TEN's Blogs

Team India Weekly Update

Submitted by Paul Suit on Tue, 10/25/2011 - 07:11

Team India updates from the field in Kolkata. 

Monday October 24th 2011

Journey to Jalpaiguri

Submitted by Paul Suit on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 13:17

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to accompany Aloka Mitra (Founder and Chairperson of Women's Interlink Foundation) on a 3 day trip to Jalpaiguri, India to meet with officials in the area to discuss future projects and to see the site for our next jewelry center.

Preventing Recidivism in Human Trafficking

Submitted by John Berger on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 14:40

There is a tall wall, topped with barbed wire at one the best shelters in Calcutta for survivors of human trafficking.   Many visitors have asked why they need to keep the survivors behind a wall.  Show up at night and you will see why.  Human traffickers gather outside the wall, tossing notes and even cell phones over to the young women.   

 

A Lesson in Human Trafficking - Border Towns

Submitted by Sarah Symons on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 13:16

india nepal borderUS Mexico BorderLiving in or near an international border town greatly increases the likelihood of a person becoming a victim of human trafficking, for a variety of reasons:

New Way to Grow for Survivor Scholars

Submitted by Sarah Symons on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:25

Girls who were denied their childhood need all the tools and enrichments we can offer them,  in order to become strong, independent adults.  This spring we launched a new program in partnership with Senhoa and Womens Interlink Foundation, offering jewelry training – for therapeutic purposes rather than employment – and an innovative life skills curriculum for school-going survivors, addressing such issues as relationships, hygiene, self-esteem, health and women’s rights . Because education is our number one priority for younger survivors,

ANYTHING is possible

Submitted by Laura Roveda on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 10:00

Since returning from my life changing trip volunteering with Made By Survivors in India this past January, I’ve become a bit of a blabbermouth.I have been telling lots of people about the trip, sharing photos and letting as many folks’ as I can about Made By Survivors, its programs and of course, about the girls.  Mostly it has been with friends and family, or others who have asked, but that’s not really true.  I try to slip it into conversations with people I don’t really know all that well.

There's always light at the end of the tunnel!

Submitted by Paul Suit on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 13:44

Last week I had a good time with my extended family in Boisar shelter home. I had gone to the Mumbai shelter home to follow up on the jewelry program which we are conducting since last year, October. It was great to see the level of improvement the girls have gone through. One particular girl, Sonam was apprehensive about the program because she lacked confidence when I met her for the first time. She would barely speak to us and was indifferent. She dreaded that she would not be able to do anything in her life as she lost the meaning of her life after what she had suffered.

The Sacred Thread

Submitted by Paul Suit on Tue, 08/16/2011 - 14:08

(Paul pictured above getting a Rakhi tied by one of the girls) 

This weekend was  Raksha Bandhan, or Rakhi, a festival primarily observed in India that celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. The central ceremony involves the tying of a rakhi (sacred thread) by a sister on her brother's wrist. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her. I was fortuate enough to be able to celebrate the holiday with the girls at the jewelry center and even though this was my 2nd time, this years ceremony carried a deeper meaning for me. 

Going Back

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 17:54

Going Back -

I have been back and forth, up and down, inside and out, about taking a second trip to Kolkata, India with Made By Survivors (MBS) this upcoming January.  When I left Kolkata in February 2010, I vowed to come back every year.  It seemed like a possible and practical goal.  After all, I had done it once, I could do it again – with ease – from here on out.

An Interview with a Kindred Spirit

Submitted by Brandy Walker on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 15:51

 

A couple of weeks ago, I guest posted on Scoutie Girl. Near the end of the article, I wrote:

 

“At my core, I am a dreamer. And my current dream is to harness the power of story and use it to fight modern slavery, earn a living for myself, and teach people from all walks of life how to do the same (and hopefully much more). With my blog as my main platform and words as my tools of choice, I know I have ventured down an exciting rabbit hole.”

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