Following is a guest post from the folks from “The Human, Earth Project,” Ben Randall, and John at JetSetCitizen.com. We’re supporting this cause, so we agreed to publish an article for them here about their upcoming crowdfunding campaign and documentary. Please read on and support the cause if you have the means. Thanks! – Angela and Ryan
Maybe you know M, or someone similar. She’s 16, chatty, and quick-witted. She loves her family and friends. She always has a smile for you. She likes people and jewelry. When she’s not at school, she tries to make extra money in the local market.
Perhaps your M has an after-school job. Perhaps you worry about your M; she’s getting older and more independent, but you know that she’s smart and there are lots of people around to look after her.
Unlike your M, ours is not your typical, American teenage girl. She is from a remote hill tribe in northern Vietnam. She has to work hard to improve her English for tourists; it’s a good way to make some money for her family.
Our M was kidnapped.
After accepting a ride home from a man she knew, M was most likely was taken to China to be sold as a wife or prostitute. She hasn’t been heard from in over two years.
Our M doesn’t have the support of a government to get her back. Her family and friends don’t know what steps to take.
Ben Randall, who met M while teaching English in Vietnam 2 years ago, is going back to help. He’s making a documentary film about the search for his friend, M, and he decided to create The Human, Earth Project to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Ben has paid for most of the production so far himself. But now he needs our help to complete the production and post-production phases of the documentary. Making the documentary a reality will show people what’s really happening in this horrific $32 billion industry.
Here’s a short 3-minute video to learn more about the project.
As part of the campaign, you can purchase beautiful photos of some of the people on Ben’s journey and even have your name in the movie credits.
Visit ‘The Human, Earth Project’ crowdfunding page.
Spread the word by sharing this story using the links below.
Thank you for your help!
Want more? Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Google+, and Flickr.
Do you have any thoughts about this project? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Thanks for the support, Ryan and Angela. It is a tragedy that slavery still exists in the world, and it’s growing.
Anytime, John. We’re always happy to support a worthy cause, and it is surely a shame that this still exists in every corner of the world. Thanks for asking us to help out and letting us know about it.
It’s too easy for most of us to turn a blind eye to this scourge. Kudos to Ben Randall for trying to turn us around.
True indeed. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing this, Ryan and Angela. I met Ben in SE Asia and have been really inspired by his story and dedication to raising awareness of the situation – especially amongst these minority women and girls of the region.
Hopefully your support will encourage more people to help Ben tell more f the world about the horror of human trafficking.
Thanks for stopping by, Barry. Every person can help and make a difference, I think, and hopefully this project does that in spades.
Guys you are super stars for growing awareness of such an important issue! We all need to come together for such causes!
Hey, Marysia! This is actually something we were asked to take part in. We certainly can’t take credit for the idea or any of the project, but we are more than happy to support it on the blog and do what we can from our end of things. Please spread the word…and thanks for stopping by!
Ryan but don’t you think that publishing the post and spreading the word is actually growing awareness and really helping Ben and Human Earth Project? :)
But of course. It’s just not like it was us who came up with the idea or anything.
I think it’s great that you’re supporting Ben and John’s work, I really hope that the campaign raises the money it needs and they are able to bring this horrible issue to a much wider audience.
I couldn’t agree more. Hopefully it’s successful and a lot more people come to realize how prevalent this issue is. Thanks for stopping by, Ellen!
Such an important story – thank you for sharing it!
Johanna
Indeed it is. Thanks for stopping by, Johanna!
[…] In case you missed it, we partook in supporting “The Human, Earth Project” with a post back in January. (Read it here.) […]
The campaign as been extended, so there is still a couple of weeks to go.
Yes indeed…come on, people!