Community Corner: Human Trafficking Victims Celebrate New Life In The Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The United Nations Crime-Fighting office reported recently that 2.4 million people across the globe are victims of human trafficking at any one time, and 80 percent of them are being exploited as sexual slaves. They state that only one out of 100 victims of trafficking is ever rescued.
Freedom House is the only nonprofit in Northern California that houses these victims and provides aftercare. They recently celebrated the graduation of their 100th survivor.
KCBS' Connie C. Kim talks to Jaida Im, the founder of Freedom House:
Freedom House has been open for two years now, since August 2010, and offers an 18-month program where they help survivors begin a new life with counseling, legal support, psychological care, professional training, medical help, and more.
Jaida Im, the founder of Freedom House, said they maintain contact with all of their graduates and now the alumni are helping new women who come to the house for help.
"[One of the recent graduates] said she has grown so much just living in Freedom House... and how she's empowered to do better. She said she has never received this kind of love and she said 'I think this is what you call unconditional love,'" Im described emotionally. "This was just confirmation that this is why we do what we do."
"The horrific crime [of human trafficking] is a huge problem.. and we really feel that we can't do it alone, " Im spoke about tackling this large global issue. "Sometimes the numbers can be daunting and overwhelming but if we can just focus on helping one soul at a time and continue to build upon that, I know we can win this battle."
Tickets to the annual gala on April 28th are sold out but to get on the waiting list or to find out how you can help and get involved with Freedom House go to www.freedomhousesfbay.org.
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