Sale of handmade crafts to benefit international nonprofit agency

Posted: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 12:01 am

Human trafficking is considered one of the greatest injustices in the world today, and is second only to the drug trade as the largest criminal activity in the world.
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of humans into slavery for sexual exploitation or forced labor.
According to the US Department, an “estimated 600,000 to 820,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders each year, approximately 80 percent are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors.”
Nearly two million children around the globe are currently in forced sexual exploitation.
Tiny Hands International is a Christian, non-profit organization that fights against the social injustice of human trafficking. THI is located in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. It has currently established border-monitoring stations along the Nepal/India border, intercepting girls that are being trafficked into a life of forced prostitution and sexual slavery.
Along with those stations, they operate multiple safe homes for trafficked victims as well as a Women’s Empowerment Center, where the women they intercept can receive emotional and spiritual care as well as vocational training as they work to put their lives back together.
Gamma Beta Phi of the University of Tennessee at Martin is taking a stand against human trafficking and is inviting the community to stand with them.
Gamma Beta Phi is the Top 10 percent Honor Society. It is hosting a Tiny Hands International Product Party.
The product party will be held April 2-4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. each day. It will be located in the Boling University Center in room 206C Monday and Wednesday, and in room 229 on Tuesday.
The products are made by victims of sex trafficking who have been intercepted and are now working for THI. Products range from hand-crafted jewelry, purses, scarves, hats, jackets and more.
All proceeds go to THI for the fight against human trafficking.
Only cash and checks will be accepted. Product prices range from $10 and up.
Gamma Beta Phi is asking everyone to join in the fight against human trafficking.
To learn more about THI, visit the website at www.tinyhandsinternational.org.
Published in The WCP 3.27.12