Monday, April 20, 2009

The Emancipation Network- with a handbag giveaway!

The United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs estimates that 27 million human beings are victims of some form of slavery, forced prostitution or similar exploitation. Approximately half of these people are under the age of 18.

Let that number sink in a bit

27 million

That is more than the population of Chicago, Los Angeles and New York combined. These victims, mostly women, are treated as commodities- 800,000 of them recruited, tricked or trapped like animals and taken from their own countries. It is a way of life the average American could never even fathom. Slavery and forced prostitution are so distant to most of us that there is no face or name to the numbers. And I suspect many in this world prefer it that way.

I'll admit that I hate reading statistics like the one above. It makes me sick to my stomach, leaves me feeling helpless. How can human beings be so cruel and evil to one another?But I try not to suppress those feelings because I believe that ignoring the ugliness in this world leads only to inaction, passivity. I never want it to be said that I did nothing.

Being just one person with limited resources restricts what I can do, and I never feel I do enough. So I am thankful for people like Sarah Symons and John Berger. Symons and Berger are the founders of The Emancipation Network (T.E.N.), a non-profit organization that fights human trafficking through "empowerment, education and hope". The Network provides funds for victims through products made by the survivors. This is an incredible program that genuinely strives to give victims a voice.




In order to help get the word out about the important work being done across the globe, T.E.N. has generously provided one of their "eco-chic handbags" in blue as a giveaway for my readers.

A high-quality, handcrafted bag with a hip earth-friendly edge, these handbags are made from reclaimed plastic bags. So not only is this item benefiting a victim of human trafficking, it is also eco-friendly.


T.E.N. not only does handbags but clothing, beautiful jewelry, home décor and gifts. If you are looking for a unique Mother's Day gift T.E.N. is absolutely worth checking out. Don't forget to head back here and enter my giveaway when you are done shopping!

Giveaway Rules
To win this adorable bag you will have to do just a bit of work. Please be sure to follow the first step closely in order for additional entries to count.

First Entry- Visit the T.E.N. website and tell me one thing you have learned from the site. It could be a product you love or some new information, just show me you have made a good faith effort to check the site out.

Additional Entries


  • Tweet this giveaway and post a link to your tweet (one entry per day)
  • Follow @KatherineforTEN on twitter and leave your twitter name (one entry)
  • Blog about T.E.N., T.E.N. products or something you have learned about human trafficking (5 entries)
  • Purchase any product from T.E.N. or make a donation of any amount, tell me which you did (5 entries for each done)

The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Entries will be accepted until 12 AM CST, April 30th to allow enough time to get this out to you for Mother's Day.

Best of luck!

Jessica


67 comments:

Carolyn G said...

I learned that they help individuals and communities become slavery-proof with jobs, job training, education, aftercare and reintegration

Carolyn G said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/carogonza/status/1577014009

Anonymous said...

In South Asia, traffickers will pay $150 to parents for their child's life. It's so sad that the parents actually need the money badly enough to do this!

savethemasses@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Also, I follow you on Twitter (ID: TheFashionableGal).

Melanie said...

I found out that governments are only recently starting to get involved due to the pressure from anti slavery groups. That more than half of these are children under the age of 18

Melanie said...

tweet http://twitter.com/kaiasmommy/status/1582693755

Melanie said...

follow Katharine @kaiasmommy

Joy and Melissa said...

I learned that hat more than half of these are children under the age of 18 are worked so hard for so little.

Joy and Melissa said...

I follow you on twitter. madly59

Joy and Melissa said...

madly59@pestkajWin a eco-chic handbag in my earth day giveaway http://tinyurl.com/cwverf RT I RT on twitter.

Joy and Melissa said...

I am a subscriber. madly59

bison61 said...

Brothel owners can purchase a child from a trafficker for about $1000

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

clenna said...

I found out that they help individuals and communities become slavery-proof with jobs, job training, education, aftercare and reintegration.

Wow! That's fantastic!

Tammigirl said...

I am in shock. The value of a human life to these people is nearly nothing. How sad

Tammigirl said...

I followed Kathering

dctm said...

