I was in Ottawa this past weekend for The Justice Summit, which was a great event I will summarize more next week.  My Ottawa stay spilled into Monday, and between meeting with an MP on Parliament Hill and getting to watch Question Period (in all its gory glory), I walked with my husband and a friend to the office of my favourite fair trade brand in the world – Camino – which is owned by the Ottawa-based La Siembra Co-operative.  They were the first registered importers of Fairtrade Certified cocoa and sugar in North America!  I was really excited.

About two years ago I made a decision not to purchase non-fair trade chocolate bars, and I still shed the occasional tear for my beloved Kit Kat.  I was confronted with the fact that many around the world are being exploited or enslaved to make our chocolate, and that I wanted to support brands that pay fair wages and offer healthy livelihoods for my brothers and sisters in developing countries.  I love the idea of reducing vulnerability and preventing situations of poverty in which families have to sell their daughters or take big risks just to survive.  Since I made this decision, Camino chocolate has overtaken my taste buds, and I was delighted when Mélanie Broguet, the marketing and communications manager (and taste test panel member!) agreed to sit down with me for an interview. You guys are in for a real treat.  Note: The text in pink is my own commentary!

Melanie at a CEPICAFE sugar cane field in Peru

Mélanie, what is it like to be on a tasting panel and what has been your favourite Camino taste test product so far?

There are 8 people on the tasting panel, and we are trained every 6 months.  We’ve learned to speak the same language.  For example, we learn to identify notes like red fruits, oak, and earth, which helps us develop recipes. After a day of taste testing we can’t taste anything anymore!  Taste testing is important because it ensures quality control.  Every harvest is a little bit different, so we have to make sure the taste is close enough in each batch to ensure consistency.  I like dark chocolate, specifically the Panama 80% which is more fruity.  The Dark 71% has a more complex taste to it. (At this point Mélanie brought in the Panama and the 71% and we got to experience this difference!)

One Yummy Camino Gift Pack!

If you could choose three items for a gift pack, what would they be?

The Panama 81% Extra Dark Chocolate bar, our Dark Hot Chocolate, and the Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Snack Bar.  (I wanted to take a picture of these three items, but ended up eating the Panama chocolate bar before my camera got to it! Oops. I substituted one of their delicious Raspberry bars, another of my personal favourites!)

What inspired you to work here?

I’ve always been very passionate about the environment and social justice.  I have a business background and realized that that there should be more to business than just trading and making money.  My boyfriend at the time got a job here and I loved what La Siembra stood for.  I liked that Camino works directly with farmers and fosters diversified, vibrant communities.  I have been here since 2007.

Camino Team - A Happy Bunch!

Can you explain how fair trade works, and how Camino operates differently from big corporations?

Fair trade really focuses on community.  Isolated, small scale farmers often do not know anything about selling their product, like what the price of beans would in the international market.  In order to get fair trade certification, they have to come together as a co-operative.  This gives them more opportunities for knowledge and accountability.  Once they are registered with the Fair Trade International, Camino can work with them.  Fair trade is about transparency, long term commitment, and knowing who you work with.  (Camino sources ingredients for all their products from co-operatives of family farmers in 10 countries: Dominican Republic, Peru, Paraguay, Panama, Guatemala, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Costa Rica and Brazil.  There are over 35,000 of these family farmers!)

Camino is not only fair trade, but organic.  These two go hand in hand.  Our products are shade grown, meaning that less water is needed to produce a crop.  We also help farmers diversify their crops, so if there is a year where one crop does poorly, they can still harvest others.  Big corporations generally do not operate in this way, and usually require large amounts of water and pesticides to keep profits high.

Yani, Whole Brown Sugar Sugar Project Manager at CEPICAFE Head Office in Piura, Peru

Is there a story of transformation you’d be willing to share with us?

In Peru’s remote Montero area, people used to make a sugar called canchaca (block of sugar). It often ended up being used to make alcohol (aguagardiente) because it was so poorly processed, leading to alcoholism and violence in this rural town.  When Camino began to work with the farmers in this community, things started to change.  Now the region produces high quality brown sugar that has more nutrients, and can be sold internationally.

The number of producers in the CEPICAFE Co-op has grown to 6,663, and cheap sugar is no longer used to make alcohol. Violence has decreased. Kids see that their parents are earning a living wage from farming, and instead of heading to the cities to find work, the young generation is going to school and returning to their village with even more knowledge.  (I LOVE this!  Often youth are vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking when they try to make ends meet in cities.  Amazing how sugar can reduce vulnerability!).  The product is packaged in Piura, about 3 hours away, so the whole process provides livelihoods for many families.  This project started in 2003 and has been a success. Their crops have been diversified, so even though right now there is too much rain for a good sugar harvest, they still have other things to farm.

Making Sugar

If you could share one last thing with Hope for the Sold readers, what would it be?

First, I would tell them to pay attention to who is behind the product.  When a big corporation that is not fair trade has a fair trade product, it is good for awareness but what are their motives?  Camino is about more than this, because our motives are about social justice, sustainable communities, and the environment, more than just about what looks profitable or trendy.

