How can I make a difference when I can't even keep up with the dishes?
Posted by: Kristi Griem
Aug 18, 2011
Freedom.
I am passionate about freedom: specifically for over 10,000 women in a red light district of Kolkata, India.
Last year my heart was ruined for these women and my heart was changed for those who had no voice.
Irrevocably.
If you are like me, you are buried under laundry, drowning in dishes, and continually cleaning floors, wiping counters, and more. The only change you see are diapers or toilet paper rolls.
You can change the world from your computer, from your living room or desk. You can help mothers have a job with dignity, feed their children, have health insurance, and provide daycare for them while they work.
I traveled to Calcutta over a year ago and began working with Freeset, an organization that is devoted to providing women freedom from human trafficking and the sex trade. Within a one-mile radius of Freeset, located in Sonagacchi (Kolkata’s largest red light district) 10,000 women are working in the sex trade and they service 20,000 men a night. I walked ‘the line’ (prostitution line) and while horrified at all the filth, rats, trash and stench that filled area where this was taking place, I saw hope.
Hope was in Sandya, a Freeset girl no longer in the line, calling out from her window, eating dinner with her family. It was in Rita - also a Freeset girl no longer in line, smiling brightly, saying hello as she carried her bag of vegetables back for the evening. Hope was in so many others that smiled from inside their homes at us as we passed – lights in their community, no longer bound by the trade. I also saw the women who came every day hoping to be employed by Freeset. After years of being ‘broken’ they had grabbed hold of a new choice they were being offered – a choice for freedom. However, these women can only be employed through the increase of bag and t-shirt sales.
The sale of tote bags equals women’s freedom.
Freedom for 10,000 women in Kolkata and beyond that another 20,000 women farther north in Murshidabad where many of those in Kolkata’s red-light districts are trafficked from. At Freeset, we have a vision to open an additional location in Murshidabad, to employ women there, before they are trafficked. Stopping the cycle at source. While it may seem a lofty goal, it is not.
30,000+ women are waiting for hope.
Waiting for freedom.
We can be a voice for these women. We are part of the solution to change the world and eradicate this form of modern-day slavery. You don't have to leave the country. The dishes, laundry, and more can still be managed while we work to end this evil in our lifetime. Check out the Freeset bags that directly lead to women's freedom.
There are 9,820 women that need the opportunity to work in dignity and gain freedom in Kolkata. I can't think of a better way to change the world from your doorstep. The freedom of women across the world is depending on it. Learn about Freeset - it changed my life, it can change your life, and it will change the lives of 10,000 women.
I am passionate about freedom: specifically for over 10,000 women in a red light district of Kolkata, India.
Last year my heart was ruined for these women and my heart was changed for those who had no voice.
Irrevocably.
If you are like me, you are buried under laundry, drowning in dishes, and continually cleaning floors, wiping counters, and more. The only change you see are diapers or toilet paper rolls.
You can change the world from your computer, from your living room or desk. You can help mothers have a job with dignity, feed their children, have health insurance, and provide daycare for them while they work.
I traveled to Calcutta over a year ago and began working with Freeset, an organization that is devoted to providing women freedom from human trafficking and the sex trade. Within a one-mile radius of Freeset, located in Sonagacchi (Kolkata’s largest red light district) 10,000 women are working in the sex trade and they service 20,000 men a night. I walked ‘the line’ (prostitution line) and while horrified at all the filth, rats, trash and stench that filled area where this was taking place, I saw hope.
Hope was in Sandya, a Freeset girl no longer in the line, calling out from her window, eating dinner with her family. It was in Rita - also a Freeset girl no longer in line, smiling brightly, saying hello as she carried her bag of vegetables back for the evening. Hope was in so many others that smiled from inside their homes at us as we passed – lights in their community, no longer bound by the trade. I also saw the women who came every day hoping to be employed by Freeset. After years of being ‘broken’ they had grabbed hold of a new choice they were being offered – a choice for freedom. However, these women can only be employed through the increase of bag and t-shirt sales.
