At the heart of Freedom’s promise is the calling to prevent human trafficking and child slavery from happening and to aid those who have been impacted. We have partnered in both the US and in Cambodia with organizations whose mission is to support projects that target the education and prevention of human trafficking.
With the proliferation of local Non-Government Organizations in corruption-filled countries such as Cambodia, identifying quality partners can absorb an inordinate amount of time and resources and present enormous challenges. The careful consideration and evaluation of our partner organizations has been paramount in the development of our Phase I Initiative. Freedom’s Promise selects its partner organizations after years of research and due diligence, which includes multiple comprehensive sight visits. As a part of our due diligence efforts, we obtain first hand knowledge of the operations and the individuals overseeing these local projects to fully evaluate its resource management and to assess its sustainability and effectiveness in the local/regional marketplace.
We pursue local partners that are united with our general principles and objectives, but that require strategic assistance, support and expertise in further developing and expanding specific projects within their organizations that are directly aligned with our mission.
Cambodia
Restoration of Vulnerable Children (RVC)
The RVC Project seeks to intervene in the lives of children living in poverty who need assistance with education or skill training. A primary factor underlying high dropout and low completion rate is the necessity of child labor in poor households. Those that do attend school are often under-educated so teachers can earn extra money from tutoring. Because of the corrupt education system teachers do not earn a fair wage. The RVC project provides supplemental Khmer education, English language and sewing classes to children living in impoverished communities.
- 50 poor children receive supplemental Khmer education
- 60 children receive daily English language classes
- 20 young girls age 14-20 receive sewing training
New Life of Hope (NLH)
The NLH Project seeks to intervene in the lives of children who suffer from or are at risk for abandonment when their parents leave the border towns of Cambodia to work in neighboring Thailand. Intervention is accomplished in 4 villages in Singh commune through education, equipping public school teachers, workshops regarding issues of child rights and trafficking, and by bolstering the local economy in order to raise the standard of living.
Goals:
- 60 children in 3 villages able to read and write Khmer
- 6 primary school teachers able to teach 340 children regularly
- 150 families including children from 3 villages to learn about child’s rights, drug addiction, safe work displacement and business knowledge
- Community Development Program for 15 families (Micro-enterprise)
Precious Women
The mission of Precious Women is to provide an environment free from trafficking and exploitation so Cambodian women experience hope, healing and transformation. Freedom’s Promise is funding two programs, Night Outreach and Business.
Night Outreach
- Team currently visits 15 beer gardens and 7 karaoke bars in Phnom Penh on Friday nights
- Goal: Outreach to 10 new beer gardens and 5 brothels
- Follow up and encourage 30 girls currently in the program
- Goal: Build relationships with 50 new girls
Business
- Vocational training in PW businesses, wedding costume business and child care center/pre-school business
- Provide support, training and assistance for women to start their own businesses
- Provide living expenses for 12 months as women attend vocational training
Nashville
Equine Therapy
Equine Assisted Psycotherapy (EAP) has been known to help the physically and mentally handicapped with great success. EAP is now being used with victims of sex crimes and is receiving positive results. EAP incorporates experiential activities with horses for emotional growth and learning. The therapy sessions are conducted in a group setting, the first step being to introduce each woman to the horse they will be working with. They start out by grooming and spending time with their horses. At first they feel intimidated, but after weeks of building a bond with the horses through grooming, breathing exercises and nature walks, the women then saddle up for riding. Overall, they learn trust, resiliency, compassion, joy, and courage working with the horses. Trust is the biggest issue these women need to overcome and they learn by spending time with the horses. If they can trust a 1,200 pound horse, then anything is possible. EAP is effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, relationship issues, mental health and other related issues that result from being a victim of human trafficking.