How to Choose an Anti-trafficking Organization

As many anti-trafficking organizations are popping up all over the world, it's quite easy to lump them all together; however, not all should be equally weighted. Particular organizations focus on raising awareness on a local and national scale, others work on research and legislation, some focus on rescue of victims, others work on criminal justice for the victims, and some focus on rehabilitation of rescued victims. Most of these organizations are filled with passionate and well educated individuals working tirelessly for the cause that has been written upon their hearts; so if they all do great things, which should you support? First, be aware of the focus of the organization, does it match what you are most passionate about? Second, know where the organization allocates its funds; what percentage goes to staff, overhead costs, projects, networking, etc... Check out the financial transparancy of the organization, which is usually linked to the NGO's website. Third, do you want to invest locally or globally? Fourth, talk to someone from the organization. Ask questions, be informed! Your investment should be well researched, just like your stock options.
For years, I have been following the growing networks of anti-trafficking organizations. After participating in Seattle based events and collaborations on raising awareness for trafficking, I felt the need to exprience a more hands on experience by working in Southeast Asia. While working at The Garden of Hope in Northern Thailand, I began to tangibly recognize Southeast Asia was a hotspot for trafficking, largely because of the societial view that women are second class citizens and children are valued less then women. There is even an old Khmai (Cambodian) proverb that states, "Men are gold, women are cloth." With all of this in mind, I have now chosen to invest my next year volunteering at Chab Dai, a Cambodia based NGO.
In 2005, Chab Dai, which means “joining hands” in Khmer, began work in Cambodia. "Chab Dai aims to bring an end to trafficking and sexual exploitation through coalition building, community prevention, advocacy and research. In addition to our office in Cambodia, the vision of Chab Dai has been expanded into the USA and Canada," reads their vision statement. Chab Dai is well respected nationally and internationally, for their dedication to coalition building (uniting organizations by acknowledging set standards), researching issues and resourcing organizations with up to date information, advocating and initiating prevention measures for at risk populations, and establishing effective aftercare methods.
Over the next year, I would appreciate your support and prayers. While volunteering in Southeast Asia is exciting, it can also be emotionally draining at times. I am excited to see what this year will hold and am forever grateful for your partnership with me during this time.

If you would like to support my partnership with Chab Dai click here: http://www.chabdai.org/sanstad.html

Transitions

Now that my yoga course is completed, I will be heading to Cambodia. Prior to my time on Koh Pha Ngan, I visited Cambodia to interview for an internship with Chab Dai, an anti-trafficking organization based in Phnom Penh. The interview in January went splendidly and over the past few months we have been working out the details of my involvment. As it stands now, I will be working with the communications team, helping to streamline the materials they publish and editing stories written by nationals. It is exciting to finally have the chance to work with such a well respected anti-trafficking organization.

During my time in Cambodia, I will also be networking with other organizations to offer yoga therapy for victims of trafficking and for caregivers. Why does it help victims? Yoga has been used in many cases to help victims of trauma regain self-confidence and physical strength. Yoga can also help victims to regain their voice by allowing past trauma to move through them, rather then continuing to hold it in bodily form. So, why help caregivers? Caring for others requires a great deal of time and attention, most people who do this give selflessly and can easily burn out. Yoga is a means of softening and listening to your body, allowing the caregivers a safe space where they too can work through physical and emotional stress.

I have to say a big thank you to all of the yogis from my Virajati teacher training course that donated their yoga mats and blocks to get this project underway. You all are yoga superstars in my book!

+33 hours Southern Thai Islands to Mainland Cambodia

The following is a log of my overland journey from Koh Pha Ngan, South Thailand to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. One must note that upon arrival to Thailand foreigners receive a 30 day visa, if one wishes to stay longer they must cross the border to obtain a new visa. With this fact in mind, I will commence. (It is quite a lengthy post yet the delight is in the details of the trip only Asia can provide.)

Wednesday, January 1
9:00am- Post yoga class mental exclamation, "Oh no! I have to do my visa run this weekend."

9:07am- Head Instructor Ashton explains, "Nikki, you can cross by land but you will only get 15 days, same same at the Samui consulate. So why not fly back in from Malaysia or Cambodia and then you can get the full 30 days rather then doing two border runs?"

9:09am- "Ok, I'll look into it."