Also, I would say to support your local farmers, gardens and communities here.  Increasingly the fair trade movement is focusing on local fair trade. When organic, fair trade items cannot be found at the local level (like cocoa beans since they don’t grow here), support farmers in other countries.

Wow.  So cool.  Mélanie sent us away with our arms full of Camino samples, which I am munching on as I write this.

Thank you so much Melanie for showing us that buying fair trade products can actually make a difference in the lives of others!  For those of you who want to try some Camino chocolate bars, snack bars, juices, coffee, hot chocolate, baking products, or treats, you can find a store near you by typing in your city or postal code here.  If you live in Canada, you can also order Camino products online at Well.ca, which offers FREE shipping for most Canadian locations.

Camino products make for great gifts – I even used Camino sugar and chocolate as game prizes at my bridal showers a few years back!  Really, the possibilities are endless.

I encourage you to check out the Camino website, the Fairtrade Canada website, and VOTE NOW for Camino’s Chocolate as the best fair trade item in Fairtrade Canada’s contest!  Finally, watch this video and register your first step!

I recently saw a short film called SOLD that I wanted to share with Hope for the Sold readers.  The story is told through the eyes of a young journalist named Maya, who has inadvertently gotten captured into a human trafficking ring while doing an investigative article on the treatment of illegal immigrants in America. It offers a glimpse into the fearful moments, arduous travels, and split-second decisions that sex trafficking victims experience in captivity.  John Irwin – who wrote, directed, and produced this film – was willing to answer some questions for me about his work.  Watch the short below, followed by my interview with John.

How did you get into writing and directing films?

I started in Computer Science at Virginia Tech despite my weakness in math. I had a dream of making video games some day, thinking I might be able to tell stories and carry out my ideas through them. I went to a church on campus and during the service, they played an announcement video that someone from the church had made. It was a spoof on Mission Impossible and Run Lola Run and had all kinds of special effects…digital muzzle flashes, explosions — Yes, all were cheesy but my mind was blown.

Up to that point, from what I had perceived, the video-making world was divided. In my world, video-making was reserved for parents shooting Christmas mornings with a rickety VHS camcorder. The other world was across the country, where a lucky few would be given millions to make huge hollywood blockbusters. I had no idea that I, a young guy with a few bucks, could go out and create action scenes with gun fights, explosions and light sabers. Immediately, I switched majors to Communication and Film Theory and started living out my new dream, making dozens of mini short films with a Digital 8 Camera I purchased at Best Buy.

If you could describe yourself as a filmmaker in 5 words, what would they be?

My favorite part of being a filmmaker is that you are forced to question yourself, constantly figure out your opinions and your truth, then attempt to communicate it. I still feel like I’m at the beginning of my journey… maybe in a few years I’ll be ready with 5 snazzy words!

Why do you think film is a powerful way to tell a story?

To be able to (completely) fabricate worlds out of your imagination and then place characters in those worlds, then try to steer the audience’s journey- who they should love or hate, offering new and fresh perspectives on the world through your characters’ eyes… is pretty cool.

What inspired you to make “Sold?”

Four years ago, I was searching for a story that hadn’t been widely told. I stumbled upon the heart-wrenching topic of human trafficking. At that time, movies like “Trade” and “Taken” hadn’t come out yet and after doing a lot of research, I couldn’t believe that for the third most profitable organized crime in the world, there wasn’t much spoken about it. When I was trying to figure out what would interest me the most about a story taking place in this horrifying world, it seemed like the most effective and interesting point of view would be from the victim.

It seems like many movies about the topic are too quick to tell a version of the sex-trade story where the white male hero, saves the helpless girl from being kidnapped just before her virginity is taken from her (which in the land of movies, is apparently the end of the world). For me, I just thought it would be more interesting if the lead characters were strong and smart Latina women who only have their wits to help them survive in a situation where they don’t belong. I thought that would be enough to drive the story. I wrote a feature version and decided to write the short that could act as sort of a demo to build momentum for the feature.

What has been the biggest challenge about making this film?

For the short, it was a challenge to fit a complete dramatic story in 12 minutes without it feeling rushed, especially one that surrounds such a sensitive topic. I wanted to raise awareness with the short but I also just wanted to make a good thriller, I didn’t want people watching to feel like they’re being preached at.  Production-wise, It was a whole lot of fun actually making it happen. The biggest stress was just trying to keep the budget as low as possible since about 85% of what we had to spend came out of my pocket.

What has been the most encouraging response you have received so far?

When people have come up to me after a screening to let me know that they didn’t have a clue that this type of thing was going on, gives me a lot of encouragement. Those same people are usually shocked to learn that it’s not just happening overseas, that it’s happening everywhere, including America.

Aside from the trafficking element, I just want to tell a story well, and it always makes me feel good to hear from people if they liked the film. Everything I direct is such a learning process for me and this one was a huge one. I can’t wait to tackle the feature with everything I’ve learned from making the short.

