calcutta, india.
As many of you know I had the opportunity to go to Haiti this past spring. The events that took place are etched into my mind and will transcend ideas, thoughts, and actions for the rest of my life. We had the unique opportunity to live and work alongside the villagers of Mano, Haiti. The nights were long and suffocatingly hot,the food was of a different culture, and the daylong hikes to destinations were extensive. But the amount of lives that we were able to touch far far surpasses any physical discomfort I was succumbing to.
because of haiti, i saw that i could help make a difference in this world. it gave me hope that even though the worlds problems pose a daughnting task to overcome, and i may not be able to help each and every person, i can make a notable difference if i put my heart into it. i recently read a report that stated that between 10-40 million people are in slavery in india alone (estimates are so broad because no one knows for sure) (http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/65989.htm). a lot of times these people are forced into sexual slavery to pay the bills of their fathers, for debts as low as 10$, the majority being women.
'We Americans are, to be sure, an imperfect people, but we are fortunate to be guided by ideals that summon us to become even nobler and indeed to pursue our perfect union. Those same ideals lead America into the world to combat the dehumanization of women in all its forums, especially the international evil of human trafficking, a modern form of slavery for millions of women.'
-secretary of state rice
THERE ARE MORE SLAVES IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW THAN THERE WERE DURING THE CIVIL WAR. we must put an end to it, we have to be the generation that stands up and make a difference.
india is an amazing culture, and by the end of our lifetime's it will be a world superpower. but haunting india is the disturbing amount of child sex trafficking and prostitution that litters many of its streets. even now, children as young as 6 & 7 years old are being sold into prostitution on the streets of Calcutta. It is time we do something about it.
i decided that i don't want to be the only band member anymore when going to these distant countries, i want it to impact the entire music industry to help in one way or another. this trip to india will involve several bands, and several organizations willing to make a difference.
this janaury myself and several other bands are going to india to work with an organization called Ten and their daughter organization Made By Survivors, which are both non-profit organization that helps take children and slaves out of their current situation and teaches them a skill or trade that will help them throughout the rest of their lives.
that is what we are doing, but we can't do this alone, we need you to help.
what you can do to help:
1. educate yourself: there are several books about the topic, but some really good online resources are;
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/ which is the State Department General Trafficking site
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/ 2005 Human Rights Report (gives you a general overview of the human rights issues in every country around the world)
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/index.htm State DepartmentÂ’s Democracy and Human Rights site (includes info on full range of HR issues including religious freedom)
2. write letters of support to your local government, they need to know that this is an important issue to you.alsoo secretary of the state condoleezza rice is a big supporter of the ending of human trafficing, so write her a letter of thanks!
3. write some emails to signed bands who you might think would want to go, encourage them to contact my manager for more details (kyle@arsonmediagroup.com)
4. send us your thoughts, and prayers so that this trip is safe, organized, and productive.
5. if you want to send a financial donation so band's that can't otherwise afford it contact sarah freeman, the project coordinator (sarahmichellefreeman@gmail.com)
Please consider working with us to help the peoples of the world, the widows and orphans, the helpless and hurting. You can make a difference in this world, and here is the opportunity.
Thank you so much,
-esteban
because of haiti, i saw that i could help make a difference in this world. it gave me hope that even though the worlds problems pose a daughnting task to overcome, and i may not be able to help each and every person, i can make a notable difference if i put my heart into it. i recently read a report that stated that between 10-40 million people are in slavery in india alone (estimates are so broad because no one knows for sure) (http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/65989.htm). a lot of times these people are forced into sexual slavery to pay the bills of their fathers, for debts as low as 10$, the majority being women.
'We Americans are, to be sure, an imperfect people, but we are fortunate to be guided by ideals that summon us to become even nobler and indeed to pursue our perfect union. Those same ideals lead America into the world to combat the dehumanization of women in all its forums, especially the international evil of human trafficking, a modern form of slavery for millions of women.'
