That’s a long way, and it is easy to feel disconnected from the work you support there. Our hope is that the 2020 Child Freedom 5K will bring the children that you love and support a little closer.
Her father farmed a small plot of land while her mother worked for a wealthy family, but even with their combined income, they only brought in $1 a day. Their situation grew even more desperate in 2013 when a severe drought struck their area and none of the crops grew. News of the drought traveled to human traffickers who came to Surya’s village posing as agents for rock quarries.
Read MoreAcross South Asia, women who lose their husbands don’t get the same kind of care and support as women in America or other countries across the world. These women are often seen as bad luck by their families and friends because their husbands died.
Last Fall, I was at a wedding with my wife when I ran into my old college friend, Ben. While we were catching up I told him about my work with Child Freedom Coalition, and he was immediately excited about our mission.
What would normally be a season filled with hustle and bustle has become one of forced stillness. It has come with fear, uncertainty, and isolation, but there is still hope to be found. It’s time for us to breathe deep, trust, allow new dreams to surface, and invest in those around us.
Read MoreEvery day we check the news to find more information to dissect. It can be overwhelming, and we need something to cling to - something to give us hope. While we won’t downplay or avoid the effects of this virus in South Asia, we believe it’s important to reflect on some good news and remind ourselves of the incredible work you’ve made possible.
Read MoreWinter is a time for us to dig our roots deep and see what we couldn’t see when the leaves were blocking our view. It’s a time for observation, reflection, and hope for the future. As you settle into this winter, enjoy the stillness and contemplation it brings. Embrace it’s lack of distractions and gain vision for your own future. Enjoy the hope that it brings and then share it with those around you.
Read MoreWe say we love our neighbor, our co-workers, our employees, but often lack the follow-through. We celebrate and seek love at all costs, but find the selfless actions that should come with it to be difficult. We misunderstand love because it isn’t just emotion, good intentions, or felt sympathy.
Read MoreWe’re in a month of resolutions, fresh starts, and hope for a new year. It’s a time where many of us stop to reevaluate how we’re living our lives and resolve to change and grow. We’re excited to celebrate the start of this new season and share our plans for 2020, but even more than that, we’re thrilled to be looking back on the incredible things God did in the very first year of Child Freedom Coalition.
Read MoreThroughout this season, we’ve been reflecting on the idea of legacy. We’ve thought a lot about what we want to accomplish and change, and on this journey, we’ve been reminded of something that has both humbled and empowered us.
Growing up, Durga envied the children she watched going to school.
Her father’s alcoholism meant that even when there was enough work to pay for school it got wasted. Not long after her 13th birthday, a human trafficker, posing as an employer, offered Durga’s father $60 as an advance on wages for his daughter.
Her father jumped at the chance.
We've all been there. You're in the grocery store with your child and suddenly they've wandered off. Your pulse goes through the roof, tears immediately fill your eyes, and you frantically run from aisle to aisle trying to find them.
When we meet people, one of the first things everyone wants to know is why we’ve set our focus so heavily on South Asia. It’s true - there’s a world full of hurting people in the United States and around the world, so why South Asia?