In the process of making this film, what have you learned about human trafficking that you did not know before?

As I was writing the feature script, I did a lot of research and reading about the sex trade to keep the story as realistic as possible. I’ve been fascinated and horrified to learn about all the methods traffickers use to lure and trick girls into captivity, and once there, the made up debts that are placed on the girls that only increase over time. The traffickers make threats for the safety of the girls’ families back home and use other forms of intimidation to keep the girls from trying to escape. What really makes the issue of human trafficking so overwhelming is just how many people across the globe are taken and sold every day.

Human trafficking is a growing billion dollar industry that is intensely difficult to fight because it is so lucrative and the risk of getting caught for traffickers these days is very low in most countries. Some quick facts that I’ve come across, that blow me away:

Over 100,000 U.S. children every year are forcefully engaged in prostitution or pornography. The UN estimates that nearly 4,000,000 individuals are trafficked each year, 50% of which are children.

When will the feature length film be released?

We’re still trying to raise support for the feature version of Sold. We’ve received a lot of wonderful feedback and interest for the project in general but it’s been a challenge finding people who want to support the project financially. If you’d like to be part of the project, or even get updates, feel free to go to the film’s website and click on the “Join Mailing List” link on the bottom of the page. You can also email me from my website.

John, thank you for making such a powerful short film and sharing it with us.  It serves as a powerful reminder that sex trafficking is a horrendous form of organized crime that is happening all around the world, even on North American soil.

To those who just watched this short film, what did you think?  What did you think of how it ended?  What does a film like this tell us about what victims go through?

As awareness spreads, the issue of sex trafficking is increasingly showing up in movies and TV shows. Actress Karen Robinson (Lars and the Real Girl, The Gospel According to the Blues), who plays Detective Ingrid Evans on King – a detective show on Showcase – recently sat down with retired Toronto Police Service Detective Wendy Leaver to discuss the issue of sexual exploitation.  Karen kindly took the time to answer some questions for Hope for the Sold readers as well.

The interview clip below is part of the King Case Files, which are informative short videos accompanying the episodes.  This one goes with the 2nd season’s first episode, which is on the topic of sex trafficking.  Please excuse the very brief bit in a strip club, as I try to avoid images like that as much as possible on this blog out of respect for those trapped in the trade.

What inspired you to pursue an acting career?

I can’t think of any single moment. There were nudges in the general direction – my mother’s natural flair for the dramatic; being the baby of my brood and therefore an attention seeker; Cicely Tyson in ‘Sounder’; and Saturday afternoons in the ’70s spent watching a Jamaican children’s variety show called ‘Ring Ding’ where my beloved Miss Lou handed me my ancestors’ oral traditions like treasure. Canada handed me the possibility.

What draws you to Detective Ingrid Evans’ character?

Her groundedness. Her failings. Her passion for what she cares about. Her limitations. Her lingerie (fingers crossed). Her sensible shoes. She works hard. And then she goes home. So . . . her humanness, I guess.

You recently sat down with Wendy Leaver to discuss the issue of sex trafficking. What was the most surprising or shocking thing that you learned?

How easy it is to find oneself in these women’s position. We, the lucky ones, tell ourselves “they’d leave if they really wanted to”. But these women are threatened, beaten, fear for their families’ safety, and are terrified of the humiliation if they are exposed. They don’t trust the police and they often times don’t speak the dominant language. If I were in their shoes, I’m not so sure I could leave either.

Karen Robinson with Wendy Leaver

What is it like to film an episode about sex trafficking? Does it make the issue seem more ‘real’ because it is being acted out? Did it lead to any interesting conversations on set?

On set, we’re so consumed with telling the story in the most compelling and realistic way possible that there isn’t a lot of time for conversation. What it does leave time for are moments of such clarity in the work that I found myself truly moved by, for instance, Alina’s hope and innocence in her video application to be a nanny, or Jess King’s insistence that Ingrid and she can help women like Alina, women whose dreams of days spent caring for children turn into nightmares of rape and abuse.

What role does film play in raising awareness about injustice?

Few people enjoy being preached at. Everybody has their own stuff to deal with – work, money, kids, relationship, weather, transit, rent, you name it. Stories acted out, if done right, show us our world in an enlightening, edifying, and most importantly for many of these people, entertaining way. These stories, when delivered in a screen format, have the opportunity to reach a huge audience. That’s immense influence.

With a wide-ranging topic like injustice, I think we need to see real people – people who may be like us, our family, our friends, or who may be that person we see on the subway or street, that one we often choose to ignore. Film and tv, and plays for that matter, can lead us to realize that we all want much the same thing – to be seen, listened to, validated. And hopefully that leads to empathy. The ability to see ourselves in another’s shoes.

Karen, thank you for taking the time to share some of your story and thoughts with us.  I am grateful that there are people like you who do not waste their talent, but offer it to the rest of us so that we can be inspired, entertained, educated – and hopefully even provoked to action on the things that strike a chord with us.

