Love146 is working to end child trafficking and this month in particular, we’re fundraising for youth who have gone through our long-term Survivor Care as they transition to adulthood. That means we help with things like employment, education, parenting, and housing.
These kids have climbed what seems like insurmountable hurdles and now they are ready to claim their independence and go to school or get jobs. How amazing are they?!
But as joyous as this time is, it can also be really stressful and even feel impossible at moments. It wasn’t until I started working through this with my daughter that I remembered just how challenging it is to do these things for the first time. She felt so overwhelmed and anxious.
As I’ve been with her through this rollercoaster, my mind has often gone to the youth who’ve been trafficked or victimized and are still trying to move forward. Who is sitting next to them while they send applications? Who is proofreading their essays? Who is hugging them and reassuring them that it will be okay? How are they supposed to pay these application fees?
My heart aches. What if they had to go through all of this alone while also carrying the weight of their past victimization on their shoulders?
Well, the youth in Love146’s Survivor Care don’t have to. I think of all my colleagues who are supporting them and I feel relieved. They’re with them every step of the way.
