Today is International Women's Day

Last year, I celebrated International Women's Day with hundreds of women from scheduled castes and tribes in India -- Dalits or "untouchables." I had been in the country for about a month, and I was assisting IJM colleagues man a booth as part of my ever-evolving (and always exciting) job description. Our glossy banners and thin, colorful sheets of A4-size paper were covered in curly Tamil script, information about forced labor. Information that we hoped would prevent these women, or anyone back in their tiny villages, from suffering under this illegal modern day slavery system. I was the very-much out of place American girl with the smile and the camera, documenting the event as an IJM intern -- and fellow woman.

This year, I celebrated the day by attending one of the 500 theaters showing Half the Sky, a documentary and televised panel discussion based on Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's incredible book of the same name. Though you missed the one-time event, don't miss the book. Seriously. Buy it now. To whet your appetite, check out Kristof's column from the Sunday NY Times: Learning From The Sin Of Sodom.

Today, I celebrate the women on many sides of this earth who have shown me what it means to hold up half the sky.

A spark in the darkness

This past year in South Asia, I learned firsthand the challenges and complexities of fighting forced labor slavery. Our office worked exclusively to counter this specific type of human trafficking -- investigators identify factories or facilities using forced laborers, a team of social workers and lawyers work with local government officials to rescue these victims according to the law, rehabilitate them, and then prosecute the owners who perpetuate this crime.

Each of IJM's field offices focuses on a particular form of violent injustice. Working with laws already on the books, IJM seeks to rescue individual victims and fix the broken public justice system. The past few weeks at IJM's headquarters have opened my eyes wide to more of these injustices: sex trafficking of minors, illegal police detention, unprosecuted sexual assault.

Yesterday, I celebrated with colleagues halfway across the world as they rescued women and girls who had been trafficked into a dark world of sexual exploitation and coercive fear:

As dawn broke yesterday morning, IJM and local police conducted simultaneous operations at two brothels, freeing approximately 30 trafficking victims, among them girls as young as 13. The rescued girls and women are now receiving care from IJM social workers. Seven suspected perpetrators have been taken into police custody, and police have locked the brothels to prevent their re-opening.

A spark of hope has been ignited for these young women. And another torch on the long path towards justice burns brightly today.

Snowed In

Two months ago, I would have laughed in disbelief if you told me I would be playing in 55+ inches of snow in February. I expected to be in sunny South Asia, enjoying the "cool" upper 80-degree winter months, eating my Madras Meals off the bright green banana leaf outside at Palimar. But I've spent the better part of the last ten days snowed in, enjoying Washington DC's storm of the century (literally).

Due to complications obtaining a new work visa, I will not return to my dear colleagues and unfinished work in South Asia. However, I will continue to support these same friends and coworkers from afar, by completing my internship at IJM's headquarters in DC. More to come on the specifics of my new role, reflections as I transition and adventures from a new city.

For now, a few photos from Snowmageddon:

The entire city was covered in a magical blanket of snow.

Cars were buried along streets (this photo was taken in between the two massive storms -- yep, there was a lot more to come).

All this snow made us a little stir crazy...

and got our creative juices flowing. Sick of the Snowmen dominating the sidewalks, Maryanne, Brian and I decided to make a Snurtle. (Snow + Turtle = a Snurtle)

Our snurtle is big, but not quite big enough for sledding. I figured it was worth a try.

Posing with Snurtle in front of our apartment.

Although we never actually found a hill, Maryanne and I sure made good use of this sweet retro sled!

National Slavery + Human Trafficking Prevention Month

President Obama has declared January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In his declaration, he commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed men, women and their children from lesser human status, living as slaves in our own country. Slavery didn't end as swiftly as President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, but 150 years later I live in a country where slavery is certainly abolished and laws against it are swiftly enforced.

In South Asia, and many other developing nations in southeast Asia, men, women and their children are still treated -- and tagged -- as lesser humans, living as slaves. These modern day slaves are exploited sexually, robbed of the fruit of their hard labor and trapped in a cycle that spins madly on, without sufficient, practical law enforcement.

IJM educates and equips local public justice systems with resources they need to abolish slavery from their corner of our increasingly flat world. There are other government and non-profit agencies working to do the same. And there are individuals, like me and like you, who are speaking up to demand a change. To demand an end to slavery, for good. And for everyone.

IJM - Reality of Human Trafficking from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Want to be like me?

You too could be an IJM intern or fellow. Or you could recommend this amazing opportunity to a recent grad, or an adventurous (or laid off) skilled professional who is looking for a change of pace and a lot of learning by doing.

Check out the opportunities on IJM's website.

(The above link also goes to a little shameless self promotion, as I'm the featured intern!)

Waiting to return

Because I enjoyed my internship with IJM in South Asia so much in 2009, I decided to extend my time and return in 2010. I will continue (and expand) my work in the Communications department -- as soon as I receive a visa. There have been unexpected delays in the work-visa application process which have prevented me from returning to work this first week of January.

As I wait to return, I am grateful for (hopefully only a few!) quiet days to reflect on the amazing work I am a part of over in South Asia. Most of all, I am eager to return to the friends I work with. The IJM office is a dynamic blend of lawyers, social workers, investigators and administration staff from various economic and educational backgrounds (read: some are very poor and lack a high school degree). The majority of these staff are nationals, while expatriates like me make up an ever-changing flow of interns and fellows eager to volunteer vocational skills or pick up some new ones during a yearlong stint.

Although the staff are so many different personalities -- some quiet and reserved, others loud and prank-playing -- I have observed a common tenacity. Rescue operations to assist local governments document and release slaves from illegal bonded labor demands time, emotion. Follow-up visits with these families to counsel and resource them for lives in freedom demand time, endurance. And fighting for justice in a court system that is so overloaded it would take 100 years to clear every case currently in the system demands time, excellence.

In the nasty face of modern day slavery, IJM's work demands courage. I am reminded of a quotation my mom has stuck to a little yellow post-it by our house phone: "Life expands or contracts in direct proportion to one's courage." (Anis Dais) My colleagues in South Asia are a testament to this truth; may we too live courageously this year and find ourselves with very full lives.

A Final Tribute To: Monkeys

Monkeys abound in India. After observing many of them from afar and feeding enough of them at arm's length, I can confirm that they are sneaky, bold and mean. I still think they are cute, and very cool.

Walking around the Red Fort, like they own the place.

Feeding my new friend a tasty peanut.

Joey, taunting his new friend, also with a peanut.

This is real.

This is also real. Totally worth waiting for the 40th second:

Please note how no one stops to take a second look at the monkeys scattered across the path, part of the spectacular scenery that is commonplace in Gnarly Town, I mean Darjeeling.