For those of you who missed the first episode of King’s second season, you can watch it here.  You can follow the show on the Showcase channel on Wednesdays at 9:00pm.

This month I had the privilege of attending a CD release party for Joe Brunsting’s album, In Colour.   I knew Joe from my university days, where we were part of a social justice club together.  For a while, one dream of Joe’s has been to create an album, and he told me at the end of last year that he wanted it to support Hope for the Sold.  We were very excited!  The event was lively and well-attended, and we were so grateful that Joe chose to combine an ambition of his with an issue that he is passionate about.  Here are some questions I asked Joe after the concert:

What pushed you to join the anti-trafficking club at the University of Guelph years ago?

I joined the anti-trafficking club at the University of Guelph four years ago because I was offended by the concept of human trafficking. Out of any world issues I have heard about this is one of those that is clearly wrong no matter which way you turn it. Basically I just felt that it is something that is important for people to be aware of and wanted to help increase awareness.

Why did you want to partner with Hope for the Sold on this project?

I wanted to partner with Hope for the Sold because I really respect their vision and motivation. I am inspired by how much they have stepped out and some of the great work that has already been done. I never had in mind to make any money myself from my music and thought that my music could help things along in the $$$ for Hope for the Sold, and this might further enable them to continue their great work.

What first inspired you to make an album?

I was first inspired to make an album when I heard music from some of my friends who had recorded in home environments. Basically I figured “hey this seems pretty accessible” and I was curious to see what I could come up with. I had been doing some song writing and wanted to share it, and I got motivated when I saw how it can be done simply and on a low budget if need be, and come out with good quality and very enjoyable tunes. I had no big aspirations; I just wanted to try something new.

What is your favourite song and why?

My favourite song is the title track “In Colour,”  for a few reasons:

a) About half the tracks I recorded myself in my bedroom closet (not actually in studio), and I am pleased with how well it turned out considering I was just starting out and learning as I went.

b) This song is the most fun; it is very upbeat and has great energy.

c) I think this song represents some of my current personal development in exploring more of my own creativity and learning how to live “more colourfully”.

Where can people purchase your CD?

Electronic copies are available for purchase from my website, or they can email me at j.h.brunsting@gmail.com to get a hard copy.  $1 from every CD sale goes to Woodland Christian Highschool and the rest goes to Hope for the Sold.

Thank you Joe for caring about this issue and for supporting us!  Thanks to all who came out to the CD release party, it was great to meet many of you!

For those who would like to learn more about where the money we raise is going, check out details about our next project to fight sex trafficking here.  If you’d like to throw a fundraiser for us, please contact us!  Need some ideas?  Check our posts on Christmas parties, spa days, bike rides, birthdays bashes & wedding favours.

Last year when my husband Jay and I were living on Vancouver Island, we had the honour of screening our documentary about sex trafficking at an event hosted by Miss Canada 2011, Tara Teng.  Back then she was just days away from winning the Miss Canada title, a platform that has provided her with opportunities to fight for the exploited all over the world this past year.  One of those opportunities included a 4 month internship on Parliament Hill with MP Joy Smith, who champions the fight against human trafficking in our government.

Since that event in BC, we have become friends with Tara, and she is truly one of the greatest abolitionists of our time.  Don’t believe she is more than a beauty queen?  Read our interview with Tara!

In addition to catching up via Skype dates over fair trade tea, I love following Tara’s blog.  Recently she wrote a beautiful post about conviction.  Here is an excerpt from that post, followed by a recent Relate Church video interview that is so powerful.

I’ve learned many things over the past two years but one thing that I learned is that the spotlight reveals truth. When all the glitz and glamour fades away, all that will remain is your character. It doesn’t matter how much you shine from a distance, it is only by the strength of your character that you will ever be able to influence others.

Strong character inspires respect. It is by your character that you leave a legacy worth remembering. Good leaders are not born through the spotlight; their character was cultivated deep within them far before they stepped into the spotlight.

Character is only strengthened through intentional discipline to apply integrity to our daily lives in every situation that we encounter.  Character is refusing to back down from your convictions and choosing to do what is right, regardless of personal cost.

True leaders have taken the time to invest in the growth of their character. They know that their convictions and integrity must be intact before accepting any position of leadership or platform. I walked through years of character development and learning hard life lessons before I ever stepped up to the platform of Miss Canada or Miss British Columbia. I went into the pageant with a clear focus, end human trafficking and the sexual slavery of my sisters around the world. I was intentional in my decisions leading up to the pageant and throughout the pageant. No revealing evening gowns, no fake hair extensions, fake nails or bra inserts and no swimwear competitions…No matter how fierce the competition may be, I refused to alter who I was or water down my message. Winning a title is never worth compromising in your convictions.

God is daily challenging me to deepen in my convictions and strengthen my character. I named my blog “With Conviction” and I sign all my emails with the signature “With Conviction” because I want everything in my life to be drenched with conviction. I’m not perfect but I’m willing to learn the hard lessons in life because I know that it is through these that my character is strengthened.