I learned that the Emancipation Network, MadebySurvivors, and TEN Charities were founded by Sarah Symons and John Berger in 2005. John and Sarah are married and together have build TEN from the ground up using their personal savings and dedicated community of friends.

and I love the Parisian bag

dctm at bellsouth dot net

Natural Mama said...

I learned that all their items are made by survivors, how cool. And I love the becky purse.
thanks

DEBIJOT said...

I love the magazine bead necklace.

Kimberly B. said...

I learned that even though slavery is illegal throughout the world, there are more slaves now than at any other time in history. It boggles the mind!

Meg said...

Im in love with the Felt Bauble Ball purse. I think this would be any little girls dream! It is so fun and youthful, thanks.
gomeggo[at]gmail[dot]com

Crystal Arcand said...

I'd love to carry my business cards in the silk card case.

TEN has a low $200 opening order requirement for wholesale, so it's easy for small retail shops to make a difference for survivors.

Unknown said...

i love the Rosa purse, it simple and elegant
tanyainjville@yahoo.com

FannyHams said...

27 million people around the world are estimated to be victims of slavery, for forced prostitution, labor, domestic work, and other forms of exploitation, with approximately 50% of victims being under the age of 18.
that number is so sad. its hard to wrap your brain around a number that high, and then think, thats how many HUMAN SLAVES there are right now! omg.

Unknown said...

27 million people around the world are estimated to be victims of slavery, for forced prostitution, labor, domestic work, and other forms of exploitation, with approximately 50% of victims being under the age of 18. UNICEF estimates that one million children will be forced into prostitution this year.

Unknown said...

Follow Katherine on twitter (aitmama)

Melissa said...

Thank you for bringing this terrible tragedy to your blog. I've been learning about it for several years now.

I learned that 80-90% of $ goes back to survivors to help them grow their business.

hoamelissa AT gmail DOT com

Jess said...

I found out that more than half of these ppl are just babies (under the age of 18!)& that they help individuals and communities become slavery-proof with jobs, job training, education, aftercare and reintegration

Jess said...

I follow on twitter (@4boys4now)

Kristen M. said...

I live in San Diego where human trafficing is also a huge issue. My group of friends hosted a Made by Survivors party earlier in the year. Personally, I'm in love with the block print tablecloths.

Christie said...

I learned that they help slaves, like sex slaves, rebuild their lives by giving them jobs:) How great is that? My sister once gave me gift from a similar company that gave jobs to former Indian sex slaves. I think it's a great "teach them how to fish" sort of mentality.

thanks for introducing me to this company! I love their rice bag wallets!
xoxojadore(at)yahoo(dot)com

Christie said...

I blogged about this:

http://asianlovedoll.blogspot.com/2009/04/ten-giveaway.html

check it out. thanks so much!! I love this bag: it's cute, helps others, AND helps the earth? what could be better??

xoxojadore(at)yahoo(dot)com

auntrene said...

I love the Paisley tablecloth with the 4 matching napkins. The colors are so pretty. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I learned that inn South Asia, traffickers will pay $150 to parents for their child's life. That is so sad that things like this still occur in this time period.

samsakara@twcny.rr.com

Anonymous said...

I twittered here

http://twitter.com/samsakara/status/1617585714

samsakara@twcny.rr.com

Anonymous said...

I follow you on twitter as samsakara

samsakara@twcny.rr.com

andrea v said...

Multistrand Pearl Bracelet in blue is very pretty. They have many nice things.

rnredner said...

I learned that, along with grant money, the products they sell cover all of the overhead costs of the organization. So all money donated can go straight to the people who need it. Very smart!

-Rebecca
rnredner at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

i learned that for traffickers, sex slavery is a lucrative business, generating over 7 billion dollars a year.
flyergal82 at yahoo dot com

makeetis said...

I love the Queen Size Floral Quilt Set. Very pretty.
brewerchickey78(at)yahoo.com

makeetis said...

I am following on twitter. (makeetis)
brewerchickey78(at)yahoo.com

mimi said...

I learned a song Sarah wrote was used for a film and after Sarah saw the film her whole life changed. The Emancipation Network was formed.

MaddyRu said...

I like the Blue and Yellow Dragonfly Choker(of course it's backordered-maybe that's a credit to my taste? J/K!) Thanks!

MaddyRu said...

