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We’ve written you many times about the children in our care in India, and our need for a new “forever home” for them. They were forced to move repeatedly, losing their lease at the end of each year.
So, caring friends like you helped us buy land where we could build a house. But opposition and bureaucracy thwarted us.
Finally, we bought a house nearby in the country, still under construction, and a year ago we celebrated the dedication of this new “Happy Home” — with kids, cows, chickens, and goats on the land everywhere!
When the coronavirus pandemic engulfed us all — with food being hoarded and millions being ordered to stay indoors — our children there in Pune were safe, happy and healthy, well cared for.
They called so we could join them for their anniversary celebration of one year in their new home. They were preparing a big feast and asked us to join them as they lit the candle and cut the cake.
We spoke with the children, and they are a delight — all so happy — and many of them talked about the security they feel during this pandemic.
They are not fearful. They have milk, eggs, chicken, and vegetables to eat. A couple of children talked about having all the water they need, as there was a shortage at the last places they lived.
Had friends like you not provided the funds, these children would be on the street — at risk of the virus and sex traffickers.
God had a plan … and you were part of it! Thank you so much for being in this with us. We hope the joy in their smiles brings you some joy today, too!
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Simple Take-Action Tools that Take 15 Minutes or Less Per Weekend
While we continue to self-isolate at home, there is still a way you can be an advocate for our cause. We want nothing more than to help you continue to make a difference in this important battle we’re fighting together to end child sex trafficking.
Sign up to become a Weekend Warrior and do what you can online through your e-mail and social media networks to protect kids by educating other caring adults. Every weekend, Shared Hope will provide you with simple, downloadable tools to help you fight sex trafficking that take 15 minutes or less to read and share with your family, friends, and colleagues.
Even better, these tools can be accessed and used directly from your couch!
The knowledge you gain and share from the resources we are privileged to provide will help us prevent child sex trafficking and protect the children in your life. Everyone can make a difference.
Sign up to be a Weekend Warrior here!
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Shared Hope is currently monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic closely. As of now, we are moving forward with planning for the Juvenile Sex Trafficking (JuST) Conference taking place November 4-6, 2020, in Washington, D.C.
Registration is open for this unforgettable and inspiring conference featuring today’s most pressing matters in the anti-trafficking field.
Whether you are just getting started or have been working on the issue for years, this conference is for you. There’s something for everyone — with intermediate and advanced presentations on core subjects as well as hot topics, criminal trends, and material rarely seen at other events.
With new speakers and an array of powerful new workshops, JuST 2020 will not only educate you, but also inspire action and expand your network.
Understanding that we are all impacted by the current pandemic, please know that we are aware of budgetary restrictions during these times. We do plan to extend the early-bird rate until June 1. Invoice Requests are currently open and will remain open. We encourage you to consider requesting an invoice, to hold your seat and lock in the early-bird rate.
Find the role you were meant to play in preventing and ending commercial sexual exploitation … Join us November 4-6 for this powerful event!
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One of our community-based partners recently pointed out that while trafficking is a terrible crime, it’s also a business — and it thrives during times of crisis by adapting quickly to opportunities each crisis presents.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, children are out of school for social distancing and are now likely spending more time on the Internet or gaming than normal during a school week. This is a huge plus for traffickers as they have increasingly been recruiting their victims online.
With everyone being encouraged to stay indoors, porn companies are offering free viewing of their content in select countries as a marketing strategy. And according to Google Analytics, porn searches skyrocket by 4,700% when kids are out of school.
Initial conversations online can appear innocent, but they often involve some level of deception. As a predator, usually an adult, attempts to establish a relationship to gain a child’s trust, they may initially lie about their own age — or may never reveal their real age, even after forming a relationship.
Users, both young and old, should use extreme caution while using any online or social networking app, as traffickers could use even the most innocent ones in a predatory manner. One of the most effective ways we can equip ourselves to help our children is to understand the technology they are using and to know what dangers to look for.
Shared Hope is working to counteract traffickers and Internet-based dangers by getting our Internet safety materials in as many hands as possible, to help you and other caregivers keep children safe from the lure of traffickers during social distancing.
We can work to stop the traffickers in their tracks — there are small, positive things we can all do, even from our living rooms! Our lives might feel uncertain or upside-down right now. For those who feel you’re able to do a little something more, we can act together to get the word out to keep each other safe!
Help us stand in the gap through prevention. Download and share our free resources and Internet Safety Video Series. The more people who know how to take action, the less traffickers are able to move in the shadows of the Internet.
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These are difficult days in our country and around the world. And yet, the important work of Shared Hope continues. As long as we have your help, we can get it done together.
Your tax-deductible contribution will empower Shared Hope to continue our vital work together — to bring justice to victims, end demand, and hold offenders accountable … until all of our nation’s children are protected.
As you are able, thank you for being as generous as possible! Whatever you can do, we are grateful.