Thank you Tara for reminding us that we have such a responsibility and opportunity to promote justice and freedom in our world!

**In case you missed it last week, check out Eye See Media’s interview about human trafficking with me here.

A few weeks ago I shared a video about Stella’s House, a home for vulnerable teenagers in Moldova.  The video is worth posting again, as it sets up today’s interview with Melody Cameron, the mission director at Stella’s Voice.

If you were to describe Moldova in 5 words, what would they be?

Broken, Forgotten, Changing, Potential, Promise.

It seems that many children in Eastern European orphanages experience abuse and neglect while they are there. You would think that orphanage workers would be there because they want to love – not abuse – so why is the trend the exact opposite?

In Moldova, orphans comprise a caste all their own. Living in the poorest country in Europe, the unhappiest nation on the planet, amongst the highest alcoholic population of the world, they are the lowest of the low… a despised section of a broken society, a nuisance, and a burden. When an entire nation is struggling just to survive, there is no place for niceties and generosity of heart or resources.

I would dare say many of the workers in the orphanage workers aren’t interested in children at all, but are simply working for the money. Moldova has astronomical unemployment recorded anywhere between 65-80%, so they work for a job, not because they are passionate about what they do.

Plus, I would imagine when you have no control over your life, but are instead controlled by hunger and desperation and the need to exist, when you find something as easy to control as a young vulnerable orphan with no one to vouch for them, you would take advantage of the situation in order to have some semblance of power.

Having said all that, though, there exist teachers who truly do care for the kids in Moldova’s orphanages and want to help and teach them. When we took over the running of a village orphanage this past year, we went to the kids who grew up under the supervision of the teachers there and asked their opinion of the workers. Were they good to the kids, did they care about their schooling, were they interested in their well being?

Many of the kids told stories of verbal abuse, physical abuse and drunkenness on the part of the teachers while at work at the orphanage . But amongst those were stories of good as well, and we hired those who truly cared for the kids and informed those who didn’t why they were not returning to work under the ‘new management.’ For the kids that grew up subjected to those horrible situations, it must be retribution for the teachers’ years of cruel actions.

What makes girls in Moldova specifically vulnerable to trafficking?

Poverty is the number one reason for girls anywhere in the world being trafficked. They are seeking a way to support themselves and their family. Because there is no work to be had in Moldova, they must find work elsewhere. There is so much potential for bogus agencies and organized criminals to take advantage of that fact. Broken family situations, due to alcoholism and poverty make way for parents or other family members to sell their own girls to traffickers as well. And to add to the situation, Moldovan women are considered some of the most beautiful in the world.

How many girls have been helped through Stella’s House?

Around 70 girls have come to live in Stella’s House since it’s beginning in 2006. When they come to stay at Stella’s, they MUST go to school. Some stay for a year, some four years, and some even longer. We do not limit how long they are with us, but they stay until they complete their studies and are able to support themselves. Also, we now we have a home for boys, called Simon’s House, which currently holds fifteen. When our next two homes are completed, they will house an additional fifty girls.

Is there a particular success story that motivates you to keep going?

All of the girls living in our homes are success stories. The fact that they have the capacity to love and be part of a family despite all the things they have experienced is incredible. But beyond that, a large part of them are focusing their studies in order to continue the work of Stella’s House: they are becoming architects, interior designers, lawyers, teachers, journalists so that they can help other girls and boys like them. That, to us, is the epitome of success. You can’t ask for more than that.

What project or initiative of yours can people support today, and why is it important?

There are thousands of orphans that need someone to give the opportunity of family, education, love, and hope. Our vision and dream is to have enough Stella’s and Simon’s Houses for each of the 12,000 orphan Moldovan girls and boys to come once they are forced out of the orphanage. We have the solution to keep them from being trafficked across the world, we just lack the funds to build and maintain enough homes to make it happen. Each home costs $500,000 to build and furnish and $15,000 per month to keep going. We provide EVERYTHING for the teens under our roof. Bus money alone for getting the kids to school costs us $3,000 per month.

This summer, a group of our girls are traveling with us across the country telling their stories and how Stella’s House has saved their lives. We are hoping, by the end of summer, to have raised the $1,000,000 needed to build our third and fourth homes. We also have registries at Target and WalMart with furnishings and linens for the homes.

Stella’s House was started to give girls somewhere safe to come once they left the orphanage. But it has evolved into so much more than that. We teach girls simple things like housekeeping and cooking, which they never learned growing up in an orphanage. They never used microwaves, stoves or vacuum cleaners before they came. Furthermore, they are learning that physical abuse is not normal and NOT acceptable, although it is considered so in Moldovan culture. They are finding self worth, purpose for their life, and compassion for others as well.

We truly believe that the girls of Stella’s House, and the boys from Simon’s House will change the face of the nation. One by one they will affect the people they come in contact with and leave their mark in the world they live. It is such an honor and privilege to be a part of the miracle that is taking place, and we want others to be a part as well!

