Each One of UsWhen each of us hears about children in slavery, we want to do something right away. Lots of people want to start kicking in doors and bringing slaves to freedom and safety, and tackling slaveholders along the way. It’s only natural. We can all make sure that happens, but we need to leave kicking in doors to the people who can do it best. Anti-slavery workers are like firefighters--they’re trained, they know the dangers and how to avoid them, and they know how to get slaves to freedom safely. Like firefighters, they often have to put their lives on the line. They also need to speak the same language as the slaves because freedom really starts in the mind. Bringing people to sustainable freedom is the most effective action local anti-slavery workers can take to bring slavery to an end. They are uniquely suited for that job. What is each of us uniquely suited to do? For people in North America and Europe, the very best way that we can get people out of slavery is to make sure anti-slavery workers have what they need to get the job done. What each of us may consider a small donation—say, the cost of a movie ticket each month—can bring freedom to hundreds of people and can literally make the difference between slavery and freedom. The truth is that today there are not enough freedom workers to go around. There are slaves waiting for freedom because there aren’t enough trained liberators.  Meet Akileesh, an anti-slavery worker in Northern India. Over a recent three-month period, Akileesh rescued 22 adults and children enslaved weaving carpets in Nepal, liberated dozens of children and adults who were slaves in stone quarries, and even stopped a child slave from being killed in a bizarre ritual sacrifice. One worker, a few months, and over one hundred slaves freed.
Akhilesh is a bargain; his monthly salary is about $150, and the cost of running his office, phone, and motorcycle only comes to another $100 per month. But what Akhilesh lacks is job security. Funding for his job and others is dependent on donations and grants that are gratefully received but tend to come and go. He knows his salary could dry up at any moment. The most powerful and effective thing the average person can do to end slavery is to make sure that Akhilesh and other workers are on the job by making a regular, monthly donation. Even $10 a month can make a huge difference. If enough people make regular monthly donations, then more and more workers like Akhilesh can be trained and go to work freeing slaves. Help us put a new generation of
Freedom workers like Akhilesh into the field. If you would like to make a monthly donation that will free slaves, click here.
Make your voice heard. Take 30 seconds to become a member of Free the Slaves. You’ll be alerted when your letter or phone call to an elected official or a CEO can make the most difference to fight slavery. You will also be the first to hear when it’s time to celebrate because more slaves have been freed. Shop like you mean it. Everywhere you shop, tell the store manager that you do not want to buy slave-made goods, and ask what that business is doing to fight slavery. When enough consumers make it clear that they will vote with their purchases, businesses will listen and act. Vote like you mean it. Write your elected officials a personal letter and tell them why ending slavery is a priority you. Tell them that you will be watching to make sure they are fighting slavery. Vote accordingly. Refuse to retire on the backs of slaves. If you have a retirement fund, tell your 401(k) or 403(b) manager that you do not want to profit from slavery. Ask that they not invest your money in companies that refuse to take responsibility for the slavery in their supply chains. All of us have our own special talents and skills. How can your skills and talents be used to end slavery forever? Your heart and your imagination will guide you, and Free the Slaves is here to help.  Gabriel was only 8 years old when he heard about modern slavery. He wanted to help and got in touch with Free the Slaves. Gabriel used some of his birthday money to buy this bicycle for an anti-slavery worker in India. |
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