October vs Human Trafficking

This has been a good month for the fight against human trafficking and modern day slavery! So much seems to be happening in terms of legislation being stepped up and people standing up to this oppression and fighting for freedom!

- 16th October marked the end of  Freedom Challenge (The A21 Campaign), the 11 day cycle via the major trafficking routes in Europe. 

- 18th October this month was Anti-Slavery Day, which was brilliant! So much awareness was raised by so many individuals and organisation. 

- This month The A21 Campaign also launched their pilot high school curriculum in the USA (contact them via their site for more details).

- New legislation will mean that traffickers can be given life sentences now, rather than a cap of 14 years: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24571971 and http://news.sky.com/story/1156086/slavery-fight-to-stop-traffickers-steps-up

- Spokespeople like Lisa Kristine spoke out again about slavery and the fact that more than 30million people are enslaved today (more than double the amount of those taken in the entire transatlantic slave trade from Africa): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMLoxLUPWhw 

- The A21 Campaign South Africa launched recently and has been hosting incredible events ever since, including their National Anti-Slavery Week.

- My friend posted a #throwbackthursday of the Run3KforFreedom event that we planned earlier this year that raised over £1,200 and it encouraged me to think of what we could do next year with more planning and advertising!

I just wanted to share some of this with you to encourage and inspire you! Please, never give up on fighting for the millions of people who are enslaved, or to forget the one: the mother, sister, daugther, father, son... who has been stripped of their rights and dignity and subjected to abuse every day.

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” {Helen Keller}

"It takes just one thought, one action and one voice to make a difference. What will be your one today?" {Ndaba Mandela, The Mandela Project}

Blessings!

Ronell x

 {photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153380442255089&set=a.10153377959065089.1073741825.143678730088&type=1&relevant_count=1}

National Anti-Slavery Week, South Africa // Freedom Challenge {A21 Campaign}

So as a South African by birth (and at heart!) but no longer geographically, I was incredibly happy and proud to see the birth of A21 Campaign South Africa and to see the people of South Africa embrace the challenge with the open arms, rolled up sleeves and creativity that I have only seen there :)

This week is National Anti-Slavery Week in South Africa. So if you are in South Africa, please find out how you can get involved with this wonderful cause and do your part to put an end to the injustice of human trafficking and modern day slavery in the 21st century! 

{photo credit:   

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=229541390543537&set=a.198415223656154.1073741829.192162980948045&type=1&theater}

Visit The A21 Campaign's international site here for more information and resources about human trafficking and for more ways to get involved: www.thea21campaign.org

Also, please look at the Freedom Challenge information- a team of 8 freedom fighters who have partnered with The A21 Campaign to raise $210,000 and a huge amount of support and awareness for the work of The A21 Campaign by cycling along the major trafficking routes for 11 days through 10 countries! Freedom Challenge starts on 6th October in the mountain regions of Sofia, Bulgaria until 16th October when it ends in London, UK with riders cycling at least 100km each day! 

Find out more about their mission, the riders, the route, the partners supporting Freedom Challenge,  how you can get involved and to donate either to individual riders or to the cause.

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=628366273852049&set=a.358564384165574.82760.194115677277113&type=1&theater}

Freedom Challenge {A21 Campaign} // 11 Days to Raise Awareness

One of my all time favourite organisations (The A21 Campaign) has a team of 8 cyclists who will start their 11 day journey to raise awareness and funds to combat modern day slavery and human trafficking and see it abolished in the 21st century!

Please show your support by spreading the word and encouraging your friends, family, colleagues (and yourselves) to donate to this incredible cause!

Together we can literally change the world.

Blessings!

Ronell x

From October 6-16, 2013, The A21 Campaign is holding a FREEDOM CHALLENGE where a team of brave and determined cyclists will ride through trafficking routes and mountainous regions from Sofia, Bulgaria, to London, UK. The purpose of this ride is to raise awareness both in countries where many young women and children are taken, as well as to raise $210,000 for The A21 Campaign shelters and victim assistance programs.

Take the FREEDOM CHALLENGE by becoming a sponsor today. Click here to make a donation now, or follow the navigation bar for more information.

Together, we can see the injustice of human trafficking abolished in the 21st Century.

A21 // 11 days to raise awareness!

In 2008, Nick and Christine Caine founded The A21 Campaign, an anti-human-trafficking organization that is dedicated to abolishing slavery in the 21st century. A21 has a global presence around the world with offices in Greece, Ukraine, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Australia, USA and South Africa. The A21 Campaign’s comprehensive approach includes raising awareness, preventing future trafficking, taking legal action and providing rehabilitation services for survivors.

Check out The A21 Campaign's mission and the facts and figures about human trafficking here: http://www.thea21campaign.org/cycle/content/the-mission/gjsa48

The A21 Campaign's 'Freedom Challenge' is 11 days to raise awareness of human trafficking!

The course for FREEDOM CHALLENGE covers 10 countries in Eastern Europe, including 1250km of difficult terrain and steep climbs. This is a unique opportunity to raise awareness in some of the highest rated human trafficking source countries in the world.

The race starts in Sofia, Bulgaria, on October 6, 2013, with their core team of determined cyclists, and will finish Wednesday, October 16, in London, UK.

10 countries 
11 days 
1250 km
8 riders
1 goal ‪#‎A21FreedomChallenge‬ 

Check out their route here: http://www.thea21campaign.org/cycle/content/the-route/gjsd7c

Support these cyclists in raising awareness and fighting for freedom in one (or more!) of the ways below:

1. Give

This event is big, and it’s tough. We can’t do it alone.Our goal is to raise $210,000 to help pay for the event and raise global awareness of the dangers of human trafficking. Whatever gift you can give is a tremendous help.

2. Raise Awareness

Raise awareness about the Freedom Challenge through social media. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. Invite your friends to participate as well.

3. Attend the Event

If you can, please make every effort to attend one of the ride’s events at the host cities. Let our riders know how important abolishing modern-day slavery is by cheering them on in their efforts. You can find out when the riders will be near you in our news section and route page.

4. Join the Conversation

Speak out and let your voice be heard. Participate in our blog and let us know what you’re doing to raise awareness for the Freedom Challenge.

Blessings!

Ronell x