Comments on: Sangkheum = Hope, Says Stop Human Trafficking Cambodia Alumni

By: Malia Everette

Malia Everette — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:50:28 +0000

Thank you John. Yes even one person can make a big difference, but when on person teams up with others, even more great things can happen. I hope you don’t mind me invoking a popular quote from Margaret Mead, “never doubt that a thoughtful concerned citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only think that ever does”.

By: Malia Everette

Malia Everette — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:46:38 +0000

Many moments are frozen in time, and in each place deeply resonates with me still today. For example: in Gulu, Uganda, working on a construction problem with the Gulu Youth Development Association and learning about the stories of atrocity these young men encountered and seeing them play basketball together. I learned the power of sports in healing traumas and forgiveness as boys as “enemies’ become team mates. In Kampala, we had the CNN hero of the year award winner Sister Rosemary bring a small group of young women with her (along with another advocate that brought with another group of affected youth from Lira). The students spoke for hours with our group. I wept as others did, yet I also was so moved by the healing that took place as these young women shared their stories with each other. Theirs was shared experience, a shared survival, though each person’s story unique. We experienced empathy. We shared outrage. The group later took up sights and sounds together, went to the lake, shared meals, played soccer and the students went out dancing. I still think about the power of exchange and even travel. For these young Ugandans it was their first visit to the capital. In northern Thailand, I recall seeing young boys squeeze through a fence in Burma. We learned about how they are being trafficked onto commercial fishing ships so we in the “North” can have cheap seafood and shrimp. The stories of these young men greatly touched me as an activist, and as a mother too of two sons. In Thailand, the amazing work of The Mirror Foundation, of the RCP-Recycled Child Project, or Not For Sales’ partner Kunam all were memorable. They all have so much integrity. They do so much good and often with so little material resources because they are needed and because they are in service. Just a few experiences shared, Malia

By: John

John — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:13:20 +0000

Thank you for email.Your stories are inspiring.We need more people like you.The more I hear about how these ruthless people exploit the less fortunate for their own personal gain the more I lose hope for humanity. But when I read about you and others like you I know we can and will become a species everybody can be proud of.

By: John

John — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:12:27 +0000

It’s nice to know that even one person can make a difference.Thanks for sharing your experience.You said that you’ve been to Cambodia, Thailand, Peru and Uganda. WWhich place do you feel like you learned the most?