"So why are you in Thailand?" this good-looking guy from England asked me and I paused, wondering if I should say the real answer or just give one of those glitzy traveller quotes, "I'm a hippie and I love travelling and I'm pretty cool..." (or something like that).
But the real answer? People don't want the
real answer because they'd rather not think about it. It's uncomfortable
and odd and vulnerable all at the same time.
I paused and then I went for it.
"I'm taking social work," I began,
"and I'm really interested in helping people come out of sex-trafficking.
I did some research and found that sex-trafficking is a pretty
huge problem in Thailand and so I thought I would connect with some
organizations here and learn a bit more about it."
There is was.
I'm the biggest nerd with a huge heart and I travel because I want to learn about social justice issues and make
a small dent in changing the world.
"Cool," he said, nodding along. I
don't know if he really thought it was cool or if he was just humouring me.
Either way I smiled and let the moment pass.
...
I recently sat down with a lady from Nightlight in
Bangkok, Thailand. Nightlight is an organization that helps women who
have been trafficked in Bangkok. We met at a cafe in the middle of the
city with a few other girls who were interested in the organization.
Sitting there waiting for the informational 'tour'
that I was going on, I felt small and naive.
I have so much to learn.
I immediately noticed how friendly everyone in the
cafe was and how the atmosphere seemed to be surrounded by love and respect.
Later a lady walked in with a friendly smile, greeting each of the staff.
They chatted a little about their day and it was the warm relationships
that I noticed between them that drew me in.
She would later confirm that the coffee shop also provides
alternative employment and job training for some of the women in the industry.
As we sat upstairs the lady continued to vibrantly
speak in her Australian accent, engaging with us in her welcoming manner.
"Nightlight is all about relationships,"
she told us, "We don't ever say to someone, 'You have to leave
prostitution and then we will love you. We just have an open door.
Everyone is loved."
She explained about some of the programs: the
Outreach centre, Job Training, The Bakery, Jewelry, and Apparel. These
programs were giving these women hope.
And she told stories.
Stories about girls in Uganda who were tricked into
coming to Thailand for better opportunities. Stories about women who
learned to trust their Trafficker because their Trafficker spent 8 months being
their friend before convincing them to move to Thailand. Stories of girls
who (new to the industry) were trying to desperately cover up because Thai's
are very modest. When they were thrust into the industry they were made
to wear things that made them extremely uncomfortable.
She talked about
how many Thais look down on those with darker skin.
She told me women from Uganda are often mistreated because of the color of their skin.
She told me women from Uganda are often mistreated because of the color of their skin.
She talked about the beginning of prostitution in
Thailand.
"During the Vietnam war soldiers
would come to Thailand in their off time to relax and have sex with the girls
here," she explained.
Racism, culture, religion, and
history intersected.
I was left sitting there, trying to understand.
The brain can't fully wrap itself around that kind
of thing. Not really.
Later on we went to see where some of the other
businesses were run. We met a few of the women employed by Nightlight.
There was hope there. There was light.
For 45 women, many of whom had chosen to leave the bars or work in the red light area, and were
now with Nightlight, there was hope.
For the women who have been repatriated back to Uganda there was hope.
"We receive messages from them," our informant told us,
"they are doing well."
...
Later that day I bought some of the jewelry the women had created and were
selling and I went home to my hostel brooding over what it means to have
worth and dignity as a woman.
I've experienced shame and worthlessness in my
life, but never to the degree that some of those women on the streets of
Bangkok, Thailand have.
I'm glad for organizations like this one which
provide a way out and a way of overcoming shame, that are making strides in
showing Jesus' love, and who are persevering in innovative ways to help those
who need it.
I am glad for the dignity and hope that I see in
the women who have exited the sex-trafficking industry. I am glad that
they had the courage to keep fighting and to find another way. I'm sure
that was a hard decision, but a wonderfully strong decision.
I don't think this would be complete without
providing a link to Nightlights' page here.
Feel free to check out their products and programs and more about what
they do.
For me that coffee shop, and those women's faces
will stick in my mind and memory for a while.
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