I have recently been accepted to do a University Exchange through Seton Hall University in the United States in Zanzibar Tanzania over the summer! The papers I will be taking are on "The laws of human trafficking" and "The laws of modern day slavery". Only 40 people have been selected for the course worldwide so I am really fortunate to have got in! :-) The course takes place for 3 and a half weeks over December and January. Over this time we will be going on day trips to the International Criminal Court of Rwanda and to old slave camps! It is going be such an incredible experience and I am so stoked to be able to specialise in this area of the law. Human trafficking is the 2nd highest tradable commodity after drugs in the world. We can see examples of this where children are sold into prostitution and bonded labour, how so many women are trafficked from Romania to Europe for the sex industry and even the recent increase of child soldiers around the world. The reason I decided to study law 4 years ago was in response to seeing children sold into prostitution when I was living in Asia. This is an issue that burns in my heart and I really want to fight for the freedom of those involved in it against their will.
As I am going to Africa, I will also be spending a month in Uganda with Ora International I have been working voluntarily for ora for over two years now as the sponsorship coordinator for HIV AIDS orphans. I am really excited to go back there and work with the social workers to further develop our sponsorship program. It will be awesome to meet up with our orphans and provide fresh feedback for our sponsors! Ora International is in the process of building a community where some of our orphans with special needs can stay. I look forward to helping with this! I also hope to have the opportunity to speak at some of the high schools in the area. Many high school students in Uganda are still in their 20's due to missing huge chunks of schooling when their parents were suffering from AIDS. As an outgoing 22 year old female, I am able to encourage people of my own age to live lives of purpose and meaning. To choose hope, rather than despair. I am really excited about this and have started reading up on issues I believe I will be able to speak on!
Sally Hanna (Director of ORA) and I will also be visiting Gulu which is where the "Lords Resistance Army" have abducted many children to enlist them as child soldiers. We are looking into partnering with an aid organisation there that also specialises in orphan care. In this case, the children have all been orphaned due to their parents being either abducted or killed by the LRA rebels. Child soldiers in Africa are another form of modern day slavery as children are enlisted into the rebel movement against their own will. I am so excited at the thought of helping children whose parents have been killed by the rebels. These children desperately need to be rehabilitated and transformed by the tangible love of God which can be demonstrated by people choosing to sponsor children.
After my time in Zanzibar I am heading to Iris Ministries in Mozambique to volunteer for 2 weeks. Heidi and Roland Baker are the founders of this organisation and I look up to them immensely. I think they are modeling such an awesome example of orphan care and I am keen to learn from them. I hope to be involved in the street dump ministry and baby home ministry but am also keen to see why they are having success and seeing revival happen in Africa.
On my way home through Thailand, I am hoping to be spending time at the International Justice Mission located in Chiang Mai. This is an organisation that legally frees children sold into prostitution and works with developing countries to help them see the importance of adhering to international human right principles. I aspire to work for an organisation like this in the future and have followed this organisation closely while I have been at University.
As you can see, I have a pretty awesome summer planned! I am heading to Africa on the 4th of November and will return on the 2nd of February. I am so passionate about law and justice issues and really believe God has called me to be an advocate for the oppressed and the orphan. I am so thankful for this incredible opportunity to go overseas and so very grateful for everyone who supported me to enable me to go!
