Lori's Advocacy Journey for the Greater Good

When I left the field of education, I wondered what I could possibly do next to fulfill my desire to serve children and to make the world better.

To be honest, I wasn't sure what I would do, but there was always this one injustice that kept nagging at me: Children being trafficked and exploited for sex.

It was an injustice that for the longest time, I couldn't even bring myself to think about because the whole idea made me sick to my stomach, still does in fact. 

Ironically, we all know that when something upsets you that much, that's when you know you need to act. 

So I slowly began to learn and speak out about the horrific crime of child trafficking.  

I know it's an incredibly depressing issue, but I urge you to take a closer look with me. For me, the more I learned and the more I've gotten involved, the more I can no longer just turn my head.

So, one fateful afternoon as I was researching different ways I could help put an end to the sex trafficking of children, I clicked on a link on the ECPAT-USA website where I learned about the opportunity to take an advocacy journey to Thailand.  

It was one of those moments when you say to yourself, "advocacy for children, travel and philanthropy? This is exactly what I'm supposed to do next!"

I never thought of going to Thailand before and goodness knows, as a solopreneur about to launch a new business, this was not something I could easily afford, but once I learned more about ECPAT and the work they are doing to end child trafficking, this was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. So I filled out the application and decided I would find a way to take this journey!

As I simultaneously get ready to embark on my own journey of launching the Greater Good Institute, (a social enterprise helping educators and change makers to engage in world changing work) I'm looking for ways our organization can support the social mission of putting an end to child trafficking.

Because I know this is not just a problem happening overseas, I've also partnered locally with organizations like Love146, I've been volunteering and have been learning all I can about what's happening here locally and in my own community.  

This advocacy journey will not only support children, their families, organizations and the amazing people who devote themselves to doing this heart-wrenching work every single day, it will also give me the opportunity to learn about trafficking on a broader scale.

My goal is not only to raise awareness around this very difficult issue, but also to learn the best practices for PREVENTING the sexual exploitation of children, all while building a socially good business that supports the cause.

As an educator and lifelong advocate for children, I absolutely have to do something. I can't sit around disgusted and complaining about this horrific crime, I absolutely must act. This is why I'm taking this journey.

In any small way you can, I hope you'll support me on this journey and on this incredibly impactful adventure!

The funds will cover all donations to our hosts and NGO's, including ECPAT International, The Code, Child Life, Daughters Education Program, Mirror Foundation, etc.

All additional funds will cover trip expenses that include airfare, hotels, meals and transportation.

DID YOU KNOW?

Human trafficking around the globe is estimated to generate a profit of anywhere from $9 billion to $31.6 billion. Half of these profits are made in industrialized countries.*  

Yes, that means it's happening right here at home and across our international borders. It's so disheartening to know that Americans are participating. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

There are an estimated 27 million adults and 13 million children around the world who are victims of human trafficking.**

DID YOU KNOW? 

An estimated 30,000 victims of sex trafficking die each year from abuse, disease, torture, and neglect. Eighty percent of those sold into sexual slavery are under 24, and some are as young as six years old.***

Watch the video above to learn more about the cause and the organizations and children this journey supports.Watch this 30 second video to learn the stories of children who have been impacted by this crime: Sex Trafficking Knows No Boundaries

*Human Trafficking: The Facts.” UN Global Compact. Accessed: December 26, 2010.

**Skinner, E. Benjamin. A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery. New York, NY: Free Press, 2008.

***Millions Suffer in Sex Slavery.” NewsMax. April 24, 2001. Accessed: December 26, 2010.