Stopping Traffick.

Letter-Writing Campaign to an Innocent Man- Update on Joseph's Story.

2011-12-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

Over 4,000 letters have poured in to the International Justice Mission headquarter office addressed to one of our clients in Kenya, Joseph. Joseph has been held in prison on false accusations since 2010. He is a small shop owner, husband and father of five. His family has struggled without his support.

These letters from IJM constituents and supporters will be read to Joseph in prison today. What an amazing blessing and encouragement for this man. Thank you to everyone who has been praying and wrote to Joseph.

I Know It’s Not Even Thanksgiving Yet…

2011-11-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

But it’s almost time to start thinking about Christmas gifts! Have you been feeling pressure to buy the “perfect” gift for family and loved ones, but you are out of creative ideas? This year you could switch-it-up and buy gifts from the IJM catalog. Take a look at this holiday catalog the marketing a communications team has been working tirelessly to compose. It is amazing the value of your dollar in other countries and surprising what money can buy. For example, for $30 you could free an entire family from slavery in India…$30! For $45 you could fund a whole day of undercover brothel investigative work.

I know the joy of giving a gift is watching the recipient open the packaging and seeing the expression on their face. Wouldn’t that be guaranteed when you give a gift like the two I mentioned above? What better way to remember the true meaning of this holiday season than to show a loved one how much you care for them and for the 15 million children living in slavery in India.

You literally have the power to give the gift of freedom.

Want to Hear a Story that Will Brighten Your Day?

2011-11-11T09:27:00.000-08:00

International Justice Mission received a letter from a young boy that was saving up money for a red bicycle. The letter read along the lines of,

"I have been saving up this $76 for a new red bicycle. Then I heard about other kids like me who live in slavery and that IJM can get them out. Here is the $76 I have been saving. Please get them out. I can buy a bike later.”

Generosity in its purest form. J

2011-11-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

It’s been a while since my last blog post so I have so catching up to do. I am in my final month with IJM and am just starting to feel settled in the work and with my colleagues. This is a major downside to internships. Just as I am starting to become better acquainted with my work responsibilities and surroundings, it is time to leave! I have had a fantastic fall in Washington, D.C. with International Justice Mission and feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to work with this organization.

I have been working on research projects pertaining to human rights issues and global poverty, working with the media relations team on upcoming documentaries and completing various tasks each intern is required to accomplish. Yesterday, we had our last “all-intern” assignment which was a presentation about a general overview of the work of IJM intertwined with our personal story. The presentation went well and I am looking forward to sharing it with whoever would like to hear it when I return to Seattle!

My parents had the opportunity to come out and visit two weeks ago. We spent time seeing all of the major sites of DC- many of which I had not seen. If you are planning a trip to DC at any point in the near future you MUST go to the Holocaust Museum, the Supreme Court to watch an oral argument, the Museum of Natural History, tour the Capitol building and visit Mt. Vernon. There are numerous museums, monuments and buildings you could visit, but I would definitely put these sites high on the top of my list.

I wanted to share an inspiring story with you about a project the Gates Foundation and International Justice Mission worked on together. It’s called Project Lantern and the story goes like this:

In 2006, IJM submitted a funding proposal to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a "lot of money". The contents of the proposal included a guarantee to decrease the number of minors available for commercial sexual exploitation in Cebu, Philippines by 20% in five years. Well, five years later the results are in and they are astounding. With the presence of IJM investigators working in collaboration with the local law enforcement, the number of minors available has been reduced by 79%. More than 220 trafficking victims have been rescued and 100 perpetrators charged with the crime.

This is one of my favorite stories about the casework at IJM. It is also proof that the organization is making a drastic impact on the world of violent oppression and changing the industry forever. God is good!

"Prostitution, Trafficking, and Cultural Amnesia"

2011-10-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

"Similarly, if people do not see exactly the stereotype of what they think

“harmful” prostitution/trafficking is, for example, if they do not see a girl being dragged at gunpoint from one location to another, or if they see an eighteen year old who says, “I like this job and I’m getting rich,” then they do not see the harm. Prostitution tourists and local johns see smiling girls waving at them from windows in Amsterdam, brothels in Mumbai, or strip clubs in Las Vegas. Johns and their friends decide that prostitution is a free choice."