The sale of tote bags equals women’s freedom.
Freedom for 10,000 women in Kolkata and beyond that another 20,000 women farther north in Murshidabad where many of those in Kolkata’s red-light districts are trafficked from. At Freeset, we have a vision to open an additional location in Murshidabad, to employ women there, before they are trafficked. Stopping the cycle at source. While it may seem a lofty goal, it is not.
30,000+ women are waiting for hope.
Waiting for freedom.
We can be a voice for these women. We are part of the solution to change the world and eradicate this form of modern-day slavery. You don't have to leave the country. The dishes, laundry, and more can still be managed while we work to end this evil in our lifetime. Check out the Freeset bags that directly lead to women's freedom.
There are 9,820 women that need the opportunity to work in dignity and gain freedom in Kolkata. I can't think of a better way to change the world from your doorstep. The freedom of women across the world is depending on it. Learn about Freeset - it changed my life, it can change your life, and it will change the lives of 10,000 women.
Comments
Oct 26, 2011
Great Work! you are an inspiration. One suggestion to get the word out - get a facebook page and spread the word. I would like you on facebook (soemthing I never do) and happily talk to all my friends about your work. I just organised a conference for 250 people and would have happily used your bags if I had known about it in time.
Oct 21, 2011
You're right. It's so hard to get involved with your passions when there are so many day-to-day tasks to take care of. In our Marketing class at Temple University, our project for the semester is to raise awareness and money for a charity. Our group chose to raise awareness for Freeset.
We're all excited working on this project, but we're having trouble organizing events to raise awareness. We're organizing small events, but we need to create a project which will keep our project alive even after the semester ends. Although our monetary donation will help Freeset, we want to make a sustainable difference. We planned on selling bags, but college students may not be willing to pay over ten dollars for bags. We want to make a difference to help Freeset now and in the future.
Taking time out of your life and traveling to India to work with Freeset is an awesome commitment. After learning about Freeset, I would love to continue work on the project even after graduation. It's inspiring to see all the people who can come together to help these women. Your stories are inspiring, and I hope to follow in your footsteps.
We're all excited working on this project, but we're having trouble organizing events to raise awareness. We're organizing small events, but we need to create a project which will keep our project alive even after the semester ends. Although our monetary donation will help Freeset, we want to make a sustainable difference. We planned on selling bags, but college students may not be willing to pay over ten dollars for bags. We want to make a difference to help Freeset now and in the future.
Taking time out of your life and traveling to India to work with Freeset is an awesome commitment. After learning about Freeset, I would love to continue work on the project even after graduation. It's inspiring to see all the people who can come together to help these women. Your stories are inspiring, and I hope to follow in your footsteps.
Oct 20, 2011
My life's work and dream is to be a brother to abused women. In Manchester England, my family and commune were desrtoyed as absolute hatred was directed at us. I have been ill but was overwhelmed to discover your project, and I already have a shirt. The leaflet with the pictures of the beautiful women is my prized possesion. I have little money but would be delighted to help you. My novel about this area is almost finished, a response to Tolstoy's War and Peace. The voice that comes most simply for me that of a prostitute (my sisters). Of course there is great sadness and anger, but you made my life so much better.
Sep 28, 2011
amazing. I love your story as I feel the same way as you do, always drowning in this clean up but I know there are people who are not as lucky as I am. I hope someday soon to be able to carry your items on our fairtrade marketplace that we are launching in October. I love the bags.
Aug 19, 2011
I went to Freeset last year and was so so impressed with what you guys are doing there. I love that when I came back to Australia Aldi was selling your bags!
God bless all you do there.
God bless all you do there.
Aug 18, 2011
Excellent reminder of the injustices in the world and to keep our eyes and hearts aware even while taking care of dirty dishes. We love and support the work of Freeset!
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