The FTS Blog provides a platform for dialogue about how slavery affects communities around the world—and what can be done to eliminate it.
Emmanuel endured years beneath the blistering sky of Ghana’s Lake Volta. As a child fishing slave, he faced the bare elements in a shoddy open boat. Sharp nets left deep cuts in his fingers. The blurry water left him fearful that he might not survive when forced to dive beneath the surface to untangle the nets.
“My life was in a total mess,” Emmanuel recalls. He had no access to medical care or education. “I thought that was the end of read more >
On this World Day Against Trafficking In Persons, you might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to end modern slavery. Turns out, as a Free the Slaves supporter you’re already doing a lot!
The Free the Slaves rescue boat in Ghana liberates 15 children from fishing slavery at a time on Lake Volta. Survivors go to specialized shelters for medical care, psychological counseling and catch-up schooling. They are free to be children once again.
Social mapping read more >
When we visit villages that are targeted by traffickers, we see that modern slavery is, at its core, an economic crime. That’s why we were thrilled to hear from an inspiring grandmother named Stella Abrokwah in Arkrah, Ghana. She explained how our Village Savings and Loan Association transformed not just her life, but the lives of her five grandchildren.
Stella had been struggling to provide basic needs to her five grandchildren by selling charcoal and iced water. “It was read more >
It costs $180 to send our new rescue boat onto Lake Volta to liberate 15 children from fishing slavery in Ghana. If you donate $180 (just $15 a month), we can send the boat twice. A generous foundation will match your contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 during our Doubling Down on Freedom Campaign.
Free the Slaves rescues change lives. When Felix was 6, a trafficker offered his dad $11 and the promise of a cow if the boy would work read more >
As chair of the Free the Slaves board of directors, I want to personally let you know that a generous foundation this summer is increasing its support of our work. They’ll match dollar-for-dollar your summertime contributions, up to $100,000. It’s a unique opportunity to double your impact.
You can double the rescues of children from slavery, double the number of survivor shelter beds for them, double vocational training classes for survivors so they can stay free, double the arrest of traffickers, and double the education of vulnerable villagers about their rights.
Your contribution, big read more >
The Anyimornu brothers are free today after years in fishing slavery
The work wasn’t bad. It was so much worse. Fourteen-hour shifts. One meal a day. No education, no reprieve, no escape.
Godwin, Ebenezer and Bright Anyimornu endured these conditions for eight years when their mother couldn’t afford to take care of them and her husband refused to help raise them.
Traffickers target families like these in Ghana. In this case, they promised the mother the moon for her boys: schooling she could never afford to give them, apprenticeships that would lead to read more >
Editor’s Note: This dispatch from the field originally appeared on the University of British Columbia’s Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program website in December. Free the Slaves thanks the university team’s remarkable effort to help us improve the measurement of our programmatic impact.
GHANA — One of 2018’s Global Policy Projects took to the field in December. MPPGA students Adedoyin Luwaji, Ali Bajwa, John Ede, Simin Yook, and Ros Seibert have been working closely with their client, Free read more >
Felix studying at FTS-funded shelter after four years in child fishing slavery
Owning livestock can transform a family’s future in rural Ghana. An impoverished farmer can sell the cow’s milk, and use its dung for fertilizer and biofuel.
Of course, it’s never right to sell your son to get a cow. But that’s what Felix Kaletsi’s father did. A trafficker offered Felix’s dad an upfront payment of GHs50 (US $11) and the promise of a cow if the boy would work on fishing boats for four years. Feliz was just six years old.
“My read more >
When they first arrived at the rescue shelter, you could see in their eyes that these children had endured the unimaginable. “We were tied with ropes and beaten, with no food for the day,” they said. “We slept on the bare floor with no blankets.”
For these three kids, however, life wasn’t always slavery. The cousins had a typical childhood with their parents. Dziwonya, Christopher and Esenam lived in the Ghanaian village of Havaleh. They went to school and life was read more >
The first day of Hanukkah this year coincides with an important date in the anti-slavery calendar. December 2nd is the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.
That is why we are especially happy this year to spotlight a confluence of observance and activism. A Free the Slaves Passover Project Partner has taken direct action to liberate children from slavery in Africa.
The Global Mitzvah Project of Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD has made read more >
Many businesses will match your contributions or allow you to make tax-exempt contributions directly from your paycheck. Call 202.580.7668 or email narit.gessler@freetheslaves.net for help. Free the Slaves has been approved by the Combined Federal Campaign for U.S. government employees. The number is 11482.
A copy of Free the Slaves financial statements may be obtained by contacting us at: (202) 775-7480 or 1320 19th St NW # 600, Washington, DC 20036.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State, 303-894-2860, www.sos.state.co.us/ re: Reg.No 20163039484.
Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR FREE THE SLAVES, (REGISTRATION NO. CH43520), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of Free the Slaves is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
Illinois: Contracts and reports regarding Free the Slaves, Inc. are on file with the Illinois Attorney General.
Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
Michigan: MICS No. 57944.
Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Free the Slaves may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement.
New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charity/chardir.htm. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.
New York: Upon request, a copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the organization or from the Office of the Attorney General by writing to the Charities Bureau at 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888- 830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Free the Slaves may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Virginia: Financial statements are available from the, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.
Washington: Free the Slaves is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
West Virginia: Residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from: Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. CONTRIBUTIONS ARE USED FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN SUPPORT OF Free the Slaves’ MISSION, AND ARE DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF FREE THE SLAVES BY THE STATE.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for upcoming Free the Slaves fundraising events in your area. You can find us at facebook.com/freetheslaves.
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