This week, I’ll be focusing on foundations and charities that focus on labor trafficking. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, there are several types of labor trafficking:
- Bonded labor, or debt bondage, is probably the least known form of labor trafficking today, and yet it is the most widely used method of enslaving people. Victims become bonded laborers when their labor is demanded as a means of repayment for a loan or service in which its terms and conditions have not been defined or in which the value of the victims’ services as reasonably assessed is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt. The value of their work is greater than the original sum of money “borrowed.”
- Forced labor is a situation in which victims are forced to work against their own will, under the threat of violence or some other form of punishment, their freedom is restricted and a degree of ownership is exerted. Forms of forced labor can include domestic servitude; agricultural labor; sweatshop factory labor; janitorial, food service and other service industry labor; and begging.
- Child labor is a form of work that is likely to be hazardous to the health and/or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development of children and can interfere with their education. The International Labor Organization estimates worldwide that there are 246 million exploited children aged between 5 and 17 involved in debt bondage, forced recruitment for armed conflict, prostitution, pornography, the illegal drug trade, the illegal arms trade and other illicit activities around the world.
Again, this is widespread form of trafficking in India. I’ve read countless stories of families forced into bonded labor in brick kilns. At the end of the month, I’m going to list several books that I’ve read over the past few months that deal with this topic in detail.
Charity of the Week
Polaris Project is a great organization that works to help stop human trafficking worldwide. A couple of my classmates in college interned with Polaris Project, and I believe a few may have ended up working with them after graduation. According to their website, their mission and values are:
Mission
Values
Polaris Project is grounded in a set of values and organizational beliefs that provide a foundation for all our programmatic activities. We strive to embody and model these values within the Polaris Project community and within the anti-trafficking movement.
Service
Polaris Project has a culture of deep commitment and service to the mission of our agency and to the people we serve. That commitment and attitude of service drive the sacrifices that our staff and volunteers make to dedicate themselves to our work, to each other, and to our clients. An important component of that attitude of service is humility, a practice that is encouraged and valued in our programmatic work as well as in our organizational culture.
Reality and Impact-Centered
Polaris Project recognizes that we are using extremely limited resources to combat a problem of massive scope and immediate urgency. To minimize this obstacle, we use a strategic framework that focuses on achieving the greatest positive systemic impact possible given our available resources. Our programs are constantly being evaluated and refined against this standard to help ensure we are maximizing our impact and staying focused on our mission.
Polaris Project embraces the complexity around the problem we combat, the solutions that are adopted, and the people and organizations involved. We reject ideological thinking as it is often rigid and insensitive to reality and as ultimately damaging to assisting those in need. We try to appreciate the viewpoints, insights, and lessons of people on all sides of debates, taking what is best to strengthen our ability to serve others most effectively.
Empowerment
Polaris Project uses an empowerment model that helps identify, appreciate, and fully realize the strengths and aspirations of both our clients as well as the grassroots volunteers in the movement. We provide opportunities to show people their own power to transform their lives and the lives of others for the better.
We both embody and celebrate multiculturalism among our clients, staff, and supporters, and cultivate an environment of respect and openness to the diversity within our organization.
We enjoy and actively foster a feeling of family among our clients, staff, and volunteers that enables a greater appreciation and expression of our humanity, while avoiding the de-humanization that can occur with bureaucratization.
Non-Violence and Respect
Polaris Project strives to encourage the practice of non-violence among our staff and volunteers, not only because we believe it is right, but also because we believe it is most effective. The practice of non-violence requires us to first ask how we can be better or help others be better, rather than destructively criticize or support the disempowerment of others or other organizations. It is the ethic that helps protect movements from destructive internal politics and in-fighting, while encouraging self-improvement as organizations, and mutual constructive support and collaboration.
The practice of non-violence reminds us that even those who commit the most heinous acts are human beings, and should be understood and cared about even as their behaviors are condemned and their ability to cause further suffering is curtailed. Humanization of all parties leads to a more realistic understanding of the motivations and experiences underlying the behaviors, and facilitates more effective and comprehensive solutions.
Non-violence as a personal practice among staff and volunteers helps transform the self-defensive reaction to being attacked or criticized into an attitude of love, appreciation, and groundedness. This practice supports growth and openness and helps protect against the risk of burn-out.
Transformative Innovation
Polaris Project values programmatic and strategic innovation, recognizing that what is typical or traditional is not always optimal. We have found that the risk of taking the unbeaten path is usually outweighed by the experience gained, if not by the eventual destination itself. Polaris Project aims to be courageous in the creation of systemic change.
Holistic Approach
Polaris Project is an inclusive organization, serving victims of all forms of human trafficking, and addressing what we feel are all parts of the issue of human trafficking, including the victims, perpetrators, demand, and support structure.
I know it should go without saying, but respect is such a key value to have when working with trafficking victims. So many of these people have been beaten down and dehumanized that they don’t really know what it is to have a sense of self worth and respect. And again, education is key! Many of these workers don’t know that they do have protections under the law, and many don’t have access to news and information to know about what laws are being passed in the government. These people end up trapped in a vicious cycle that can (and does) extend down through the generations. Polaris Project works to give these victims a sense of dignity, self worth, and respect. They have some great resources on how to help raise awareness in your community, so go check them out! Human trafficking happens everywhere, not just in third world countries!
justfacetsofus 
Recent Comments