Day 9 of 10 Days of Celebrating Mom-Giveaway for the Journaling Mom

Last week I introduced you to The Emancipation Network in Day 2 of my 10 Days for Mom. If you missed it, here is a link to the post. Today I want to introduce you to the founders of The Emancipation Network, Sarah Symons and John Berger and share some cold hard facts about Human Trafficking

Sarah Symons is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Emancipation Network, a social purpose non-profit business fighting human trafficking through the import and sale of handicraft products made by survivors and people at high risk for being sold into slavery, offering economic empowerment, and the hope of a future to survivors. Along with her husband John Berger, Symons started the organization with her own money and the contributions of a few concerned friends.

Prior to starting T.E.N., Symons worked both in the nonprofit and business worlds. From 1990-1994, she served as Program Director and Artist in Residence for Creative Arts Workshops, a program serving homeless kids in New York City. In this capacity, Symons provided direct services to youth, managed volunteers, planned and implemented large-scale art projects, and launched a teen program. From 1994 to the present, she has worked as a composer of TV music, and as a recording artist. She was also the founder and President of Endurance Music, a source music company and recording studio. Symons’ music is frequently heard on national network TV, and in regional radio advertising.

Symons found out about the issue of modern day slavery at a film festival, where one of her compositions was featured in a film.

This film showed people who were standing up against slavery, and putting their lives on the line to fight it – with limited resources, with emotional and physical scars from years of abuse.

“If they could do it, I felt that I had to find a way to support them. With all the resources we have in the US, surely there was something we could do to help break the chain of slavery. I met my husband John for lunch later that day, and couldn’t wait to tell him. “I just saw a film that is going to change my life!” I guess I should have said ‘our lives’ because as it turned out, fighting slavery has become a family business.” from madebysurvivors.com

John Berger is the co-founder and CEO of TEN. He brings 18 years of Wall Street business experience to the organization, having worked as an investment banker and V.P. of institutional equity sales at Prudential Securities, Schwab Investments, Smith Barney and BB&T. Berger specialized in capital markets and is an expert in evaluating companies by analyzing business strategy, management, financial structure, industry dynamics, technology and competitive position in a variety of industries.

From 1996 to 1998, he served as a Board Director and Treasurer at Creative Arts Workshops for Kids, a program serving homeless kids in New York City. At T.E.N., he specializes on marketing, sales, operations, logistics, and business development for NGO partners.

Facts on Human Trafficking

* Every 10 minutes, a woman or child is trafficked into the United States for forced labor. Source: CAST (Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking)
* In the case of trafficking for sexual exploitation, girls often have their virginity sold first, followed by multiple rapes often leading to HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Source: UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

* The children are often “sold” by unsuspecting parents who believe their children are going to be looked after, learn a trade or be educated. Source: UNICEF

* Victims of trafficking are subject to gross human rights violations including rape, torture, beatings, starvation, dehumanization, and threats of murdering family members. Source: UNODC

* After adjusting for inflation, a slave sold in 1850, would now roughly cost $30,000 to $40,000. Today you can go to Haiti and buy a 9-year-old girl as a sex slave for $50. Source: Benjamin Skinner, “A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery.

* The total market value of illicit human trafficking at $32 billion-about $10 billion is derived from the initial “sale” of individuals, with the remainder representing the estimated profits from the activities or goods produced by the victims. Source: UNODC

* A recent CIA report estimated that between 45,000 to 50,000 women and children are brought to the United States every year under false pretenses and are forced to work as prostitutes, abused laborers or servants.

* Children are trafficked to work in sweatshops as bonded labor and men work illegally in the “three D-jobs” – dirty, difficult and dangerous.

I know I want to do what I can to get involved in helping to help the victims of human trafficking. One way we can all help is by shopping at the TEN store. They have may beautiful and affordable handmade items that would make thoughtful gifts. Today I am giving away one of my favorite items. I really wish I had one of these for my self. It is a beautiful, striped handmade paper journal. Handmade from renewable paper, this vivid 5″ x 7″ journal has a wooden cover and a button clasp. Made by Survivors in Nepal.
How to Enter: Visit the TEN Store, look around and leave me a comment telling me what item you would like to give as a gift any why.