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!