-Prostitution, Trafficking, and Cultural Amnesia:

What We Must Not Know in Order To Keep the

Business of Sexual Exploitation Running Smoothly

Melissa Farley

Ray of Hope

2011-10-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

The last video that I posted was extremely brutal, but it exposes the truth about the trauma suffered by some of the victims of commercial sexual exploitation. This video Ray of Hope was produced by the IJM media team and tells an incredible story of one of IJM’s clients named Suhana. The deception embedded in the interworking of the human trafficking industry is unbelievable.

As Nicholas Kristof remarks in his book, Half the Sky, there are many different terms used to refer to someone in the commercial sex industry. Depending on the way you view the situation, the word “prostitute” and the phrase, “victim of human trafficking” have very different connotations but are denoting the same person. For those who do not know much about the subject, a common belief is that the women and children who work as “prostitutes” are in the industry by choice- or that it is a last resort as means of generating an income. This certainly is true in some instances however there is a very small minority of people who choose this line of work. Like Suhana, most women and children are deceived by people who take advantage of their naiveté and trustworthiness.

I am seeing this issue from the standpoint of a Christian NGO and understand there are many different lenses one could wear when viewing this situation but, it is difficult to refute facts. It is a fact that there are more than 2 million children worldwide currently working in the commercial sex trade. It is a fact that the industry generates $32 billion a year…

As I learn more about human trafficking from a variety of perspectives, I am more convinced this line of work is worth investing my time and attention. It also happens to be a passion of mine. Thankfully, I can’t imagine living in a situation where my autonomy and dignity is taken. However, now that I know this environment exists I feel the need to share the knowledge I am accumulating with those around me and to work to make a difference.

I’m not out to save the world- that’s God’s realm- and wouldn’t even go so far to think that doing so isn’t an egotistical claim. But maybe my efforts can improve someone else’s position. Even if the work I am doing with International Justice Mission only affected one other life, in my book it would be worth it.

Joseph's Story

2011-10-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Joseph is a client of IJM that lives in Kenya. He owned a small shop, which is how he worked to provide for his wife and six children. In 2010, a riot broke out near Joseph's shop. He ran outside to see what was happening and was wrongfully arrested by the police as one of the instigators of the violence. He has been held in prison ever since on charges of robbery with violence, which is a capital offense. His wife gave birth to a baby who is now five months old. Joseph has yet to meet his new child.

IJM investigators and attorneys are working on Joseph's case, but the process has been moving very slowly. We are all lifting him up in prayer and have started letter writing to keep his faith strong and his spirits high!

If you are interested in sharing God's love with Joseph and reminding him of the community he has supporting him, please write Joseph a letter at the link below.

Share this link with anyone else that you know would be in support of writing to Joseph!

http://www.ijm.org/content/share-hope#send-support-msg

Protection

2011-09-30T11:32:00.001-07:00

Over the course of my time at International Justice Mission, I have come to learn a few things about myself that I have not realized earlier in life. The most recent of these discoveries being the value I place on protection. I have always known that protection was something I enjoyed when I felt it, but I did not understand how much of an impact it has on my life. Everything from the way I route my path to work in the morning, to the career I want to have, to the reason I can hardly force out a, “thank you for serving our country” to a soldier in uniform before trembling from emotion is due to my love of protection. This incredible belief in and act of protection is one that I hold with high regard.

The reason I say I have yet to learn how much protection impacts my life is because prior to now, I had not been in many situations where I have stepped outside my physical comfort boundaries. Living in a new city causes me to constantly be “on-guard” in a way that I haven’t experienced before. College life was unlike this circumstance because there were many others just like me milling about all the time. We all lived close to the university in a small “big town” and never really needed to commute to and from the places we lived and the places we spent most of our day. In D.C. things are very different- I mean that with neither a positive or negative connotation it is just a part of the experience.

