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Home>Archives for education

May 15, 2014 by SHI Staff

Boko Haram Shines Global Spotlight on Women’s Education

Boko Haram Shines Global Spotlight on Women’s Education-2Congressman William Keating remarked that women constitute half of the Earth’s population and serve as the sole caretaker in many households, and yet they “continue to be 2/3 of the world’s illiterate population,” at last month’s Women’s Education hearing “Promoting Development, Countering Radicalism.”

The recent kidnapping of 276 Nigerian schoolgirls by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, which name translates roughly to “Western education is forbidden,” shines a global spotlight on education for women. While many are denied access to education due to financial or family obligations; the victims in the Nigerian kidnapping were denied and punished for receiving education. In a recently released video, a man claiming to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, threatens to sell the girls and says “Girls, you should go and get married.”

The mounting pressure on females seeking to gain education has reached America as traffickers target U.S. teens to be sold in local trafficking markets. Traffickers target girls in their early teens to meet a demand for commercial sex with young females. The girls are banned from attending school or developing critical job skills necessary to participate in a competitive job market once they escape.

Humera Khan was encouraged by her father to travel from South Asia to the United States saying “education is enough for you to break social norms.” On April 3 she addressed the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the power of educating women, saying education gave her the power to regain control of her own life, as well as inspire and empower her to continue moving towards success. Today, Khan is the Executive Director of an independent research organization. She suggested looking for education solutions and resources locally where people are more likely to invest in the women and girls of their own community.

Education not only allows for career advancement, it builds self-confidence, capability, empowerment and analytical decision making skills that impact every aspect of a woman’s life. It is important to offer educational opportunities to sex trafficking survivors to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and independence to regain control of their lives.  Some restoration programs assist young girls and women in returning to high school, obtaining her GED, or enrolling in college. Combining educational opportunities with vocational training programs like the Women’s Investment Network equips young girls and women to become responsible and financially sound once employment is gained.

Shared Hope recognizes the value of education in the restoration process. We created Terry’s House to offer survivors an affordable housing option so they can focus their time, effort and resources on their education.

Read Shamere’s story of overcoming her trafficker to return to school.

October 29, 2012 by SHI Staff

Trafficking Awareness: The Power of Education

Thanks for checking out this blog. I hope you walk away from this post learning a little about the commercial sex industry, and how to deal with personal addictions.

I just finished watching a TV Mini-series called Human Trafficking. Made in 2005, this fictionalized series brutally but authentically illustrated the seriousness of international human slavery.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so overwhelmed while watching a movie in my life. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about the severity of trafficking, but keep in mind that it made my stomach churn, and at some points I felt nauseous. It is an incredibly raw series. Regardless of how hard it is to watch, it illustrates the brutality of the commercial sex industry so well.

This brings me to this week’s topic: education. When I say education, I’m not speaking of going to school (though I do think that is important!). Education is taking the time to learn the facts about a specific topic, and in our case, we are taking time to learn the brutal reality of sex trafficking. Through movies like Human Trafficking, survivor stories, and blogs like this, you can participate in very needed education.

As Defenders, we have all taken a pledge. Part one of that pledge says “I will not participate in pornography, prostitution or any form of the commercial sex industry.” Now, I think guys would all agree that part one of this pledge is way easier said than done. You see, the commercial sex industry works like a drug. The chemicals in your brain begin to spin as you indulge, and you leave the experience getting a very temporary wave of good feelings. This leads you to constantly desire more and more, and after a very short amount of time, your body can be addicted to the temporary good feelings that these experiences provide.

That being said, what if I told you that the addiction to the commercial sex industry could be avoided or healed? What if I told you that those temporary good feelings would no longer feel good? Thats where education comes in to play.

As a Defender, I hope you’ve realized that the commercial sex industry has more brutality to it than meets the eye (if you are unfamiliar with the common myths of the sex industry, go here). As you can see through videos like this, where survivors share the facts, the industry is awful. Girls are hurt. Girls are raped. Some girls even die. Girls are locked in rooms like prisoners. They are slaves. Through learning the facts and being willing to be educated on this topic, your feelings on the commercial sex industry will begin to change.

I can say from personal experience that once you are educated, the commercial sex industry begins to stop producing those very temporary waves of good feelings. When you go to indulge, you can remember the facts. You can remember the brutality. More importantly, you can remember the girls. And from personal experience I can say that when you go to indulge, remembering the education you have puts a halt to your desire to indulge in any kind of commercial sex, whether that be pornography, prostitution, or any method of commercial sex. Your mind goes from being a consumer to a person who cares. By remembering the facts, your heart can move from objectifying women to respecting them.

So, in conclusion, I know from personal experience the power that education offers. Be educated, and educate others. You’d be surprised what kind of difference it can make. Remember the facts. Lets honor part one of our pledge.

For more educational resources, you can see this article by Abolition Now.

May 26, 2012 by SHI Staff

Back to Our Beginning: Montego Bay, Jamaica

“We call it a different name, we call it survival.”

In one simple sentence our partner in Montego Bay, Jamaica defined the challenge to combatting sex trafficking in the country. With the widespread prevalence of poverty and sexual abuse, buyers and traffickers are eager to exploit Jamaican youth with offers of provision and protection.

Today, we had the opportunity to meet with our partners in Montego Bay, tour their new home, meet a shy but sweet young boy who is currently seeking adoptive parents, talk about the issue of sex trafficking to teenagers attending a life skills class, and meet with board members and leadership to discuss challenges and explore solutions to effectively respond to sex trafficking in Jamaica.

During our discussion with students we asked if they ever knew anyone who traded sex for a place to live or were forced by a violent boyfriend to have sex in exchange for goods or money. The answer was an overwhelming, YES! They explained that despite its prevalence, sex trafficking was hardly ever discussed by media or the community. We are working with our local partner to develop awareness and education strategies to inspire prevention and increased care for at-risk or victimized youth.

Tomorrow, we have the opportunity to educate students and staff members at a local community center on the issue of sex trafficking. We will explain indicators of trafficking and offer response solutions to mobilize a community of new activists.

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