No one ever said buying jewelry couldn’t make a difference in the world.
On March 31st, the Lacombe Evangelical Free Church held a ladies jewelry and dessert night to raise funds and awareness for Global Wonders, a venture by the Servants Anonymous Foundation working to rehabilitate victims of the sex trade and fighting against the exploitation and trafficking of women.
Lise, Global Wonders sales and marketing coordinator for the Servants Anonymous (SA) Foundation (whose surname is protected by the Servants Anonymous anonymity agreement) said that the SA Foundation focuses mainly on the recovery and rehabilitation aspect of the sex trade.
The organization has projects in a number of countries including Nepal, where the jewelry sold Monday night is made.
In addition to these projects, the SA Foundation also trains other organizations in its recovery model and works with other programs all over Canada and the United States.
Amber Mack, one of the event’s organizers said that after Lise had made a presentation at the church previously, many of the ladies from the church wanted to host jewelry parties in support of Global Wonders and the Servants Anonymous Foundation.
Since interest was so high, they decided to host the event at the church instead and increase their exposure a bit more.
Mack said that when organizing the event, it was also important to her and the other organizers that the evening not be focused just on fundraising, but on education and raising awareness as well.
Lise added that this is a big part of the SA Foundation’s job and that a large part of her presentation focuses on letting people know what they can do to help. “
Because human trafficking is in the media a bit more, people are more aware of it, but they are usually quite overwhelmed by it and don’t know what to do,” said Lise.
Mack, who lives in Red Deer, said that it is also important that people recognize human trafficking exists right here in Central Alberta. She added that Red Deer is actually a hub for the illegal sex trade in Canada, largely because of its location.
“It happens here, it’s not just in third world countries, it’s not just in Asia, it’s here,” said Mack.
She reiterated that this is why education is such an important part of the event. She added that making people aware of something gives them the power to do something about it.
“The less you know, the less you are going to do,” said Mack. “So as soon as you have some knowledge, it will empower you to just do something.”
Lise said that the Servants Anonymous Foundation is trying to build off the current focus of human trafficking in the media and further educate people.
She added that this is especially significant now as there is a conversation going on in Canada about whether to legalize brothels and the government is asking for Canadians’ input on that question.
“I think it’s important that people know what that means.”