I tweeted!

http://twitter.com/MaddyRu/statuses/1633806995

MaddyRu said...

I am now following Katherine on Twitter.

MAddyRu

bloggytreasures said...

Kathleen McGowan wrote about it in her book, "The Book of Love."

(Not on the website, but I read a book last week called Jantsen's Gift which also talked about these atrocities.)

Wonderful, wonderful cause!

quelleheure4[at]gmail{dot}com

bloggytreasures said...

I follow on twitter and I tweeted: http://twitter.com/quelleheure4/status/1634295564
quelleheure4[at]gmail{dot}com

Danielle said...

I love their note cards. My favorite are the Sequin Notecards. I love the bright colors.

drellis500(at)gmail.com

Danielle said...

I tweeted. http://twitter.com/drellis500/status/1634364937

drellis500(At)gmail.com

joannaonthelake said...

I learned so much from visiting the website. It is very eye opening and quite starling information and inspires me to want to do something to help! I learned that TEN's handicraft programs offer these survivors a job that enables them to support themselves and live a meaningful, independent life. For those still living at the shelter, handicrafts programs provide therapeutic benefits, job training, literacy, social interaction, and a stipend for part-time work. This is just wonderful! Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter.
joannaonthelake@gmail.com

joannaonthelake said...

I Twittered! Here is a link to my tweet:

http://twitter.com/joannaonthelake/status/1638522463

joannaonthelake@gmail.com

joannaonthelake said...

I am now Following @KatherineforTEN on twitter. My username is joannaonthelake

joannaonthelake@gmail.com

Deb K said...

Every purchase of a Made By Survivors Product helps us provide jobs and opportunity for survivors. Every purchase helps the girls and the shelters that care for them. We are a nonprofit organization, and all our profits go back into programs that fight slavery and empower women.
That is what I learned there and I think that is Fantastic!!

mel said...

I love the glass bead bracelet, ITEM ID: RBJ80. Beautiful!

mdhohn(at)msn(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I have learned and appreciate children under the age of 18 are worked so hard for so little.

Laura
cutepea1@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I follow KatherineforTEN on twitter

Lara
cutepea1@yahoo.com

joannaonthelake said...

Here's a new tweet for today:

http://twitter.com/joannaonthelake/status/1648976250

joannaonthelake@gmail.com

Lindsay said...

"Slavery was outlawed in the US in 1864, and it is not legal anywhere in the world, yet there are more slaves in the world today than at any time in human history."

Wow. I have definitely learned a lot from this site!!!

frugalfab at gmail dot com

Laureen said...

I learned that they are approved by Co-Op America (now GreenAmerica), an organization that promotes just and sustainable purchasing...check out their National Green Pages for your next purchase! :)

Thanks!
lmarston(at)yahoo(dot)com

Diana D said...

I learned that they were an international organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking and modern day slavery. This is a wonderful organization and a much needed one. Thanks for having the wonderful giveaway.

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

joannaonthelake said...

Good morning! Here's a new tweet for today:

http://twitter.com/joannaonthelake/status/1658515327

joannaonthelake@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I just missed the Southern California Event 4-19, Freedom Day 2009

luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

Anonymous said...

I follow @KatherineforTEN on twitter

dolls123

luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

Anonymous said...

Tweeted
http://twitter.com/dolls123/status/1662107635

luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

Adaptable Kay said...

I learned that these products on the site help go to outlawed slavery.
I think thats an amazing thing to do.
I can't wait to learn more!

Ms. Latina said...

This is so sad, even sadder because its a problem that has gone on for too long, not just in Calcutta India but in Mexico, China, the USA, and everywhere! I enjoyed (not the correct word but so tired I cannot think) watching the video about Destiny. It helps raise awareness of what is going on. The fact that they are going out of their way to not only get them out of that way of life but to give them dignity is an admirable concept. In the end that diginity will inspire and empower them so that they CAN go on. The program helps them have hope. Without hope they will surely die and they are giving them life, just as they sang, This IS what it means to be FREE! Thanks for such an informative giveaway. It is a company to be admired

Adaptable Kay said...

I follow you on twitter :D

Adaptable Kay said...

I tweeted!

www.twitter.com/theeclectice