A story from an After Care Center in Cambodia
Jorani caught my eye almost immediately. In the midst of all thirty or so girls at the after care center painting nails, playing soccer, swinging and see-sawing, Jorani sat by herself on a bench, lost in the confusion of her own mind.
Who are these people?
Why are they being so nice to me?
Are they safe?
Will I have to endure the torment here as I did there?
She watched from afar, never speaking a word. Jorani is 12 years-old, although you would never think it by looking at her tiny, emaciated body. The band-aid she wore marked the medical care she had received that day in order to test for HIV, STD's, and other diseases. But her wounds are far deeper than surface-level, and the necessary remedy far greater than a bandage. When her searching eyes met mine, the look she gave me was piercing. I could see the fear, distrust, and devastation that haunted her innocent lifeÉ
Jorani is one of the lucky ones who has been rescued from the extremely complicated web of sex trafficking. Throughout the globe, an estimated million more per year still wait for a rescuer, performing unspeakable acts with grown men, some more than ten times a day. This is why we see-saw, because girls like Jorani don't get the chance to. Their childhood has been stolen; sold or coerced into this life of forced prostitution.
Although the fate of those like Jorani seem grim, there is much hope to be found in Cambodia. Once rescued, restoration is a strong possibility with proper after-care that many NGO's such as our partner, AGAPE Restoration Center, focus on. Through faith in Jesus Christ, these girls have found passion and purpose, freedom and a future. I spoke with young girls who now have aspirations to become dentists, office workers, and beauticians. Freedom gives way to the hopes, dreams, and new lives that these girls deserve; a fundamental human right that we take for granted. Although it sounds ambitious, this is our heart's desire: to see freedom restored to the innocent and justice brought swiftly to their abusers. While in Cambodia, this dream became much more real and tangible through Jorani's story of hope:
ÉShe barely uttered a word, ate, or cracked a smile. I had almost given up on getting through to her and the day was coming to a close. We initiated a round of London Bridge in the sweltering Cambodian heat. As more girls began to join us, I caught a glimpse of Jorani join the line, and she soon became my partner. Somewhere in the midst of the music, Jorani let out the most beautiful bellyaching laughter I have ever heard. In that moment, she regained her childhood, her innocence was restored, her safety was assured, and she knew she would not be raped that night.
As of the week of March 17th, fourteen new girls have been placed into the care of AGAPE Restoration Center. When the girls arrive, they will need immediate medical attention. They come to the center suffering from severe illnesses (such as HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis, and STDs), severe mal-nutrition, and lack of oral hygiene. These initial medical costs average $1000 for each girl, totaling $14,000 to meet these urgent needs. Providing for the physical needs of the girls is the beginning of loving them unconditionally, and essential in earning their trustÐthe key element in guiding them through healing therapy.
Join us.
http://www.aim4asia.org/