Cindy in C-ville Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 If you're anywhere near Gaithersburg, MD, you will not want to miss this event to raise awareness of trafficking in that local area. My new friend and founder of Innocents at Risk, Debbie Sigmund, is speaking. Please help me get the word out. http://www.innocentsatrisk.org/events/upcoming-events Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Thank you for posting this! I'll try to come, though it may be hard since my husband's out of the country right now. I saw the reading and viewing suggestions you posted on your blog last week, and I read "Priceless." This is definitely an area I could become more active in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 This is right up the street from me. I'll put it on the calendar and hopefully will have time to attend. On of my college aged sons is quite interested in this subject and wanted to figure out how to incorporate his studies into a career volunteering in this area (but international). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Great, Debbi and Rebecca. Deborah would be an excellent resource for your son. Although this event focuses on the local issue, she is quite involved internationally. If you're able to go, please tell Deb I said, "Hi!" She also has in internship program for Innocents at Risk. Wish I could be there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) I was a 15 yo exchange student in the south of France in 1991. It was Bastille day so the streets were teeming with people and law enforcement was out. Our chaperones had divided us into mixed gender/age groups and told us to stay together. We established meet-up times and so on. Some of the older girls decided to wear skimpy minidresses so the boys in our group decided it was best to stay with them and guard against unwanted attention. Meanwhile, the youngest on the trip, myself and three pimply and naive friends, were left to explore on our own (checking in with our chaperone periodically). We figured we'd be fine! Who'd be interested in us anyway!? We weren't even remotely cute! :glare: Still, a group of men began following my little crew everywhere shortly after we split up, at one point grabbing the arm of my friend and trying to walk off with her-- even as we stood next to our chaperone trying to explain what was happening to us. We spent half the night trying to shake these stalkers off and the other half sitting next to some French police officers as a deterrent. It was terrifying and eye-opening for all of us and changed my view of the world forever. My children will never, ever travel internationally without either myself or my husband being present and as the kids get older (just like with pedophiles and good/bad touch) we will explicitly discuss human trafficking. The suburbs these days are fertile ground for those who would prey on innocence. Ignorance is not bliss. Thank you for sharing this event and helping raise awareness. Were I not on the other side of the country, I would totally go! Edited February 1, 2012 by Sneezyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 I was a 15 yo exchange student in the south of France in 1991. It was Bastille day so the streets were teeming with people and law enforcement was out. Our chaperones had divided us into mixed gender/age groups and told us to stay together. We established meet-up times and so on. Some of the older girls decided to wear skimpy minidresses so the boys in our group decided it was best to stay with them and guard against unwanted attention. Meanwhile, the youngest on the trip, myself and three pimply and naive friends, were left to explore on our own (checking in with our chaperone periodically). We figured we'd be fine! Who'd be interested in us anyway!? We weren't even remotely cute! :glare: Still, a group of men began following my little crew everywhere shortly after we split up, at one point grabbing the arm of my friend and trying to walk off with her-- even as we stood next to our chaperone trying to explain what was happening to us. We spent half the night trying to shake these stalkers off and the other half sitting next to some French police officers as a deterrent. It was terrifying and eye-opening for all of us and changed my view of the world forever. My children will never, ever travel internationally without either myself or my husband being present and as the kids get older (just like with pedophiles and good/bad touch) we will explicitly discuss human trafficking. The suburbs these days are fertile ground for those who would prey on innocence. Ignorance is not bliss. Thank you for sharing this event and helping raise awareness. Were I not on the other side of the country, I would totally go! Oh, I am so sorry for your experience and so glad that you made it out. As you know, many girls don't. Thank you for sharing your story!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I didn't share that with my husband until we saw Taken together. I didn't know what the movie was about going in but was so shaken by what I saw on screen, what could have happened, that I spent half the movie hiding my face in his armpit. I couldn't look. Obviously, it's still triggering for me.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 I didn't share that with my husband until we saw Taken together. I didn't know what the movie was about going in but was so shaken by what I saw on screen, what could have happened, that I spent half the movie hiding my face in his armpit. I couldn't look. Obviously, it's still triggering for me.:grouphug: Oh, :grouphug: I'm going to PM you later this evening after the kids have gone to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I'll watch for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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