Lori's Advocacy Journey for the Greater Good

Lori's Advocacy Journey for the Greater Good

From Lori Heisler

Every child matters. This October, I'm joining ECPAT-USA on an advocacy journey to Thailand to raise awareness and help put an end to the exploitation and trafficking of children for sex. Please help.

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Recent Updates

Update #6

over 7 years ago

Inspired, humbled, ecstatic! WE DID IT! With your help, endless kindness and generosity, we surpassed our $6,000 goal! From the bottom of my heart, Thank you! Together we can help protect and stop the sexual exploitation of children.

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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.

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Lori Heisler posted a new update:
over 7 years ago

Update #6

Inspired, humbled, ecstatic! WE DID IT! With your help, endless kindness and generosity, we surpassed our $6,000 goal! From the bottom of my heart, Thank you! Together we can help protect and stop the sexual exploitation of children.

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Lori Heisler posted a new update:
over 7 years ago

Update #5

WILL YOU TAKE A STAND WITH ME ON MONDAY, JULY 31st?

With just under 2 weeks left to reach our fundraising goal of $6,000 it's time for us to have some fun!

I'd love for you to take take a stand with me!

On Monday, July 31st, I will be personally Taking a Stand for 24 hours. This mean, I will be standing for 24 hours or as long as it takes to raise $1,440 or to reach the $6,000 mark!

I will be posting LIVE video updates on my Facebook Page throughout the day with the goal of raising $1,440 of our $6,000 goal.

Why $1,440? Because 1,440 is the number of minutes each day that a child trafficking victim is enslaved and the number of minutes each day that we are free.

I am looking for 10 people to Take A Stand With Me in hopes that each person can commit to standing for just one hour while working to raise $144 individually.

This is a fun and easy way to support our mission! If you would like to participate in Take A Stand Day, just email me and I will happily get you set up and fill you in on the details!

One more way to help is by considering an increase in your donation by just $10. With 41 donors so far, we could easily surpass the halfway mark today!

Every 30 seconds, Human Trafficking claims a new victim. Children of all ages and backgrounds, including some of the most affluent, are being physically, sexually and emotionally exploited, and tortured. I am 100% committed to taking a stand for them.

This is just the beginning of my journey.

Thank you for all of your support!

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Lori Heisler posted a new update:
over 7 years ago

Update #4

Thank you to all our visitors, supporters and donors!

Yesterday we reached another milestone and reached 30% of our goal!

Our #give75 campaign is helping spread awareness and encouraging people to get involved! Please continue to help spread the word!

You all are amazing and I couldn't do this without you!

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for your continued advocacy and unwavering support!

25 days to go!

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Lori Heisler posted a new update:
over 7 years ago

Update #3

Hey There Friends, Supporters, Advocates, Champions & Crusaders!

Today we are trying something new! Today we are running our #give75 campaign to help create awareness and to raise funding for our advocacy efforts to stop child trafficking!

It's been an amazing campaign so far and today we're encouraging all of our followers to make a donation of $7.50 on 7/5!

Why just $7.50?

As abhorrent as it is, $7.50 is what an American sex tourist will often pay to sleep with a young teenage girl in Thailand. It's absolutely nauseating!

So today, on 7/5 we're seeking a single donation of $7.50 to get as many people as we can to fight back!

We're almost at 30% of our goal!

Thank you again to all of you who have taken the time to donate and for continuing to support me on this very heartfelt mission!

Please join us in the fight to putting an end to this heinous crime by sharing this campaign!

With Endless Love & Gratitude,
Lori

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Lori Heisler posted a new update:
over 7 years ago

Update #2

Week 1 Update!

WOW! Thanks so much to each and every one of our supporters and donors this week! We've reached 10% of our goal in just 6 days! We're making great progress & I'm so grateful! :)

You'll notice we've added donor levels to our campaign!
While no donation goes unnoticed, (or unappreciated) we wanted to make it easier for visitors to understand exactly what their donations are supporting.

We've also decided to use these same donor designations on The Greater Good Institute Website. We've already added a place to donate to this particular campaign and we'll soon be adding an Advocacy page with more information including donor levels and other ways to support our efforts moving forward.

Thank you again for all of your support and generosity!

I look forward to updating you again soon!

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Lori Heisler posted a new update:
over 7 years ago

Update #1

Yayy!! I received my first donation for The Greater Good Institute's Advocacy Journey to Thailand! Thank you Bayo Adio! Your support means so much! #childtrafficking, #advocacy journey, #greatergoodinstitute, #ECPAT

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/ #childtrafficking