Somaly Mam Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to ending modern slavery and empowering its survivors as part of the solution, visited the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square on October 17. In honor of the occasion, Somaly Mam, the organization's Founder and President, and Jennifer Fonstad, Chairman of the Board, rang the Closing Bell.
The SMF's Voices For Change program and its participants received an Honorable Commendation from the Wenhui (文 晖) Award for Educational Innovation 2012.
From the website:
this award, established by the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, and coordinated by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID), aims to recognize the contributions of educators and institutions which have optimized the potential of education and the human innovative spirit to address and resolve pressing issues and problems facing our world today.
The Voices For Change program was awarded because of its achievements in advancing human rights and cultural norms and mindsets in Southeast Asia. To read more about the award, click here.
For the last 19 years, Somaly Mam has dedicated her life to helping others escape a life of sexual servitude in Cambodia. “You feel dead inside. Then you survive,” she says of her ordeal.
Human rights activist Somaly Mam knows first-hand what it’s like to be sold into slavery.
For the last 19 years she has dedicated her life to helping others escape a life of sexual servitude, rescuing girls as young as six years old from brothels in Cambodia.
“You feel dead inside. Then you survive,” she says of her ordeal.
Four years ago, Somaly wrote a book about her years of enforced sexual labour. She was raped, tortured and made to watch as her best friend was murdered.
Her story, which she said she had to tape because it was too painful to dwell over, helped spread the word about Cambodian’s human trafficking problem.
Australian woman Stephanie Lorenzo was among those who drew inspiration from Somaly’s powerful words.
“I was really overwhelmed and touched, but also angry -- 100 emotions went through me about what I read in this book and I just wanted to do something about it,” she says.
Ms Lorenzo channelled her newfound passion and started Project Futures, a not-for-profit organisation based in Sydney.
“We raise awareness and funding to support anti-trafficking projects that we believe are in need of support,” she says.
Money raised by Project Futures goes directly to organisations working with trafficked women and girls: The Somaly Mam foundation in Cambodia, the Salvation Army safe house for trafficked women in Sydney and Child Wise in Melbourne.
Somaly Mam is currently in Australia for a 10-day tour to support Project Futures and help further raise awareness of human trafficking. Click here for a full list of public events.
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