Many children fall prey to human traffickers looking for a child to exploit. Some children are born without a birth certificate and that makes them an easy target for human trafficking. Children are often approached with promising jobs in another city or country, only to be sold to a brothel, or forced into heavy labor, or even made into a child soldier and many other unthinkable situations. For a few cows or appliances a young girl can be sold into early marriage to a man 3 times her age.
So now that we know all this what can we do?
World Vision works with local hospitals, schools, community leaders, faith communities and law enforcement agencies to ensure child protection is a priority. In the country of Bangladesh alone World Vision is providing 20 safe places for children to go after school where they are nurtured and off the streets where they can be protected from the sex industry going on around them. There is no way out of their environment without these programs.
Here are some ways you can help this Christmas...
Consider sponsoring a child at risk of exploitation http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-child?campaign=226220126
Donate to programs that are already at work to support these kids http://donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/by-category/where-most-needed
Pray for staff and law makers for the work that they are doing http://www.worldvision.org/our-impact/child-protection
Share some stories to make sure their stories are always brought to light and never left in the darkness again.