We have exciting news today, friends! We are launching a campaign to raise funds to help send 200 at-risk kids to our spring camps! Here’s what’s happening:
The seasons are a little different in northern Thailand. Right now, it’s the hot season: temperatures regularly get up to 104*F (40*C), and it’s smoky due to seasonal burning. It feels like an oven. Schools let out and many kids are left on their own while parents and grandparents work.
That means a lot of kids are spending lots of hours on social media, where they become more vulnerable to online sexual predators and traffickers preying on the fact that they’re lonely and looking for attention and affection. Older youth often look for jobs, too, and they’re vulnerable to job offers that are actually traps. So many people are getting lured by job offers posted online, and then end up trafficked to neighboring countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, where they are forced to commit crimes under the threat of extreme violence. We work right on the border, so this is all happening very close to us.
We’re aiming to prevent this from happening to these kids! We have two camps coming up this spring where we will provide a safe place for the kids to socialize, learn great life skills, and learn how to recognize trafficking and protect themselves from it.
Let’s Send These Kids to Spring Camp!
Each of these camps provides:
- 2-3 days of activities
- Chances to learn about setting goals and trafficking threats
- Time to build deep, trusting relationships with staff mentors and peers
- Transportation
- Lodging & food, and…
- Games & prizes
So many of our students have shared that activities like these have really been transformative for them. By participating in them, students gain confidence in their abilities, learn how to protect themselves better, develop leadership skills, and heal communication breakdowns in their families.
One scholarship student has said,
“Joining activities and going to TFS camps always leaves me feeling inspired and happy as they really help me grow personally. I learn, enjoy myself, and start to feel more confident doing things with people from various ethnic backgrounds. Sharing what I’ve learned with others has helped me grow in mindset, ability to lead, and to take care of myself.”
Lots of kids are excited to participate this year too. As another student explains,
“I am eager to join this year’s activity and take on a student leader role, as it will help me learn more about myself, and help me and my friends feel more confident.”
We’re really excited to provide this life experience for these young people, and we would love to ask for your help to make it happen.
We’re raising $20,000 so we can provide this opportunity to 200 at-risk youth. For your reference, every $100 gift covers the cost for each student to participate in both camps.
Can you help us reach our goal of supporting all 200 students? Any contribution you can make would be greatly appreciated! Plus, your gifts will be matched by another generous donor for double the impact!
If you are able to support this opportunity, please click this link to make your gift. Please also spread the word to anyone else you know who might get some joy out of making this experience possible for these kids.
Thank you for everything you do to support our work at The Freedom Story and our mission to protect vulnerable children from traffickers. We truly value the role you play in keeping these children safe and free to pursue their dreams. We couldn’t do this without you!
