Recently, I was introduced to the organization Made for Freedom by a few friends. As I researched Made for Freedom, my understanding of the organization’s intent and purpose grew. According to their website, the Made for Freedom team is passionately pursuing a world without sex trafficking. It is their mission to help end human trafficking in three important ways.
First, Made for Freedom seeks to create a world without trafficking through prevention. Through providing dignified jobs that pay a living wage, those coming out of trafficking and those who have been rescued from trafficking are able to stop the cycle of extreme poverty in vulnerable communities. This cycle of poverty is sometimes what leads women into the industry, and soon enough, they find themselves trapped with no way out.
Second, Made for Freedom seeks to restore those who have been trafficked. in addition to dignified employment, Made for Freedom’s partner centers provide education and counseling services.
Third, Made for Freedom seeks to put an end to trafficking through awareness. Awareness efforts get us thinking outside ourselves and our own concerns to consider how other people live.
Made for Freedom is committed to bringing you products made with dignity by marginalized populations and sex trafficking survivors. Made for Freedom specifically, engages with centers that work with women and girls who have been exploited and marginalized to provide them with skills and wages in order to rebuild their lives. At these centers, they learn that they have value, they are capable, they are loved and healing is possible. These partners empower women not only to make the products they sell, but to learn how a business works and to use their skills to help others. When women are empowered, they invest their income back into their communities enhancing the local and national GDP. When women are empowered by employment and education, the cycle of vulnerability and extreme poverty is broken for generations, creating freedom.
After living in China for 10 years and seeing poverty and brokenness abounding, Dawn Manske, the founder of Made for Freedom, knew there had to be more to the world than poverty and brokenness. A pivotal moment came for Dawn when she went to India on a research trip. The brokenness of sex trafficking struck her and as she discovered more and more stories of girls who have been trapped, she found herself with a desire to help put an end to trafficking.
The idea of starting Made for Freedom arose as the number of compliments she received from complete strangers about a pair of pants she had purchased in Thailand compelled her to pledge, "If there is any way I can help girls like this by selling pants, I will sell pants."
Having now had the privilege to meet Dawn and hear her heart, I am beyond blessed to know of Made for Freedom and the amazing work they are doing in beginning to put an end to sex trafficking. My urge to you today is this: check it out, be a part of this amazing organization and help put an end to trafficking! We are all made for freedom -- let's help others find that freedom too.
