Chiang Mai!

We just arrived in Chiang Mai this morning. It's a breath of fresh air after leaving BKK.

Our time in the big city was good: we spent yesterday with Roy and Bonita Thompson of Home of New Beginnings in BKK. They work with women who have decided to leave the sex industry and offer them educational opportunities. While there are many organizations in BKK doing wonderful work in aftercare, we were especially drawn to Home of New Beginnings because they put such emphasis on the importance of education as well as local staff/leadership.

We spoke with Roy and Bonita about potential job opportunities for women that graduate with a high school diploma: waitressing, tourism opportunities, hotel work, etc. They put emphasis on the importance of learning english and graduating with a high GPA so that options for college were available. While their program is still too young to have stories of girls who have graduated
and gone in to the job field, their insights were affirming to our work in education as prevention.

More to come...

Thailand

Rachel and I are headed to Thailand on Tuesday, May 5 - May 20. Follow us on twitter @thesoldproject while we're traveling. We'll be bringing you updates from the ground on The SOLD Project Prevention Program and our partner organization VCDF.

See you there!

Thailand Trip and other fun news!

You guys are awesome... the response for the exposure trip to Thailand has been beyond our wildest imagination. Every single applicant is phenomenal: how are we ever supposed to decide? We'll keep you posted as we dream up ways to incorporate everyone. The concept of an 'exposure trip' is really what broke Rachel and I's hearts for this from the beginning. We both heard about the issue and felt like we needed to move. Hearing and seeing seemed like the first realistic steps to take: so off she flew to Thailand, and off I flew to India. Those trips changed our lives.

We sense the same willingness in you, our applicants. A willingness to let go of the comfortable in exchange for risk, adventure, a life of unknowing. Thank you for your willingness to let go of your own comforts in order to be exposed to this issue and find your place in it: we are confident that you will come back from this trip a changed and empowered person.

In other news... Sparks has been in Waco, TX for the last couple of days and is set on relocating our national office there. I think she likes it. We're both headed off in separate directions to Illinois next week: Aurora and Edwardsville. Do you know of anyone in the area? Invite them to come see the film!

Thank you for your support. Has anyone hosted a Party yet? We want to know so that you're story can inspire others! Email us: activist@thesoldproject.com.

Liberty University Screening

Liberty Universities Criminal Justice Club hosted their first "Red Event" ever this year during the first week of April. Students from the school spent an entire week promoting the event with visual demonstrations, speaking at convocations and media advertisement. They rallied together and created a great atmosphere for the students.

Friday nights benefit concert featured five local bands and information about child prostitution and human trafficking throughout.

Saturday evening Rachel Sparks screened SOLD:Thailand while sharing the stage with 4 other organizations (IJM, The Polaris Project and two different departments of the local law enforcement) who all shared their passions and suggested ways to combat this pandemic.

The students were very responsive and were called to action in fighting child prostitution.

Thanks Virginia and the students at Liberty University for hosting such a great event!

SOLD in the Midwest

The SOLD Project’s crew has had an amazing time traveling to visit different universities and faith based communities throughout the US. In March, Rachel Goble and Rachel Sparks spent two weeks traveling through Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio – kudos to the Midwest for exceeding expectations and providing awesome venues and receptive crowds.

First stop – Mercer University in Macon, GA. Over 750 applicants showed up to the first student led ‘STOP’ Conference at the university – spear headed by Hannah Vann. SOLD opened up the event with a screening of SOLD:Thailand and was followed by keynote speakers such as Bradley Myles – deputy director of The Polaris Project, Patricia McCormick – author of Sold, Justin Dillon from Call+Response and Joana Santos – a Sex Trafficking survivor. The crew was so inspired by the students and their dedication to leading such an impactful conference.

Two days later Emory University in Atlanta, GA hosted a screening for their law department. 200 people came to hear about child prostitution in Thailand. The Rachel’s started the evening with a screening of the film and then opened it up for a panel discussion hosted by local experts. Awareness was raised, and people were called to action.

The Rachel’s hopped on a plane and headed to Charlotte, NC where Gloria Cave had been working to make these screenings a success. She hosted a “Salsa for a Cause” event where people danced and raised money for SOLD. The film was featured in NoDa at the Green Rice Art Gallery, space was limited so they had two separate screenings – about 100 people showed up for that event. The following evening UNCC hosted a small private screening for students studying social work.

Goble returned home, but Sparks hopped on another flight to Ohio, where Drew Persons met up with her. The two tag teamed the events and had a great turn out. They visited BGSU Firelands in Huron, OH with a smaller screening but an impactful one. Many asked how they could start a “SOLD group” or “human trafficking” group on their campus. And in conclusion to this Midwest tour Rachel and Drew headed to Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, OH where they were welcomed by staff and students excited and ready to learn more – the Q&A was the highlight of that screening with many thought provoking and honest questions.

The SOLD crew met so many encouraging people on this trip, and had a chance to reach thousands of people who wanted to make a change. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make these events a success.

Where will SOLD be next? Check out the tour portion of the website for more details.

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