An Interview with L*Pida Member: Noelle Joubert

1.
What has inspired you to be a part of L*Pida?
Several years ago I heard about human
trafficking and I have had a special place in my heart for the cause ever since
that time. When I heard about the work that L*PIDA was doing I immediately
asked if I could be a part of it. I also love the fact that L*PIDA is doing
work that is related to one of the root causes of human trafficking: economic
vulnerability.


2.
What is your role in L*Pida?
I am the project manager. Basically all I
do is set up meetings and oversee what the team members are doing. I keep everybody
on the same page, working toward the same strategic goals.

3.
What is your long term vision for this
organization?
I would love to see L*PIDA help K.I.N achieve
their goal of self-sufficiency in the near future. I would also like to see
L*PIDA take up more projects in other countries in the more distant future. For
example, I would love to see L*PIDA take up a project in an African country.
L*PIDA has limitless possibilities.

Our Mission

Did you know that the word L*Pida is the greek pronounciation for hope?

Our mission is to give hope to the hopeless, so injustice can shut its mouth. As a team, we are stopping the injustices of human trafficking in it's tracks. A preview of our upcoming events to help us reach this goal:

• Orphans promise: recieve funds to start four sewing businesses in Nepali.


• Purchase electric sewing machines


• Trip to Nepal


• Evening of hope: April 13, 2012--continuing to spread the word of the injustice.

Please support us by spreading the word!

L*PIDA member: Diamond Williams

I am currently pursuing my master's degree in journalism at Regent University. I attended Penn State University and received my bachelor's degree in communications. During my undergrad years, I had no interest in attending graduate school. However, God had other plans.

In September of 2011, I was given the opportunity and blessing to be associate editor of the student run publication, The Daily Runner. We are now in the process of creating a broadcast version of The Daily Runner, which will be available for viewing in the near future. In November, I was given another amazing opportunity to become actively involved in an organization called L*Pida. I felt the Lord calling me to be apart of the mission to stop human sex trafficking in it's tracks.

To learn more about me, visit my website: http://diamwil.com/

The Connection of Two Worlds

Her passion for the helpless and hopeless has led her to lend a helping hand to those who have been trapped in the human sex trafficking trade. Jenn Wakefield, who is president of Regent University's chapter of the International Justice Mission (IJM), an organization whose mission is to stop sex trafficking in its tracks, connected with another amazing young lady with a heart to save these women.

Jenn's friendship with Katie Behnke, founder of "Elegantees," brought their two related worlds together. Her clothing line, which consists of attire that is simple, yet elegant, helps sex trafficking victims in a significant way. Women who are brought out of this trade are being trained to sew Katie's clothes! Jenn wore Elegantees clothing in a fashion show in New York City. Katie's line was also featured at Jenn's fashion event, November 13, 2011. The fashion event also featured, Premier Designs Inc. Jewelry, another incorporation whose profits help the victims of human sex trafficking....


These women are making strides to keep one more woman from being caught in the web of this dehumanizing act. Let's continue to give hope to the hopeless!

Hope and Action

‎"Without costly action, hope can soften into sentimentality. With costly action, hope may harden into reality."
~Cornelius Plantinga

L*PIDA is here to combine hope with action so that the hopes and dreams of the women in Nepal will harden into reality!

Evening of Hope

Last week, L*PIDA hosted its first “Evening of Hope” to raise awareness and funds for the women of Nepal who have been rescued from modern day slavery. The purpose and mission of the Nepali Rescue Project was discussed as well as the success that the project has had so far. For example, in Nepal the project has already been able to fund four sewing shops which each employ two rescued women.

The high point of the evening was the question and answer session with our contact from Nepal. He discussed how his organization goes about rescuing, rehabilitating and reintegrating women who are about to be trafficked over the Nepali-India border. Many of these women were going to be sold to brothels in India.

Attendees also got to experience a small taste of Nepali culture. Several team members and volunteers wore traditional Nepali clothing called Punjabis. These colorful and intricate works of art were created by those women who were rescued from slavery.

We look forward to many more “Evenings of Hope” and the opening of many more sewing shops in the Mountain Kingdom of Nepal!

What Now?

Rescuing women who have been victimized by the 32 billion dollar a year human trafficking industry is definitely central to the mission of ending modern day slavery. But how did these women become victims of trafficking in the first place? Some women are drugged and abducted while some of the younger girls are actually sold by their parents. However, there are a great deal of young women who become victims of human trafficking because they are tricked into thinking that they will be able to improve their lives and the lives of their families by making money in another city or country. In countries like Nepal, many people can barely afford food and lodging, let alone an education. This situation makes it easier to trick young girls into a life of slavery. This is why organizations like our Nepali partner, that rescue women from a life of exploitation, are so very important. But what happens after these women are rescued? What happens after they are rehabilitated? What happens after they are given job training? These are the questions that L*PIDA is here to answer.