When Gary Haugen (make name hyperlink to bio) was explaining to our class of interns and fellows the mission of IJM at its most basic definition he said IJM was about protecting people who have been harmed by others. That sounds fairly simple, but when you think about it the idea is extraordinary. There are people in this world that unlike you and I, cannot turn to their law enforcement in times of need. In fact many of these people live in fear of their law enforcement, because the authorities exist in a vicious world of corruption and abuse. So instead of turning toward the police for help, people run away from the police in fear of becoming a victim to their violence.

When victims of violent oppression are subjected to the horrible abuses they endure, International Justice Mission intervenes and provides a shield of protection for the people who are being abused. Sometimes in developing countries police officers are directly involved with the criminal industry. They are either paid-off by traffickers to “turn their cheek” or actually become an integral component of selling humans for sexual exploitation or forced labor. They are motivated by power or money to join the work of offending others and consequently, deny victims of dignity and freedom. However, due to institutions, organizations and individuals focused on law enforcement education and structural reformation of legal and governmental systems, these corruptions can be reduced and even eliminated in some places.

Needless to say, this organization is a perfect fit for me. I have ambitions of going to law school because I value the protection Americans experience through the policies and systems of our legal system. I want to be able to use my knowledge and skills as an attorney to protect others much in the way IJM protects the poor from these forms of violent oppression; sexual violence, illegal land seizure, police brutality, sexual exploitation and forced labor.

Role Models

2011-09-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

As I have been learning more about work of IJM these past few weeks, I have also been learning about the non-profit world at large. There are two women in particular that I have read about and have come to admire.

1. Dr. Sunitha Krishnan is the founder of Prajwala, an organization that works with trafficking survivors and assists the women and girls in finding safe places of shelter. Krishnan was born in Bangalore and holds a PhD in Social Work. She has devoted her life to rescuing children who have been exploited through the commercial sex trade. Krishnan devoted her life to this work after an experience when she was a victim of sexual abuse. She emerged from the depths of a destructive, humiliating, and evil situation with grace and strength. She is a tiny woman, but has the force of God behind her work and is fearless because of it. She has been recognized for her work in the human trafficking industry by being awarded the World of Children Award, Stree Shakthi Puraskar Award, and the Pedita Huston Human Rights Award. Dr. Krishnan was invited to speak at the TED Conference in India in 2009. You can see her speak here: http://www.ted.com/talks/sunitha_krishnan_tedindia.html

2. Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder of the not-for-profit global venture capital organization; Acumen Fund. Novogratz worked as an international credit analyst with Chase Manhattan Bank after she graduated college and three years later was employed with as a consultant for the World Bank. She was interested in understanding how to effectively invest in developing countries to provide resources for those who were working to get out of poverty. Acumen Fund uses “patient capitalism”, or long-term capital, which seeks to provide maximum social impact and allows the creation of financial markets in developing countries with the intent of eliminating poverty. Patient capital does not exist for the maximization of profit for investors, but to provide resources for entrepreneurs in developing countries. She wrote a book titled, “ The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World” which details a situation in which she gave her favorite blue sweater to Goodwill and saw it again on a young boy in Rwanda years later. Novogratz was also invited to speak at a TED event, which you can watch here: http://www.ted.com/talks/jacqueline_novogratz_invests_in_ending_poverty.html

This video will change your life

2011-09-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

This video is narrated by Nicholas Kristof, NY Times columnist, and exposes the horrors of life as a slave in Cambodia. Kristof has attended international raid operations with IJM before. The International Justice Mission takes on clients with stories like these: http://love146.org/videos/face-slavery

Refer to my post below if you would like to become an IJM Freedom Partner and work to stop modern day slavery.

Freedom Partner

2011-09-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Thank you for all of your support with my last blog post. Things are picking up speed here at IJM and I am happily busy with marketing and communications projects.

