Kiwi Youth Join Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking

Find Her Smile is hosting a Summer Party on February 27, 3pm, at Fowey Lodge, 215 Bleakhouse Road, Mellons Bay, to raise awareness and funds in the fight against child sex trafficking.

A fresh face on the advocacy scene, Find Her Smile aims to inspire and employ the youth of New Zealand in their quest for social change. The FHS mission statement - educate, resource, and empower sums up the backbone of their movement. “If we change the hearts and minds of today’s youth, we create an army of adults who will stand up to social injustice tomorrow,” says Dean Lovell Shippey, Founder and Director of Find Her Smile, who is passionate about this noble cause.

Funds from the fundraiser party will go towards running the campaign and to Destiny Rescue to aid in the recovery and housing of victims. Destiny Rescue is an internationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and restoring children from sex trafficking and exploitation. In addition to rehabilitation, it aims to protect and empower at-risk children through programmes that teach them the skills to be self-sustaining.

Lisa Ho, Destiny Rescue NZ director is excited about the new partnership with Find Her Smile. Ho thanks them for their support, "In the words of our founder Tony Kirwan, 'We dream of a day when a child can go to bed to sleep and not to work'.”

“Sexual slavery and exploitation of children is a vile crime. We can choose to stick our heads in the sand while these children lose their innocence in violent abuse, or we can rise up and defend their cause as a voice for the voiceless. We at Destiny Rescue are that voice, and we challenge others to take a stand with us, to rescue, restore, protect and empower these children," she adds.

Since it was established in 2001, Destiny Rescue to date has rescued 1466 children and currently has 994 children within its care. It operates in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and India, and recently launched in the Dominican Republic. It has several established safe homes across Southeast Asia to restore and reintegrate children rescued from this horrific trade. Its support offices are here in New Zealand and in Australia and the USA.

The Summer Party will include market stalls, raffles, special talks by a rescue agent from Destiny Rescue and the Founder and Director of Find Her Smile, as well as performances from local bands, food and a family friendly atmosphere. Goods for sale at the stalls will include soy scented candles and jewellery that has been handmade by girls rescued from the sex trade.

Go to www.findhersmile.org or email info@findhersmile.org for more information on the Find Her Smile event.

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