Thanks so much Melody for sharing your important work and inspiring vision with us!  And thank you Philip for facilitating the info for this interview so I could get it up quickly.  It is great to know that there are people in Moldova loving, serving, and helping those who most need it.

Wanna support these amazing people are doing?  Learn more about Stella’s House here.  There are some cool ways to get involved:

• View the summer tour dates and attend an event
• Purchase something for Stella’s House off the registry
• Buy a T-shirt
• Make a donation

Michelle Brock

There aren’t many things that excite me as much as interviewing people who have devoted their lives to fight for freedom.  Saskia Wishart began abolition work in 2008.  She has been the regional director for the Not for Sale campaign in South Africa and is soon starting a new chapter in their European office.  Many of my conversations with abolitionists have resulted in them saying, “What, you haven’t met Saskia?! She’s amazing.”

So, after snooping through her blog I hunted her down and got to ask her about her experience as an abolitionist.  I am excited to have a new friend, and would love to share her journey with you as well!

1. When you first started your abolition work in Cape Town, what was your experience like with the prevention program there?

I think prevention is under-stated in the work of abolition. People get excited about rescues and safe houses but they seem to forget that if prevention had been done, a person may have been spared the trauma of being trafficked in the first place. When I started out with prevention, it was at a time when there was basically no understanding of human trafficking in South Africa. Being on the ground in at-risk communities gave us a better understanding of what trafficking actually looks like. We went in to tell people what human trafficking was, but came out every time having learned more about what was really happening. In the end we were able to turn this information around to call for greater measures to combat trafficking.

2. Some say that prevention efforts are impossible to measure. Do you feel like the prevention/awareness work you have done has been successful?

From 2004 “ 2008 only 8 cases of human trafficking had been identified in all of South Africa. In 2008, when I told someone that I worked with Human Trafficking, they would give me a blank stare. My colleague went to do a presentation in a police station, and they thought she had come to talk about Pedestrians (Human Traffic).”

Girl looking at the Not for Sale red card during the 2010 World Cup Initiative

The 2010 Soccer World Cup provided NGOs with a unique opportunity to raise awareness and it gave prevention efforts an open door into schools, churches, and communities. Millions of people were reached with the message that Human Trafficking is real and is happening in South Africa and we need to be protecting our communities.

Today I am proud to say many other NGOs have picked up the work of doing prevention. Next year all 10th grade students in South Africa will learn about Human Trafficking as part of their life skills curriculum. When I tell someone that I do Anti-Human Trafficking work, it is no longer met with a blank stare. Last year we identified more then 40 human trafficking cases. 11 of those cases are on the court docket. So, I would say yes, if just for 1 person whose life is changed or saved it were all worth it, and I know there has been more then 1 so we have been successful!

3. What was your favourite part about going through the NFS investigative training academy? Why would you recommend it to others?

Wow, the academy was an amazing experience! I was a bit skeptical at first, wondering how something so American-centric could translate into fieldwork in Africa, but I was really wrong in that way. Seven of the people I did the academy with I have seen or worked with overseas and I have made some amazing friends along the way!

I have to say, everything we did to identify victims in South Africa last year we were able to do because of our academy training. Christina (my crime fighting partner;) and I have made drastically smarter choices because of our training! Our relationships with law enforcement came because we learned the value of working together with the authorities, and we have seen such favour because of our willingness to partner with law enforcement. I recommend it, because if you take what you have learned at the academy and actually put it into action, you will absolutely be able to make a difference in your community!

Saskia with the Cape Town newspaper

4. How do you identify victims?

Last year of the 45 victims Not For Sale South Africa identified, all were female and 1/3 were under the age of twenty.  Half were from overseas, the other half from Southern Africa.  16 of the 45 cases involved South Africans trafficked for the purpose of forced domestic work. The rest of the cases were victims of sex trafficking.

Most victims are identified because of tips from the community, service providers, or law enforcement. We also use the skills we learned at the NFS academy as citizen investigators to help identify cases of trafficking. We have a list of red flags, but most of it is pretty straightforward; if you have an 18 year old from Korea selling sex in Cape Town, already we have questions about how she got to South Africa, why she is working in a brothel in South Africa, etc.

5. Is there a story that has really stuck with you from the past few years?

Every story stays with you, which can be good and bad!  Recently I had the opportunity to travel with Not For Sale to their project in Romania, and honestly, I was absolutely blown away by the work being done there. One girl’s story in particular really affected me. This girl was sold into prostitution at the age of nine by her mother. When she was 14 her traffickers sent her to prostitute in Italy. The Italian government rescued her and sent her to the project in Romania. At 14 she had already spent 6 years in prostitution. Her road to recovery was difficult, but those who were working with her in Romania never gave up on her. She is 21 now, has stunning green eyes, is engaged to be married and going to university.

Saskia with NSF staff hearing about anti-trafficking work in Romania

Meeting her was to me a realization that there is such hope for the future. It takes hard work, and serious commitment, but it is so worth it, because you meet a girl like her, and you see the hope. This girl said to my colleague and I, “I know that God loves me, because here (NFS Romania) I have had more of a family then most people experience even when they stay with their real families.” For someone who has gone through what she has, to say what she had to say with such conviction, humbled me so much.

