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The country has been astonished recently by the revelation that the champion runner, Mo Farah was trafficked into Great Britain as a nine year old child to work as a household slave. That someone who is so successful can have had such a dreadful experience is amazing. What strikes me as so sad in all this is, however, the thought that successful though he is, the scars of this slavery live with him still and continue to haunt him. What also is also so disturbing are the painful memories he has of that time. I was particularly struck by the picture he painted of the frightened and desperate nine year old boy, going into the privacy of the loo to shed bitter tears of despair and knowing that there was no one there to comfort him in his imprisonment: no kindly word, no squeezed hand of encouragement, no ear to listen to his fear.
That is the lot of the slave and especially the sex slave, for whom conditions are so much worse, in that each day they are subject to horrific abuse as well as captivity and hard work. Such an experience is never truly recovered from and many sex slaves die at a very young age in conditions of dire poverty. None escape without enduring long term mental damage.
If you would care to read the not- for- profit novel ‘The Garden of Sparkling Delight,’ by Deborah Varen, you will see just what that damage entails. The novel is hard hitting and explicit and uncovers just what it means to be one such slave. A positive story also twines its way around the sad account of the sex slaves and the book ends on a note of hope: a good read.
Like the sex slave whose journey you will have shared, you will never be quite the same again. The novel tells two interlinked stories one of which is sad but the other is a very happy one. It is available as a free download. If you prefer to read the story then the paperback book and the digital Kindle e-reader version can be bought from Amazon. All profits go to supporting NGO’s that work in this field.
To listen for FREE to the whole story and find out what happens to the main character 'Tis' her family snd friends you can use this link to The Podcast or go to the links at the top of this WEB page and select 'Tis The Podcast'. There you will find access to the 21 half hours episodes on-line or download for later listening and sharing.
For up to date information from those working to end this trade and support victims contact:-
ECPAT www.ecpat.org.uk [End Child Pornography and Trafficking] is active in the UK and several other countries. It specialises is lobbying, campaigning and supporting rescued slaves.
The A21 Campaign www.thea21campaign.org - this is a global NGO that fights to abolish injustice in the 21st century. Its focus is on those affected by human trafficking and it runs prevention and protection schemes throughout Europe, Australia and USA.
Stop the Traffik www.stopthetraffik.org - A global movement of individuals communities and organizations fighting to prevent human trafficking around the world.
Meninadanca www.meninadanca.org - This society fights child prostitution along the remote arterial highways of Brazil. They also provide a place of safety where rescued girls can go and be rehabilitated.
Plenty here to show your support and some of these charities need practical helpers.
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