-secretary of state rice
THERE ARE MORE SLAVES IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW THAN THERE WERE DURING THE CIVIL WAR. we must put an end to it, we have to be the generation that stands up and make a difference.
india is an amazing culture, and by the end of our lifetime's it will be a world superpower. but haunting india is the disturbing amount of child sex trafficking and prostitution that litters many of its streets. even now, children as young as 6 & 7 years old are being sold into prostitution on the streets of Calcutta. It is time we do something about it.
i decided that i don't want to be the only band member anymore when going to these distant countries, i want it to impact the entire music industry to help in one way or another. this trip to india will involve several bands, and several organizations willing to make a difference.
this janaury myself and several other bands are going to india to work with an organization called Ten and their daughter organization Made By Survivors, which are both non-profit organization that helps take children and slaves out of their current situation and teaches them a skill or trade that will help them throughout the rest of their lives.
that is what we are doing, but we can't do this alone, we need you to help.
what you can do to help:
1. educate yourself: there are several books about the topic, but some really good online resources are;
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/ which is the State Department General Trafficking site
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/ 2005 Human Rights Report (gives you a general overview of the human rights issues in every country around the world)
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/index.htm State DepartmentÂ’s Democracy and Human Rights site (includes info on full range of HR issues including religious freedom)
2. write letters of support to your local government, they need to know that this is an important issue to you.alsoo secretary of the state condoleezza rice is a big supporter of the ending of human trafficing, so write her a letter of thanks!
3. write some emails to signed bands who you might think would want to go, encourage them to contact my manager for more details (kyle@arsonmediagroup.com)
4. send us your thoughts, and prayers so that this trip is safe, organized, and productive.
5. if you want to send a financial donation so band's that can't otherwise afford it contact sarah freeman, the project coordinator (sarahmichellefreeman@gmail.com)
Please consider working with us to help the peoples of the world, the widows and orphans, the helpless and hurting. You can make a difference in this world, and here is the opportunity.
Thank you so much,
-esteban
Comments
For love, mercy, and justice.
Thank you, thank you.
-Sarah Weichhand
I have been looking for an oppurtunity to go to India for quite some time. I am fascinated by the counties culture, people, and struggles. I will be praying for this effort. Good luck!
My prayers are with you, Stephen, and all of the other people involved.
Your efforts to better the lives of those less fortunate around the world so often astound me and leave me wishing I could do something myself. My thoughts and prayers are definitely with you and any other bands who make this journey. However, I would like to do more than just donate money or write letters. I would love to go on a mission like this myself and I would really love (as a photojournalist in the making) to be able to document such a venture as the one you're putting together. Any information you could offer in my quest would be amazing.
Thanks-
Meg
geertsme@sbu.edu
You're a good soul Esteban. This world could use a lot more of you running around.
In one way or another, I vow to help. Really.
Thanks.
Lord God i pray right now for stephen, Lord as well as others involved in this vision you have guided them towards. i pray that throughout this, holy spirit you are guiding them, leading them into this. and place a hedge of protection around them not only physically Lord, but also around their hearts and minds. let them think of things above; give them minds that think in the spiritual.
i pray that you prepare them at this time. ready them for servanthood. and God through this they might learn that much more about you. coming closer to your heart by providing help for your children.
bless them indeed. i pray for an anointing upon their heads Lord. and magnificent favor. that wherever they go, every situation they will have favor. God i pray that your hand is always over them, protecting. and providing. Lord provide all that they are to need. and if that takes a huge amount of faith, God let them feel this now. let this rise up in them, a trust that is unfaltering. and so Lord, reassure.
in your name.
as for the prostitution, i cannot even imagine their world. it must be terrible im sure. but thats where us as christians can start to intercede for them. stand in the gap and pray for them when they cannot pray for themselves. and i think its amazing that you had the chance to visit that country. and even better that you had the chance to work with those villagers.
christina
-Angela
-Hopefully one day these children can get out of the dump and not have to live off of garbage.