Mar 26, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, Thailand
Meet Meta. Meta was one of the stateless children who grew up with Kru Nam, the project director in Not For Sale Thailand, who provided her the opportunity to go to school at 5 years old. Before meeting Kru Nam, Meta would sell flowers at night for her aunt, sometimes even staying out until 2 or 3 am. Between 10 and 11pm, Kru Nam and two others, Pi Pok and Kru Ake, would bring mats to the Tha Pae Gate in the city’s main square and engaged with street children through art and teaching them how to read and write. Meta would walk past this area each night when selling flowers and would sometimes even stop by and sit in on lessons if her aunt didn’t see her.
One day, Kru Nam visited her aunt’s apartment, and asked Meta if she’d like to go to school. Clinging to the opportunity, Meta immediately packed her bag and left with Kru Nam. Later, Meta was dropped off at a boarding school, where she describes having learned everything. When first arriving, Meta was unable to speak the Thai language, however she was still taken in and taught gradually. At the Buddhakasetra School, apart from receiving an education, Meta learned how to cook her own meals, how to live sufficiently and independently, and work hard.
Because of Meta’s hard work, she was able to attend college and was the first stateless child to graduate from a Thai university which ultimately allowed her to gain full Thai citizenship.
Today, Meta rescues at-risk and sick children off the streets of Thailand and provides them with the care that they need. #SheInspiresMe
Mar 23, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, Thailand
Kru Nam is the spirit of Not For Sale. Without her, we would not exist.
A mother and an artist, Kru Nam first got involved with the issue of human trafficking when she brought paints to children on the streets of Thailand, encouraging them to share their stories. What they painted shocked her– the images illustrated trauma that no child should know.
Kru Nam was determined to change the course of these children’s lives. The majority of them had left everything in their home countries to seek financial success in Thailand, but had gotten manipulated by traffickers to work in karaoke bars, where they were subject to sexual exploitation. Despite death threats from traffickers, Kru Nam traveled to Chiang Mai and drove her truck through the alleyways of red light districts, offering children inside the bars an opportunity to start over.
At the time, the only space Kru Nam could provide her children was her own half-built house. It was an infinitely better option than their previous situation, but still unsustainable. One night, the wiring short circuited and burnt down the house and everyone’s belongings.
Kru Nam was devastated by the tragedy, but still refused to give up. “Why would I have to surrender to destiny?” She felt bound to her children’s struggles and knew she would find a way to give them the futures they deserved– “I know this fight is hard, but there is no other choice.”
Her lifeline was a card with David Batstone’s email on it. Not even knowing what email was, she went to an Internet cafe and asked the other customers for help. They didn’t take her seriously but helped her write to the American, explaining her situation in English.
Four days later, Mark Wexler arrived in Thailand with $10,000 strapped to his body. Kru Nam became Not For Sale’s first project director.
Now, with Not For Sale’s help, Kru Nam runs a shelter for about 150 rescued street children, providing them with dormitories, medical care, basketball courts, an organic farm, a library, and a computer center. There have been many setbacks along the way, but she never let them slow her down. From being arrested countless times to arguing with school officials about stateless children’s right to education, she always put her kids’ safety above her own. Among the hardships, there have been incredible successes, such as seeing one of her children become the first stateless individual to graduate from Thai university.
We thank Kru Nam for her courageous sacrifices to the anti human trafficking movement. This Wednesday, we are honored to have this social justice warrior as our #WCW.
#NFSWomen #WomanCrushWednesday
Mar 21, 2018 | Blog, Innovate For Good, News From the Frontlines
As a community of entrepreneurs, we are highlighting the innovation (and perspiration!) that inspires the amazing enterprises we see all around us. And, most importantly, celebrating the impact that motivates the entrepreneurs and their work. You can also align profit and purpose through partnering with us or investing in companies that give back to Not For Sale.
Get more involved with Not For Sale.
Get involved or give to change the course of a life affected by modern slavery.
High school students like Shawdi Sani showcase their commitment to Not For Sale’s mission and capacity to #InnovateForGood.
Sani, a junior at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, took initiative to livestream Not For Sale’s March Kickback Sessions in her school’s study cafe.
On March 2nd, Aloe Blacc, Family of the Year, and Mt. Joy lent their voices for a great cause — in benefit of Not For Sale’s anti-trafficking efforts. You can watch the livestream on YouTube.
Before the concert, Sani presented statistics about human trafficking in San Diego in order to fully engage the audience with the topic at hand. The issue feels personal to Sani, who admits that she was initially shocked to learn the extent to which human trafficking affects her hometown– San Diego places 13 on the FBI’s list of US regions with the most reported cases of child sex trafficking.
“We need to erase the mindset that human trafficking only happens ‘over there’ and not near us. We need to be proactive and spread awareness,” Sani says. “I believe we need to discuss it and discuss ways of prevention to make sure that no one in our area is vulnerable or uninformed about the issue.”