3:30pm- After two hours of thorough internet research checking on a consulate trip to Samui, overland routes that include multiple vans and boats to Malaysia and Cambodia my head is dizzy. "Maybe I should just ask the travel agent," I finally conceed.

4:45pm- I purchase the only necessary flight from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand. This allows for a new 30 day visa yet it is only a small leg of the trip. So I purchase a travel package from Pha Ngan to Phnom Pehn.

Thursday, January 2
9:30am- After morning yoga class, I tell teachers I will depart today.

11:05am- Leave anatomy class on alignment.

11:45am- Arrive by taxi to Tong Sala Pier and wait for the boat in a monsooning rain. Picture 130 plus sweating tourists with heavy hiking packs crammed beneath a six foot by three foot awning.

3:13pm-Realize this boat was only the first of two I must take to get to the mainland.

3:15pm- Step outside the VIP room (aka a sauna of a room that has actual seats to sit down upon) to catch some Thailand rays, yet I promptly return when throngs of more tourists board the vessel.

3:27pm- Fake Ray-Bans bite the dust, yet this sorrowful moment is quicky wisked away after seeing a cute old tourist and his wife reading their large map with a magnifying glass. This is only half of my internal laughter because in the same moment this is happening a Thai tourguide is harrassing two Chinese girls about taking a dive trip. Quite a normal scene yet I couldn't help but laugh when they finally admitted they had no interest since they cannot swim.

5:38pm- "I spy land."

6:50pm- Spill the last third of my pad thai all over my shirt and jeans. Perfect.

7:37pm- First bus to Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Maybe we will arrive at 5am?

Friday, January 3

3:30am- Wake up from a heavy slumber to the bus driver shouting, "Bangkok, Bangkok, Bangkok."

3:39am- After haggling with a tuk tuk driver I climb in and we speed off to Khao San Road where the last of the sleezy bar dwellers are offering up their insides to the city sewers.

3:49am- Convince two hotel front desk ladies to let me use a vacant room to shower in.

4:45am-I have to mentally justify the terrible thing I will now do. "May I have a hot coffee and a large fry please," I cowardly ask the McDonald's staff. (Listen, it is the ONLY place open 24 hours, save for the convience store and they didn't have chairs! And I did use that time to write my first yoga class outline.)

7:17am-After two failed attempts at finding my bus stop, a quick pop into the internet cafe and a lovely chat with a German yogi, I find my next ride.

8:07am- Having curls pays off, or maybe not, cause I get to sit next to the driver. Yes, he is picking his nose and eating it, but at least this seat has air conditioning and arm room.

8:40am- Smile and laugh as my driver turns a two land road into a three land road to pass an accident. Nothing new to see here.

9:12am-Stop for petrol and coffee. See orange clad monks chain smoking cigarettes and chatting hurridly away on their cell phones.

9:17am-Remember to buckle up as the driver accelerates to breakneck speeds. "I'm the first to go," I think.

9:30am- Recognize the picture on thai signs flying by as betta fish (aka Siamese fighting fish which are indigenous to Thai rice paddies).

12:12pm- Arrive at the Thailand/Cambodia border, well nearly there. I must hop on a moto then cross by foot, only after buying a sketchy visa from two Thai guys that speak to me in a mix of French and English.

12:45pm Wait to immigrate to Kampuchea.

1:42pm-Last to arrive on the bus bound (fingers crossed) to Phnom Pehn. Thankfully they wait for the white people.

2:50pm-See a pony pulling a cart.

8:00pm- Dillusion is beginning to set in from cramping legs, arms, wrists, butt, etc... Each lighted roadside stand is one more dashed hope that the city is impending.

8:13pm- Teach the 28-year old Cambodian father of two next to me wrist stretches. Then we discuss yoga and meditation and the benefits of both.

8:45pm-View the family photos of my new friend.

9:37pm-Arrive in the city!

10:03pm- Bus finally stops and I must push back the tuk-tuk drivers with verbal shouts of "moment moment".

10:07pm-My tuk-tuk driver gets lost. I can't help but laugh, this would happen.

10:18pm- Yell to the unassuming balcony I pray to God my friends live in.

10:19pm- Heads appear a few stories up. "Finally!" I exclaim.

10:37pm-Crash into a deep sleep.