How education brings beauty from ashes
“Who would ever come to school out here?” Teresa thought as she stood on a dusty patch of field in South Asia. But throughout her week-long mission trip, Teresa Pregnall slowly began catching the vision the local partners were painting for her: An elementary school...
On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, help introduce a girl to freedom
When Nook escaped to Bangkok, she was looking for freedom — freedom from her abusive father and her abusive husband. What she found were chains of a different sort. We’ve changed Nook’s name for her own safety, but safety is something she’s hardly ever known. Like...
On International Children’s Day, let a child simply be a child
When Mehak grows up, she wants to be a doctor. She wants to get an education and use what she learns to help save lives. It’s a noble dream, but it’s one that Mehak will not be able to pursue. You see, Mehak lives in a community where little girls are not encouraged...
What is cultural slavery?
Mali’s skin was covered in tattoos. When asked if getting the tattoos hurt, the young girl replied, “Not at all. Nothing can hurt me anymore.” Like many young girls in Thailand, Mali, whose name we’ve changed for her privacy, is no stranger to sexual abuse. As a...
A place to call home
For most of 9-year-old Lawan’s life, she’s had nowhere to really call home. She was born in an impoverished, rural village in Thailand to a mother who was only 14. Her teenage mom did everything she could to take care of Lawan (whose name we’ve changed for privacy),...
Every day, I try to live my life in such a way that I accomplish at least one thing that will outlive me and last for eternity.