22 Women

"The Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. A large number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti, and other Caribbean destinations. A significant number of women, boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude. In some cases, poor parents push children into prostitution to increase the family’s income. Sex tourism and child sex tourism are problems, particularly in coastal resort areas."



Denise (who lives in the DR with her family and is a missionary) told me this week that in addition to visiting projects working with at risk children we'd have the opportunity to visit another project, thriving in her community. This particular project works to provide an education to women who have either been rescued from, or escaped prostitution. Whether or not these women ended up in prostitution because of circumstances, or force, Denise is unsure. What she does know is that next week, 22 women will graduate, with the knowledge of how to obtain a more dignified means of employment for themselves, and the ability to do so. We'll have an opportunity next week to meet these 22 women and the other women receiving an education at this project. We're not even there yet but, I, of course, already opened my mouth and asked "What do they need?" (sorry Diane, and BTC board!) We're not sure yet and will likely learn more once we visit the project and meet the women next week. However, some of the funds we've received in the past weeks for the DR, will likely go to this project and to these women. When we arrive in the DR, I would like to purchase something small for each of the women in this project. It will not be anything more than maybe a bottle of lotion, or bath soap, or maybe a journal. But, it will be something to let them all know they are thought of, that others believe in them. Something just to let them know they matter, they have value, they have worth. I know it seems like such a small gesture, but in my experiences, the smallest of gestures can go a long way sometimes.