6. What are the top 3 NFS initiatives that really excite you right now?

Oh my word, only 3! Uhmm we are hosting a Montara Circle in Amsterdam in September. Montara Circle is a gathering of 50 of NFS’s influential people in our network who get together and have 24 hours to come up with a holistic solution to an area of human trafficking. Our last Montara Circle was held in America and focused on the Peruvian Amazon and marries the movement to end slavery with the environmental movement in an attempt to better the lives of people and the planet through a business solution! So I am really excited to see what is developed for Europe!

Equally I am soooo pumped for the Global Forum on Human Trafficking “ if you are an abolitionist, you have got to be there! It is such an encouraging gathering of frontline people changing the face of slavery! Plus I will be part of panel for the GF as an abolitionist of tomorrow, so that should be fun!

And finally, one of my other passions is the work we do to change consumer mindsets! Free2work is our platform that looks at a company’s effort to reduce forced and child labour. I love this platform because it is an easy way for people to engage the issue by changing very basic life activities, like the way they shop!

7. Are there any difficult lessons you have learned along the way?

Yes, I think a long was you do this work you will always be learning difficult lessons, you carry every case on your heart, and you learn something from each person. Sometimes things don’t go well, and then you carry a burden of responsibility, but it is amazing because even when there are I times I think things went wrong, I see a few months down the line how the situation actually turned out better then I would have expected. We can’t be too prescriptive, and we should never lose hope!

8. What are 3 things that most people don’t know about you?

My life goal in highschool was to find a job that would allow me to snowboard as much as possible (thoroughly failed that goal, although South Africa does make up for it with surfing)!

My favourite life story at the moment involves a death defying moment with a Cape Town bus.

I have 1 dance move, and much to the entertainment of others, I bust it out unconsciously whenever I am nervous or excited!

Saskia, I’m pretty sure you’re one of the coolest people changing the world, and I am so glad you were willing to share a bit of your journey with us!  We wish you all the best as you start a new chapter of your work in Europe – no doubt it will be challenging, rewarding, and life-changing!

Check out Saskia’s blog here, and don’t forget to stop by the Not for Sale website to get some great ideas for action.  You can also check out an interview I did last year on the Global Forum here.

Michelle Brock

Comfy chairs.  Baked goods.  Friendly staff.  Art on the walls.  Aromas in the air.  Welcome to Origin Coffee & Tea in Rocklin, California.  Their website claims they failed Business 101 and this was the result:

• They are for-benefit. In other words, Origin Coffee & tea is a registered non-profit.  Money is a tool for freedom and they give it all away!

• Their workers don’t get paid. What?!  These baristas are volunteering their time on a rotation basis because they believe in the mission.  All funds exceeding overhead costs go directly to those fighting sex trafficking.  And don’t worry, volunteers are not hard to come by (they’ve had 279 applications to date!)  In addition to being trained on how to make delicious drinks, workers are also taught the basics of human trafficking so they can have meaningful conversation with customers.

• Ethical business practices are a must.  This means striving for simplicity and using fair-trade products.

I read about this amazing coffee shop in an article two weeks ago and was blown away. What a novel idea!  Instead of making a one-time donation to fight for the cause, pastor Mark South (right) and Chad Salstrom (left) wanted to create a model that would generate continuous funding opportunities. Considering that North Americans love their coffee, that friends love to grab tea and snack while socializing, and that students are strangely drawn to the sound of espresso grinders, steam wands, and clanging dishes while studying, this place is well-suited for drawing a crowd.

My husband’s desire to ask lost of questions has rubbed off on me, and I wanted to find out more about this venture.  Here is my interview with Chad Salstrom, who manages the coffee shop and is the only paid person on staff.

If you had to share your experience so far in 5 words, what would they be?

Messy, overwhelming, scarring (as in a fight leaves you scarred), exciting, redemptive.

Have either of you ever worked at/managed a coffee shop before?

Never. Nor anything like this. I went to Bible college and was selling shoes at Nordstrom before this. I only started drinking coffee three years ago when my second child was born.

I read that this idea came to life because of your experience as fathers. Do you think fathers have a unique role to play in the fights against sex trafficking?

Absolutely, the way we feel is that this is primarily a man issue. The vast majority of the pimps and johns are male. So we call men to lead the fight against this. It think that should resonate with all fathers.

How did you choose the supplier for your coffee and tea products?

The criteria for us was (1) A heart for the mission (2) Fair Trade Organic (3) High quality (4) If possible, from within our city.  We found all of those for our coffee and pastries. Our teas come from a great family owned operation in Kentucky. Both our coffee roaster and tea distributor have either been to the farms personally or worked with the farmer for years to assure that people are paid a fair wage in good working conditions.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

The biggest challenge is keep the mission in front of all of us. None of us enjoying thinking about what goes on. But it is critical so that we will persevere through the long, tiring, messy days.

