Justice for taking this operation down. We hope for continued success in putting an end to trafficking operations across the US.

Read about the largest human trafficking case in US history here.

International Justice Mission

"International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems."

IJM has been fighting for justice around the world since 1997. Learn how to get more involved by visiting their website.

How you can be involved :

Fundraising- host an event such as a benefit race, concert, etc, to raise support and money for IJM.

Documentary Screening - host a documentary screening in your home/school/church of IJM's

At the End of Slavery documentary.

Prayer - Sign up to become a prayer partner for IJM

Volunteer - Volunteer to serve on one of the many projects at IJM's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Buy Stuff! - Shop at IJM's online store to buy t-shirts, books, DVDs, and more in order to benefit the great work they are doing around the world. You can also donate to them through their online store!

Update!

I apologize for the lack of posts recently - we are getting SO close to our benefit concert, FREEDOM FEST, and have been super busy finishing up the plans for it.

FREEDOM FEST 2010 will take place on August 29th, 2010

at Delaware County Christian School

in Newtown Square, PA

from 4pm-9pm

100% of the concert's proceeds will be directly donated to Free the Slaves

The concert will feature local musicians, actors, dancers, artists, and our special guest speaker, Lee McClure, from Free the Slaves! T-Shirts, bracelets, and other general merchandise will be available for purchase, as well as hoagies, chips, sodas/water, and baked goods! All of this for a small, $3.00 admission charge.

If you want to join in the fight against human trafficking, please come out and support this event! We hope to see ALL of you there!!! Bring friends and tell everyone you know about this! Look for our event page on Facebook for more information and to invite your friends!

Covenant House

Today's post is dedicated to the Covenant House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for their awesome work fighting poverty, violence, and human rights violations to youth in the city.

Covenant House is a shelter home that provides services to homeless, at-risk youth. It is the largest private child welfare agency in its area (the Delaware Valley.) Their services include street outreach, education, job placement, legal services, and fighting human trafficking.

The street outreach team at the Covenant House is part of the Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition. The team conducts training in various communities around the Philadelphia area, as well as working to identify places of trafficking in order to have them shut down.

Over 50 young people seek shelter at the Covenant House each and every night. Their stories are all different, yet the same. They are all searching for someone to show them that they care - to show them unconditional love and support no matter what. That is just what the Covenant House is set out to do.

Their work could not be possible without the financial support of individuals like you and me. If you are interested in more personal ways of donating, the house is always in need of in-kind donations in order to better serve the youth seeking shelter each night. Most importantly, keep the Covenant House and the youth in your thoughts and prayers!