[pumpkinsmama]

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kralis/060804

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In India, there is the "Bal Vikas Ashram," a Catholic rehabilitation center for children aged 8-14 who have been rescued from slavery in Northern India's Uttar Pradesh. Set up in 1999, the project is run by the Catholic Diocesan Development and Welfare Society. The children the Ashram rescues are often found in a miserable condition: they have been forced to weave rugs for 12-15 hours a day, locked in, fed only what it takes to keep them alive, and kept in constant fear in order to prevent them from trying to escape. During 2002, the Ashram carried out 10 raids and freed 78 child slaves.

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Now Nizam has returned to live with his 85-year-old great uncle, Sabdul. Sabdul describes how Nizam was tricked away from the village: A slave broker tried to bargain with Sabdul to take Nizam away to work, but Sabdul refused. So the broker chose her moment and lured Nizam away with sweets and promises of a better future. Sabdul went to the police when he could not find Nizam, and they filed a report in the neighboring state, but did not follow up the case. It was not until two years later that Sabdul heard from the Ashram rehabilitation center that Nizam had been rescued and was safe and would be returning home soon.

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The greatest weapon against human trafficking and slavery is inquisitive neighbors. Read what Given Kachepa, the 19-year-old Zambian (see Given's story in the column entitled "Trafficking in Your Own Backyard") recently said when asked by this journalist what he wanted my readers to understand the most: "I've got my life back because people were willing to look beneath the surface and see my true situation. I want your readers to understand that there are more people out there being used like I was, and if the public is not educated about this, slavery will continue to destroy thousands of lives. Without my African 'chitanga' (shirt) on, I look just like any other person. You cannot tell if a person is a trafficking victim by how they look. The public must 'look beneath the surface' to realize there might be a problem. The public can learn from my story that all people are special and if given the opportunity they can prosper and realize their dreams just like I did."