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The Road of Lost Innocence
"A riveting, raw, and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope."
Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia. Trapped in this dangerous and desperate world, she suffered the brutality and horrors of human trafficking - rape, torture, and deprivation - until she managed to escape with the help of a French aid worker. Emboldened by her newfound freedom, education, and security, Somaly blossomed but remained haunted by the girls in the brothels she left behind.
Written in exquisite, spare, unflinching prose, The Road of Lost Innocence recounts the experiences of her early life and tells the story of her awakening as an activist and her harrowing and brave fight against the powerful and corrupt forces that steal the lives of these girls. She has orchestrated raids on brothels and rescued sex workers, some as young as five and six; she has built shelters, started schools, and founded an organization that has so far saved more than four thousand women and children in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Her memoir will leave you awestruck by her tenacity and courage and will renew your faith in the power of an individual to bring about change.
Akun Bracelet
Somlaly Mam’s organization (AFESIP)
in Cambodia runs several shelters to rehabilitate victims of sexual slavery. As part of their rehabilitation the girls undergo basic academic
instruction and useful skills training. In sewing class, one of their first achievements is learning how to make a bracelet. Although it may seem like
a simple task, the accomplishment of learning this skill is the first step toward a new life for these girls. People like you make this possible. We
would like you to have this bracelet as a reminder of the difference you are making through your donation. We have affectionately named these akun
bracelets. Akun is the Cambodian word for "thank you". The bracelets are hand made by victims currently in the rehabilitation process at the Tomdy
Center in Phnom Penh.