Blog Tour: Rescuing Hope {Taking Action}

Update: Since writing this post, I've discovered a website called Slavery Footprint that lets everyday people take up the fight against modern-day slavery.  Check it out today!

Yesterday, I posted a review on a little book called Rescuing Hope by Susan Norris.  While all of the below information can be found on her website and in the back of that book, I felt like I should share some organizations you can join with to fight human trafficking.  I am trusting Susan Norris here and cannot personally vouch for all the links.  This is a sensitive and gritty subject, so browse with caution.

I highly recommend that anyone interested in educating themselves on or taking action against human trafficking start by reading Susan's book, Rescuing Hope.

• Wellspring Living’s "mission is to confront the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through awareness, training, and treatment programs for women and girls. Wellspring Living’s vision is to serve locally, influence globally."
• Out of Darkness runs "a 24/7 hotline with volunteers trained to answer rescue calls.  Those volunteers will then activate responders who are trained to make contact with and offer rescue to trafficking victims.  Victims will be offered a safe place to stay until they can transition to appropriate restorative services."
• Resolution Hope has a vision "to stop domestic minor sex trafficking and exploitation in the United States; to educate, inspire and call to action those who are willing to stand with us to bring this human rights violation to an end."
• "Not For Sale fights human trafficking and modern-day slavery around the world. Through international work on the ground and in mainstream supply chains, we proactively target the root causes of slavery while engaging and equipping the movement for freedom."
• A Future. Not A Past. is "spearheaded by the nonprofit youthSpark (formerly known as the Juvenile Justice Fund)"  It "is a campaign to stop the prostitution of children" and "is addressing the issue through our four-tiered strategy of research, prevention, intervention and education."
• "Street GRACE mobilizes community resources – financial, human and material – to help individuals and organizations effectively fighting CSEC through advocacy, prevention and restoration. It is the goal of Street GRACE to create a powerful movement that unites Christian churches with a wide array of public, private and non-profit entities in order to bring about the end of commercial sexual exploitation of children."
• "Polaris Project is one of the leading organizations in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery.  Named after the North Star 'Polaris' that guided slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris Project is transforming the way that individuals and communities respond to human trafficking, in the U.S. and globally."
• "NightLight is an international organization committed to addressing the complex issues of commercial sexual exploitation through prevention, intervention, restoration, and education.  NightLight’s mission is to do 'whatever it takes' to effect change within the global sex industry.  Our local offices in Atlanta, Bangkok, Branson, and Los Angeles build relationships with victims of commercial sexual exploitation and those who are at-risk and provide hope, intervention, rescue, and assistance by offering alternative vocational opportunities, life-skills training, and physical, emotional, and spiritual development to those seeking freedom."
• "The A21 Campaign stands for Abolishing Injustice in the 21^st Century.  When confronted with the horrific statistics surrounding human trafficking, it is easy to agree on the fact that 'someone should do something.'  The A21 Campaign was born when the decision was made to raise our hand and be that 'someone.'  It was a decision of ordinary people who decided to take responsibility regarding the issue of human trafficking. Our website is full of resources that will equip you to raise your hand and become that 'someone' willing to do 'something' to help abolish injustice in the 21st Century."

To Susan's list, I'd like to add one group I heard of through Do Hard Things.  They're not your normal organization; in fact, they're a campaign of school-age kids and teenagers.  On their website, they explain that "Loose Change to Loosen Chains is a campaign led by school kids from kindergarten through high school to rescue victims of modern day slavery. The campaign was launched by a seventh grade student from Christian Fellowship School in Ashburn, Virginia who believes one person can make a difference. Inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, William Wilberforce, Mother Teresa, Gary Haugen and others who have fought for equality and justice, Zach Hunter wanted to do something about the problem of oppression and slavery today."