The money is being put towards rescue, recovery, and cultural development – what does cultural development involve?

Cultural Development is a broad term that represents ground level infrastructure that can sustain the anti-trafficking fight long after Origin Coffee has gone away. Some areas have been devastated for generations by the commercial sex-trade. We want to break that bondage. Depending on the area it may look like putting money towards education, law enforcement training, church planting, job training etc.

Is there a story (funny, sobering, or inspirational etc) that sticks out in your mind regarding the coffee shop?

An incredible moment for me was when a group of 5 teenage girls came into the shop. These girls looked like any other girls of Asian descent. However, the five girls were survivors of the child sex trade in Cambodia. They were rescued by IJM (the primary organization we support), they spent time in the Agape recovery house (the founders are friends from this area) and are now here. The group of girls are in the US to testify against an American which is a brave and rare effort. They have been granted amnesty and are current enrolled in school. To meet them was sobering and inspiring. This fight works and is worth it. They were so sweet, humble, beautiful and innocent. There were no signs of the nightmare they have lived through. And to top it off, one of them wants to run a coffee shop someday and would like to volunteer with us.

Wow.  Thanks Chad for the work that you do and for sharing about your experience with HFTS readers.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me these guys are a true inspiration!  Coffee shops like this need to spring up all over the U.S. and Canada…and perhaps this will get the wheels turning for some of you entrepreneurial types!

For more on this fantastic coffee shop, check out this article by the Sacramento Bee and this one in The Placer Herald.  Stop by the Origin Coffee & Tea website and check out their facebook page too (where these pictures are from!).  For those of you lucky enough to live in the area, get some summer drinks today.  For the rest of us, let’s dream big and visit when we can!

Michelle Brock

Love these guys.  Check out the DNA Foundation to see all that Demi and Ashton are doing to end child sex slavery.

Michelle Brock

This is part 2 of Tuesday’s post, on the topic of john schools.  I visited Ian Mitchell, who runs the prostitution offender program from the John Howard Society, and asked him some questions about his work.  Read part 1 here.

The men who come through your doors – are they angry? Ashamed? Arrogant?

Embarrassment, shame – whether its shame of what they were doing or because they got caught, is hard to say. I insist on them taking responsibility before I let them into the program. Some hard cases don’t. I remember one very religious guy, driving a semi, parked it on the Kingsway, went to get a girl, and is in denial that he was doing that. In the interview, at the arrest, he sat through an 8 hours school, still saying that was not what he was doing. But you look at the police file and that was definitely what he was doing. Hard for him to admit because of his religious background. Total denial.

Some argue that john schools are not effective. What do you think?

UBC did research on our first 500 people, came up with statistically significant attitude change. We haven’t done any recitivism studies but judging from the information we get back from the police, I would say recitivism is about 1%. Now we don’t know, they might go to massage parlours (hide it better) or escort services. For me it is not just about recitivism, but actually getting information to these guys that (a) they have chosen to deny or (b) it is new info to them.

Do people accuse you of imposing your morals on these men?

Our approach toward the guys is this: We recognize you come into this room with your own sense of morals and values. This school is not about us trying to find out what they are, it is not about us telling you they should be different, or talking down to you telling you our morals are better than yours. All we are going to do is give you information of the realities of the sex trade, things that you’ve possibly denied or not known, and at the end of the day we simply ask you: given who I am and what my morals and values are, does it still fit for me to continue this behaviour knowing what I know now?

The Vancouver john school is in a bit of a strange phase right now. Can you tell me more about that?

Support for the school has declined.  Some feel that prostitution simply cannot be dealt with, and this attitude permeates.  But I’ve just had four referrals from Vancouver Crown, this is huge.  I just got a call from a probation officer recently, and will have a guy coming in today who only speaks Japanese so the interview will require a translator.  We are trying to restructure the program.

Stings are harder because most complaints now are about bawdy houses.  One police officer said that probably every apartment building in the West end has at least one bawdy house in it.  It is harder to catch.

What’s the hope?

We have to raise our men and our women differently. From what I understand we seem to be back to a pre-feminist society as far as young women are concerned. They have to dress for men, undress for men, be sexy for men…and then the amount of sexual content not only on the web but advertising – how do you in a free speech society tone that down? How do we raise our young men differently?

What we are doing is not going to get rid of prostitution. What I am hoping for is that it will have a small effect. Hopefully convincing that guy, and to convince his buddies and kids. The John Howard Society deals with guys coming out of prison, how do we reduce the prison population? You go right back to birth almost! A bunch of social issues are at play – drug abuse, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, addictions, gambling, drugs, alcohol, social capital, being born born into subsidized housing or a third generation welfare family. That is a lot to consider.

Thanks Ian for the work that you and for being willing to let me drill you with questions!

Now I ask our readers this:  do you think it is possible to change men’s attitudes about prostitution? Anything else strike you as interesting in this interview?  How do you raise your boys to respect women?  Let me know your thoughts below.  Check out part on of the interview here.

Michelle Brock