Activities
Voices for Change
Every day victims of human trafficking face a world without possibility. These victims have endured worse than what most of us can imagine and they have overcome difficult odds to survive in a harsh reality. Their courage is something we can all aspire to.
No longer will we look upon these young people as helpless. They are strong individuals with much to offer the world and their voices call for global change. The Somaly Mam Foundation will ensure that these voices are exposed to the world and from those who have struggled through the pain of slavery will arise a new generation of leaders who stand for freedom and justice.
Through various forms of media and strategic partnerships, the Voices for Change Campaign will share the stories, thoughts, and opinions of former slaves. The campaign will help educate the public about modern day slavery and help them understand the intricacies of the issue on a personal level.
Global Awareness Campaign
Many people are shocked to hear that more people are enslaved today than at the height of the transatlantic slave trade. Modern day slavery is a thriving and growing business and has been able to stay out of the public eye until recently. Action comes from conversation and conversations about slavery cannot happen unless the public is educated.
The Somaly Mam Foundation is dedicated to raising global awareness through the news, media and entertainment, celebrity voices, speaking engagements, encouraging university and high school involvement, internet communities, and other forms of communication.
In the United States the awareness campaign is focused around education and calling people to action. In Southeast Asia, our awareness campaign aims to educate the public on current and recently passed human trafficking laws, consequences of contributing to the illegal criminal industry, and how to identify and report suspicious activity.
Rescue and Rehabilitation
The Somaly Mam Foundation is proud to announce its 2008-2009 partner organization in rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration activities, Cambodia based AFESIP. With three shelters throughout Cambodia and over 250 children and young women in rehabilitation programs at any given time, AFESIP has been a successfully operating for 11 years. Since its inception it has played an essential part in rescuing and providing services for over 4,000 victims.
The Somaly Mam Foundation grants money to help feed the shelter residents, support rescue operations, employ the newly reintegrated residents, and currently creating a child care center for the babies and young children of the victims.
Micro-Financing
After girls are rescued and rehabilitated they undergo a process of reintegration back into their societies. Many times this is a difficult task as they overcome their fears of living and working on their own again. With their newly developed skills many choose to run their own micro-businesses. To do this requires an initial cash investment, which most do not have. The Somaly Mam Foundation offers micro-financing opportunities to the ambitious young women who want to start hair salons, sewing shops, stores, or other businesses to make use of their newly developed skills.
Providing Sustainable Employment
Employment in a secure and well paying job is an important aspect of successfully reintegrating victims. It is also a way to help show change in perceptions about what victims are capable of accomplishing. Providing long term employment opportunities is a top priority of the Somaly Mam Foundation.
Currently the foundation helps fund operations of hair salons in Cambodia and will soon employ reintegrated victims of the AFESIP shelters as seamstresses to manufacture scarf designs that will be sold through various outlets in the United States as a wearable way to take a stand against human trafficking and help increase awareness and global support.
Learning English is an important skill that can help a resident become attractive to employers who will pay a professional class wage for translation or other services involving English. Due to the lack of educated linguists in many third world countries, an opportunity to learn English is an important step toward a successful reintegration. Working in conjunction with Regis University in Denver, Colorado, the Somaly Mam Foundation is helping develop comprehensive English as a Second Language program that will be replicated in countries around the world.