Cape Cod couple helps survivors of human trafficking
In 2003, singer/songwriter Sarah Symons of Sandwich attended the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The experience changed her life.
"I watched a feature-length documentary, 'The Day My God Died,' about human trafficking in Napal and India," Symons says. "I was appalled and inspired by the horror and the huge scope of the problem. I learned about the underground railroad that survivors have created to rescue victims. They bravely use their own experience to prevent others from the same torture."
Symons learned that victims leave slavery in only three ways: they are thrown out if full-blown AIDS makes them too sick to work; they are rescued in raids by agencies like the International Justice Mission or by in-country shelters with the help of trustworthy police; or they are aided by a sympathetic client. Stories of young girls robbed of their hopes and dreams, whose lives have been shattered by the child-sex trade, moved Symons to action.
"As the credits were rolling, I decided to change my life," Symons said. She e-mailed the two shelters profiled in the film and immediately began volunteering with one of them, Maiti Nepal. For the first year, she distributed fund-raising brochures and educated herself about the worldwide problem. Then, she was invited to visit Maiti Nepal.
"My children were three and four, so I wasn't sure I could make the trip, but my husband, family and friends made it possible," she said. "The shelters in Nepal needed help with an income-generating program to empower because it's really hard for survivors to find employment. We came up with the idea of selling the handicrafts survivors were already making as part of recovery from their ordeal.
Launching the Emancipation Network
Women and young girls who have been rescued from slavery enter shelters where they learn to make jewelry, clothing, handbags and paper products as both therapy and a means of supporting themselves.
"We took it to a higher level, selecting certain colors and designs that we knew would sell in the U.S.," Symons says. "Those who make clothing are very advanced. They study for 1 1/2 years, so it's their vocation, their career choice. Some survivors train others in their crafts, and we're working toward survivors ultimately taking ownership of the production process. For now, they're working with volunteers through the shelters."
In early 2005, Symons and her husband, John Berger, launched The Emancipation Network with their personal savings and by second mortgaging their Sandwich home. TEN offers trafficking survivors the means to support themselves so they can rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society. Symons and Berger buy and import products made by survivors and high-risk women and children and sell them through a network of home parties and awareness events hosted by volunteers across the U.S., on TEN's Web site, madebysurvivors.com, and at colleges through its student program, www.tenstudents.com. Recently, they opened a shop on Route 6A in Dennis village where assistant director Tia Andrews sells products made by survivors Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"We do events for busy people at churches, college campuses, community events and home parties where we educate them on the human trafficking problem and invite them to purchase survivors' beautiful, hand-made products," Symons says. "We're fueled primarily by volunteers - many wonderful people have joined our mission to bring hope to the human rights crisis of modern slavery through economic empowerment."
Presently, TEN has about 100 volunteers across the country who conduct home shows and organize Dreams of Freedom events in communities. Both serve as vehicles for educating people about human trafficking and displaying the survivors' handiwork.
TEN works with partner agencies in Nepal, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Uganda, Serbia and the U.S. who rescue survivors, provide long-term care and education, run prevention programs and work to change public policy and law enforcement practices related to trafficking. "We have traveled to most of these countries," Symons says. "We sit on the ground and talk to them - some speak English or we use translators. We hold hands, sing, and do something fun like making a mural together. We work on designs with them and have developed a personal relationship with the designers and the shelter staff."
And what about the future? "We'd like to have more stores, and we hope to be self-sufficient by Christmas," Symons says. "We'd like to grow the business overseas and do more to get survivors out of the shelters and living independently."
Dreams of Freedom
This human trafficking conference, arts and performance event celebrating freedom and empowerment for survivors of human trafficking will benefit The Emancipation Network (www.madebysurvivors.com)
When: 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14
Where: Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, Cotuit
Suggested Donations: $15-$40 adults; $5- $10 students
Tickets are available at the door.
For more information visit dreamsoffreedom.com/capecod or call Wilderness Sarchild at 508-896-9489.