“I have a very messy past,” Naay began as she shared her story.Naay, whose name I’ve changed to protect her, fled to Bangkok, Thailand, to escape an abusive relationship. But without an education or any job prospects, she soon found herself being abused again — this...
One of my favorite parts of my visits to Thailand is the time I get to spend at the Freedom Homes. If the bars and red-light districts are full of darkness, then these homes are full of light and joy. It’s here that girls get a chance at a new life. It’s here that...
Today we visited a slum near Bangkok. It’s places like these where the cycle of cultural slavery truly begins. In these neighborhoods, there are few jobs and even fewer schools. Entire families have lived in the same shacks for generations. And from the day they are...
I’m back in Thailand this week. No matter how many times I visit, I am always overwhelmed by the impact cultural slavery has had on this country. There is a great divide here in Bangkok. This city is home to some of the most spectacular malls, the grandest hotels, and...
The millions of women in the global sex industry could easily be labeled as “broken,” “unloved,” “worthless,” “captive,” or “slave.” But freedom gives these women a new identity. Freedom allows a woman the right to choose her dreams as well as provide a different...