This morning one of my assignments included watching "At the End of Slavery" (this is the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/intljusticemission#p/u/13/RyqMsrr1OjE), which is a documentary produced by IJM's media team. This short film (30 minutes) is packed full of useful information about modern day slavery- including both the trafficking of people for labor and for sexual exploitation. If you haven't seen this video before and would like a copy let me know! I saw this video a few years ago when I started the IJM campus chapter at Gonzaga and it is has been a key resource for developing my understanding of slavery. One of the best aspects of the documentary is the call to action for those who are free and are able to make a difference for the millions of people who are held against their will.

The International Justice Mission is a key component of the restoration process for victims of violent oppression, because they are focused at the core of the issue for slaves- protection.

I wanted to raise awareness about a program that is going on for the month of September called the "Freedom Partner Program". If you commit to making a monetary donation of $24 or more each month for the next year, an anomous donor will MATCH IT. How amazing is that? Any amount you donate will be matched. Honestly, after being in the IJM office even for only a short time, I am understaning the immense impact this organization has in the struggle against human trafficking. You can also be sure that your donation will be used for the intended purpose. (If you are interested in seeing the 2010 Annual Report click here- http://www.ijm.org/files/financials/IJM-2010-Annual-Report.pdf)

IJM works with local law enforcement officials to plan rescue operations and train the authorties to enforce the laws of their country. In order for this work to happen, there needs to be financial support behind the work.

I know a year long commitment of $24, or more, a month might sound like a lot, but think about cutting out one latte a week or dinner at a restaurant and it becomes very managable. It is incredible the kind of resources we are all blessed with and the potential impact we could have on changing someone's life forever. If you feel pulled to act on behalf of millions of people who are not free, this is an incredible way you can make a difference.

Please check out this website for more information and feel free to email me at kkading@ijm.org

http://www.ijm.org/freedompartner

"Doing Small Things with Great Love."

2011-09-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come! It is training week at IJM and I feel incredibly fortunate to be apart of the team this fall. Our week started on Monday morning when sixty excited, nervous and energetic interns and fellows filled the confines of the conference room at a nearby Washington hotel. The day was spent understanding the spiritual foundation of the organization, as explained by president and CEO, Gary Haugen. He took time to carefully articulate to our class the call to justice as written in the Bible and explained the word of God as the motivation behind the work of the International Justice Mission. I was extremely impressed by the professionalism in which the staff and executive team projected, and the efficiency of the events of the week. Every detail has been thought out and organized- from the structure of training week to the intricacies of running a human rights organization. I truly was very impressed.

I met interns and fellows from all walks of life and have met a few people that could potentially be lifelong friends. It is a unique and comforting feeling to be in a room with 60 other Christians who are passionate about responding to the call that is written on their hearts. Many of us had recently graduated from undergraduate programs and are taking time to work before going on to obtain an advanced degree. Throughout the afternoon of the first day I kept thinking, "This is what I'm supposed to be doing".

A portion of the first afternoon stood out to me and will forever remain in my memory. We were listening to Gary speak about God’s call and the responsibility we have as Christians to care and act on behalf of our neighbors. He shared a few video clips with us about Christians who “lived the word of God as if they believed it was true”. The link below is the clip of Mother Teresa in West Beirut in the 1980’s during the Siege of Beirut in the Lebanon War. She rescued 37 children from poverty by crossing into dangerous and potentially harmful territory. However, she was determined to provide safety and security for the children she saved and knew God would help protect her during the operation. This video has some of the images and narration of the story we saw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8w81qOc5nU

It was difficult not to be overcome with emotion as I watched Mother Teresa holding the face of the young boy as he was looking up at her, or when she was carrying a handicapped child to a place of refuge. She truly was a tool by which God poured out His good word and deed for the rest of the world to experience. Her final line in the clip we saw was, “doing small things with great love”. These words were motivation to me as I am coming to understand the work of IJM takes time, but all of it matters to those who are in need.

The rest of orientation week was filled with an assortment of seminars concerning different departments in the organization. We learned in detail the responsibilities of each department and on a larger scale, how they all function together. This organization operates much like a high-end law firm, stressing the values of excellence and professionalism. The victims in developing countries are referred to as IJM's clients, and their dignity and privacy is respected and highly regarded.

