07/10/2019
I felt hopeless...
That was the day that I found myself in South Korea witnessing Human Trafficking first hand. We called them "Juicy Girls". The local bars that were right outside the Army camp had multiple bars where you could find these ladies. Soldiers could purchase time with these ladies and things could escalade into a sexual encounter. The best thing to do was to not purchase anything from the bars or give any of the "Juicy Girls" any money so I chose not to purchase any time with the ladies and spent less than $20.00 at these establishments.
Years later, I find myself revisiting human trafficking and am learning that even though I go to where human trafficking exists, it is very hard to spot.
Rockford, IL is one of the highest rated cities for human trafficking. You probably cannot go up to a bar owner and ask how much the men/women and children cost them per month here, because it is much harder to spot. Yes, in South Korea these establishments were open about the costs, and it was around $800.00/month that it would cost the owner per lady.
What can you do about it? Think of Human Trafficking as a business and purchase fair trade goods, send money to Set Free Movement and other organizations. If you are in the area, choose Common Grounds and support your local coffee shops and ask if their coffee shop sells only fair trade coffee. Attend seminars in your local community to learn more about it, so you can spot and give details to local police.
You do not have to feel hopeless, you can even share this post. Every little bit helps.
Model: Plus Love With Domo Lucille
Makeup/Clothing: Plus Love Domo Lucille
Concept: Devon Buse Photography