Sex trafficking is a huge problem all over the world. In Thailand, there are about 2.8 million sex workers; including 2 million women, 20,000 adult males and 800,000 minors under the age of 18. $4.3USD billion per year or about 3% of the Thai economy, is spent on prostitution and at least 10% of tourist dollars are spent on the sex trade. Since the Vietnam war, Thailand has become known as a popular destination to purchase sex and, in fact, the #1 reason for tourist to visit the city of Pattaya, one of the biggest Thai cities for the trade, is sex tourism. Want to know something really interesting, in Thailand, prostitution is illegal…And yet, police officers parole streets lined with restaurants, bars, hotels, massage parlors and tea houses offer sexual services filled with women who have no hope of freedom.
"It’s estimated that 1.2 million children are trafficked into sexual slavery every year. Consider the numbers this way: something like 3,200 children are trafficked into sexual slavery every single day…Remember Nhu’s ultimate goal is to prevent the exploitation of children in the sex trade industry throughout the world. Four objectives keep us anchored to that vision…by meeting physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs."
~ Remember Nhu
Prevention is the key here, with only 10% of people in prostitution getting out of prostitution and staying out. The amazing thing about Remember Nhu, where I had the honor and privelege to be this last January, is that they are catching the children before they enter the brothels and saving them from a life of pain and hurt. The chiefs of the villages contact them whenever they know that one of the families is needing money and thinking about selling their children. Remember Nhu is slowly forming relationships with the families in the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand and the demand for space in the homes is growing rapidly. without this home and the amazing people working with this organization, 95% of these girls would be on the street, their virginity sold, when they are as young as 2 years old.
The girls and boys at this home's names are kept secret, as well as the location, because there are predators in Thailand who are looking every day for more children to bring into their brothels. It costs roughly about $1 for each time a child is purchased for sex and are usually purchased 15 times in one day.
Why am I telling you this? Because yesterday, I saw a preview, for a movie called “Trade of Innocents”. I was brought to tears. It reminded me of the beauty in each of girls I met and interacted with just 9 months ago. Stories that wrecked me and broke my heart. Girls who were on the verge of losing their innocence, their very freedom, their chance to be children.
Remember Nhu is one such home whose focus is on preventing children from ever being sexually abused. It is here the children receive 3 meals a day (never before experienced), an education (through college or vocational training), and learn about the love of God through the actions brought forth simply in love by their house parents.
Will you watch? Can you help? Would you consider sponsoring a child at Remember Nhu? A child sponsorship, is $60/month. As a sponser, you are able to help an at-risk child, providing them food, shelter, clothing, and school. To learn more, you can go to: http://www.remembernhu.org/how-to-help.
