Journal No. 11
For my human trafficking research, I have been directed to an organization called Unlikely Heroes. I just want to share with you a little about what they do, and why you should know about it.
You should know about these statistics they have on their website, because I don’t believe people in the U.S actually understand the gravity of the situation:
27 MILLION PEOPLE
TRAPPED IN SLAVERY TODAY. THIS IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF AFRICANS ENSLAVED DURING THE TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE.
$28 BILLION
IS GENERATED FROM COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION MAKING IT THE 2ND MOST LUCRATIVE CRIME IN THE WORLD.
100,000 CHILDREN
ARE PROSTITUTED IN THE U.S. PER YEAR.
How can we change these numbers? How can ordinary people living ordinary, healthy and safe lives make a difference in exploited victim’s lives?
Unlikely Heroes steps in to lead the nation in abolishing the modern slavery. They’re not just ordinary people, though. They are truly contemporary heroes who are on the ground rescuing children and women from captivity, and from being bought and sold into sexual slavery. These heroes provide shelter to those who have been stripped of their families, homes and bright futures. Above all, Unlikely Heroes spreads awareness and training through education to thousands of people.
Erica Greve founded the organization and has traveled abroad to third world countries, offering personal aid to women and children. Her team of highly educated individuals, including a survivor of sexual slavery and public speaker, builds strength in numbers of devoted advocates.
It is an honor to feature Unlikely Heroes in LA YOGA Magazine. I will be learning more about activities they do for rehabilitation, and if yoga is among them.
For my next post, I will be telling you about my trip to Los Angeles this Saturday as a guest for a training at a juvenile hall. Speakers such as survivor, D’Lita Miller, and founder of UpRising Yoga, Jill Ippolito, will be there talking about yoga offered to incarcerated youth and survivors of sexual exploitation. Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading!
P.S- for more information on Unlikely Heroes, visit: http://unlikelyheroes.com.
Amanda Ridder 