With summer drawing toward a close, it’s an ideal time to check in and share a snapshot of some of the great progress that our generous donor community has made possible so far this year!
Our donors are such an important part of creating a safer world for vulnerable children. We’re excited to show you the real, measurable results these generous gifts help achieve and how they become amplified, generating positive change across communities.
Here are some highlights of the progress made in 2024
So far in 2024, we’ve:
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- Supported over 320 scholarship students
- Taught 3,322 people their human rights
- Spent 2,482 hours mentoring students, and
- Supported over 150 families in earning more income
Our students are so deeply grateful for your support. Mina says, “Getting this scholarship and participating in these activities has helped me relax, talk about my ideas, and feel more sure about myself.” She went on to say, “I’ve learned that there are compassionate people who can connect with me. I also take pride in leading group activities and value hearing everyone’s opinions. It is important for my friends to grow and become more aware of the dangers in our area so they can protect themselves and others. I can now share what I know with them.”
Kritsana also wanted to thank all the donors who provided funding for his scholarship while he was in vocational school. He believes that the scholarship helped him achieve a good level of education and he said, “Thank you for giving me the chance to learn how to get around in this world. Now I feel strong and ready to look after my family and myself.”
Our special events also have an impact
From awareness-raising events, to camp activities, to youth leadership development in schools, we’re working every angle to ensure children have access to the resources they need to stay safe from predators. If you’re keen to stay in the loop about these various activities, we encourage you to follow us on Instagram and Facebook as we regularly share about them there. It’s a great way to see the continual progress your support offers!
For example, the support our donors provide so that our students can join camp activities makes it possible for at-risk children to have access to a truly unique and meaningful experience that they deeply value. The students who participated in our first camp were so eager and enthusiastic, they didn’t even need the usual reminders of the upcoming event!
One of our scholarship students exclaimed that the camp was really fun and enjoyable. As she put it, “I also learned many new things from this camp. In each session, there were important lessons for us, such as anti-trafficking, how to identify life goals, family relationships, risky behaviors, sexual abuse prevention, financial management, citizenship, and mental health. All of these lessons are useful in my daily life. I feel very safe and warm here with every mentor from TFS. Thank you all for making this camp possible. This camp will forever have a place in my heart.”
“Chiang Rai Awakening” was also a really important community event that we co-hosted. It was a fun gathering in the city dedicated to raising awareness about cyber threats that lead to human trafficking. With exhibition booths, games, films, prizes, a student dance performance, and even a panel discussion with government officials, media, NGOs, and a Member of the House of Representatives, people had opportunities to learn from experts and even give their own suggestions and opinions to policymakers! This dialogue is so important because it helps make sure that anti-trafficking policy is responsive and relevant to the people who need it most.
Over 500 people attended and the event was so positively received! Many people said that they had been unaware of these forms of trafficking, and this event helped them see how close it is to them and their families. A screening of a film inspired by the real-life story of a trafficking survivor who was deceived into working in Cambodia was particularly effective in helping them realize the severity of the problem. Several community members approached us, seeking advice for people they knew who were at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. Our staff provided assistance and ensured they received the support they needed.
Your investment in prevention makes powerful events like this possible. Whether you’re supporting by following along with our activities, sharing the word with likes and shares on our social media, or giving gifts to support the mission, you’re a valued part of our community and we’re so grateful for you.
If you haven’t already joined as a donor, and you would like to help give at-risk children the tools and resources they need to break the cycle of child trafficking and exploitation before it starts, please consider giving a gift at: https://thefreedomstory.org/donate/
Thank you for being a part of changing the lives of children from risk to opportunity!
