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.