Now, Sani plans to work with the Raven Abolitionists at Canyon Crest and the school’s Humanitarian Cause Club to put on a school-wide awareness based assembly in May, in which she will discuss how to recognize human trafficking signs and other prevention tips.
Not For Sale applauds Sani’s efforts to empower her community with information about how to stay safe and protect others from human trafficking’s far-reaching effects. Her initiative is a stellar example of how to #InnovateForGood!
Together, we #InnovateForGood to create a world without exploitation. We are creating the new model for how businesses can change the world. Your partnership with Not For Sale goes beyond simply donating — It means that impact is embedded within your business’ DNA.
Mar 19, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, Vietnam
Meet two of our caregivers at Not For Sale Vietnam, Huong and Trang.
Huong has been a valuable part of the Not For Sale team for over a decade now and has had the opportunity to develop deep bonds with many of the boys in the program. Recovery from trauma is a long, difficult journey, and Huong is there to support the survivors every step of the way. She plays a key role in their development of confidence and self-sufficiency.
Also essential to the boys’ recovery process, Trang is another Not For Sale trailblazer. Her passion for the anti-human-trafficking movement was ignited when Not For Sale sponsored her son’s surgery in 2006. Since then, she has become actively involved in multiple aspects of the boys’ lives – from cooking family meals to facilitating the development of crucial life skills. Tranghe ensures that when the boys leave the shelter, they are prepared for bright futures.
We are in awe of these powerful women’s dedication to the fight against commercial child exploitation! #SheInspiresMe
Mar 15, 2018 | Bay Area, Blog, News From the Frontlines
As a newly single mother who had just left a toxic relationship, Tyrina moved across the country in order to find financial stability and was introduced to prostitution by a woman who had created an “ad” for her when she was unable to find work and was desperate to provide for herself and her daughter. Her vulnerability left her powerless and in perpetual danger and discomfort. Although she now had financial security, she and her daughter’s safety was now at risk. She knew something needed to change.
Tyrina was afraid of being alone and again found herself in a dangerous relationship with a man who convinced her that if she became a prostitute, he would help provide for her and her child. He also helped teach her how to advertise herself and her appearance better in a way that attracted more customers and ultimately brought in more money. Her relationship although comfortable at first transitioned into a toxic, controlling, and manipulative one always with strings attached –- not far off from exploitation.
Luckily, Tyrina was able to escape trafficking as well as the relationship she had with her trafficker. However, because she no longer had a steady income, she began struggling again to find a job that would provide sufficiently enough for both her and her daughter. Tyrina found herself turning to illegal side jobs just to make ends meet.
It was when Tyrina had grown tired of constantly being in an unhealthy mix of “doing both right and wrong,” that she turned to Not For Sale’s Bay Area program where she met the project director, Darian. Darian acted as Tyrina’s counselor through encouraging her to do better for herself and her daughter as well as provided the resources for her to do so; from job training and support, to representing her in court, Darian and Tyrina’s relationship has extended two years and will last many more. Tyrina viewed the program as a safe haven for women, and she began bringing in other survivors who she knew felt stuck and needed help.
Today, with Not For Sale’s help, Tyrina has a steady job and is able to independently provide for her and her daughter. She has discovered through the Not For Sale program that she has a passion for helping people, specifically those who have been in similar situations to her own and hopes to one day attend school to become a counselor.
“I’m an example that no one is perfect. Change doesn’t happen overnight. You have to take the steps to be better. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, and I’ve done great things. It’s about bettering myself and striving to be better,” Tyrina said.
Not For Sale is proud of Tyrina’s strength and drive that enabled her to rise above her circumstances. Tyrina is a great role model not only to her daughter, but to women everywhere.
#SheInspiresMe #FearlessFriday
Mar 12, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, South Africa
Meet Sne Makhubu of Not For Sale South Africa.
At only 15 years old Sne is already a role model to many in South Africa and is one of Not For Sale’s most inspirational success stories.
Sne was introduced to surfing at 9 years old by her coach Sandile Mqadi who works with Not For Sale South Africa,and hosts a surf club for local kids in efforts to keep them off the streets and away from exploitation. As soon as Sne was put on a board, she fell in love. She began swimming lessons and training in life-saving.
It wasn’t long until she was launched into her contest career, being chosen to represent KZN at the Grommet Games in Port Elizabeth. Today, at just 15, Sne is rated in the top five under-eighteen surfers in the entire country and is a potential World Surf League Women’s Qualifying Series world tour contender as well as 2020 Olympic Surfing Candidate.
Apart from being an extremely talented surfer, Sne has a huge heart for giving back to her community. Sne supports Not For Sale by donating surf equipment, and volunteers where she was first mentored and found her love of surfing.
We are amazed by Sne’s journey along with her passion to give back to her community and will be rooting for her in 2020! #SheInspiresMe
