Back in Action...

 It's been a full week since I've been back in India and it's been a whirlwind of emotions and memories. I've seen familiar faces that I've missed dearly and it feels good to be back in the company of such amazing people. On my first day back at the jewelry program the girls threw me a surprise welcome back party with balloons, confetti, streamers and candy! I was also treated to several performances of dance and song and was eventually pulled into the fun and danced along with them. It was one of the best days of my entire life and one I will remember and think about often for as long as I live. It made me realize how much of an impact someone can have on another persons life, even in a small amount of time. They have become a second family for me and it's a relationship I will cherish forever. 

For the past few days I've been leading a team of 13 volunteers and staff here in Kolkata and while it's an exhausting project it's a very rewarding one to. It's great to be able to show people India, introduce them to the girls and help to get them more involved in the fight against trafficking. Meeting and spending time with the volunteer teams is one of the best parts of my job and it's a highlight of the year. 

As usual we have a very diverse team of people that have taken time out of their life to travel halfway around the world and make a contribution to the fight and learn more about the issue. I admire and respect all of them for doing this as I know how challenging and scary it can be, especially in a place like Kolkata. It takes a special kind of person to take this on and it's an honor to be able to spend time with them. 

In the past few days we have spent time at 2 different shelter homes in Kolkata that house survivors of some form of exploitation or abuse. These individuals, despite their background, are the most engaging and inspiring people you will ever meet and the volunteers are simply in awe of them. Our days are filled with laughter, hugging, singing, dancing, learning and talking and the volunteers end up leaving the home at the end of day speechless and motivated. I've seen and been a part of so many amazing moments over the past few days that it would take me hours to describe it all to you. Just know that these people are doing a great job and for those of you that supported them, you would be proud! 

I'll get more in depth with what's going on over the next few blog posts but in the meantime make sure to subscribe to the "Abolitionists In Action" blog at http://www.madebysurvivors.com/Abolitionists_In_Action and follow along with the group. There are already several entries from team members so if you haven't read them yet, take some time to catch up!

Thanks to everyone that supported the volunteers and keep spreading the word. The fight has just begun! 

Namaskar, 

Paul