I was blown away by my first week with the International Justice Mission and am anxious to starting work as a Global Communications Intern. I have a vague idea of what that will entail- stay tuned :)

I will leave you with the closing comment Gary Haugen posed to our intern class. He was speaking to the necessity of protection for the poor in developing countries- before the need for water, nourishment and shelter. He said,

"If you're not safe, what else matters?"

One Week Away.

2011-09-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Exactly one week from today my adventure in Washington, D.C. will begin. I am feeling a mixture of excitement, adventure, and nostalgia as I am packing up my life in Washington state and moving to what the rest of the world recognizes as the real "Washington".

I am ready to finally start working with an organization I have admired from a distance for the past three years. I am looking forward to joining this non-profit that is centered around the idea of sharing Jesus' view of equality and love for humankind. I have met many people this summer who have been or currently are involved with IJM in some way, shape or form. From listening to each of their experiences I see the common themes of an organization that strives for excellence and is deeply rooted in compassion for the Gospel and mankind. I have heard countless times, "there is truly no other organization like this".

Although I understand I am currently looking at the next four months through a rosy lens, I am aware that reality will strike sometime between September and December and the tragedy of working to combat violent oppression will sink in. Not every victim story has a happy ending. Often times, it takes months if not years for a plan to be set into action- and sometimes that's too long and the opportunity to help someone vanishes. I've also heard the work is hard. However, it must be worth it because there are still so many people that wake up day after day and continue the struggle to fight for the values Jesus holds so dear.

I appreciate the support and encouragement I am receiving from all of you and ask that you continue to pray for the work of IJM and their impact on the world of violent oppression.

Fundraising Update

2011-08-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend's main event at the Kading household was a success!! The IJM Fundraiser- Moving Sale went off without a hitch.

Earlier in the week, friends and family had been donating everything from furniture and sporting goods to bicycles and clothing for the momentous IJM fundraiser. The day began bright and early at seven o'clock as the diehard garage-salers started perusing the assorted goods.We finished the day at five o'clock sweaty, tired and hungry! A huge thanks to my parents and sister for their help with this fundraiser. It wouldn't have been possible without them. And the news you all have been waiting for, the total amount raised this weekend: $785!!

Thank you to everyone who donated sale items. To date, I have raised $3,125!! Thank you for supporting me and making my time in DC possible. If you would like to make a financial donation please email kathleen.a.kading@gmail.com for more information.

THANK YOU!

More Pictures from Zambia!

2011-08-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

These are pictures taken by some of the friends I traveled with and do a great job portraying the uniqueness and beauty of rural Zambia and its people. Thanks for sharing your pictures, friends!

Sunset on the Zambezi River- Zambezi, Zambia

2011-08-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

I spent a month last summer teaching English to seventh grade students in Zambezi, Zambia. This trip was an amazing adventure spent with twenty other Gonzaga students and professors. After visiting Zambia and the rural villages in the northwestern province, I am even more determined to partner with the International Justice Mission and work among the people in Zambia. What an incredible experience- I can't wait to go back.

SPC Speech

2011-08-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to speak this morning at SPC and am filled with joy about the supportive and compassionate congregation that joins the fight against slavery. Thank you to everyone following this blog and investing in my internship through financial partnership!

If you would like to make a donation please email kathleen.a.kading@gmail.com for more information. Check out the Moving Sale Fundraiser on August 20th as well!

Brothel Raid in India

2011-08-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

Nicholas Kristof, a New York Times columnist, writes about his experience raiding an Indian Brothel with IJM. Kristof and an investigator went undercover to the depths of the red-light district in Kolkata looking to rescue a teenage girl. They restored not only one girl's freedom, but saved four others from the despairs of life in the brothel as well...Amazing story!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/opinion/26kristof.html

The Beginning of the Journey

2011-07-21T22:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Internship Blog! Thank you for checking it out and I hope that you continue to read as I will post on a semi-frequent basis about the adventure I have this fall. The work of God is incredible and I am just starting to experience the plans he has for my life. Thank you for being along side me as I learn! Your support and encouragement will be places of safety and comfort. For that, I thank you in advance.