In my last post, I shared that as an organization we can not prevent human trafficking in Romania. That’s a real shocker, but it’s true.
Yet, that’s exactly why we exist.
We focus our efforts on empowering people to prevent human trafficking in their own communities and we call them “Freedom Fighters.”
Earlier this month, we had the opportunity to spend some time at an amazing organization here in Bucharest, Romania… Project Ruth.
Project Ruth exists to provide schooling, literacy training, educational recovery, humanitarian aid and wellness to children from poor backgrounds, especially from Roma communities.
Through different programs developed and supported by Project Ruth, children are encouraged to reach their full potential, to integrate in communities and to develop an attitude of acceptance for others. – Project Ruth
The eLiberare team was invited to provide a training session on human trafficking and identification of risk factors for the parents of the kids in their program.
Parents have a unique role to play in this work, because according to ANTIP statistics from 2013…
You read that right! Almost 50% of the identified victims of human trafficking in Romania were under 18 years of age. Too often I hear “people aren’t trafficked, they know they are getting into the sex industry.” Really? You’re telling me young girls are LOOKING for this “work”? I don’t think so.
Organizations like Project Ruth are the ones doing the REAL WORK of helping to transform the futures of young children. They invest countless hours into assisting families in need. They pour their lives into the community of Ferentari. At eLiberare, we are incredibly fortunate to partner with great people like them.
Together, we will prevent human trafficking in Romania.