NEEDED: 14,088 DUers, Lurkers, Freepers, Liberals, Conservatives, and others, to:

[Sapphire Blue]

Adopt a Trafficked Child in Ghana

Key Objectives

This project enables an individual or group of individuals to support a trafficked child in Ghana, one of 587 children rescued by IOM from the fishing villages of Yeji where they were forced to work under hazardous conditions.

For a minimum of USD 20 per month for at least one year, a sponsor could support a specific child based on his or her profile. Such sponsorship would enable IOM and its governmental and non-governmental partners to provide assistance to each selected child on a continuous basis, which would protect the child from being re-trafficked.

The key objectives of the Adopt a Trafficked Child Project are:

To provide long-term support to trafficked children in their communities of origin

To provide continuous rehabilitation and reintegration assistance to the children

To provide follow-up assistance based on each sponsored child’s individual needs

To ensure that the results and achievements obtained through the Yeji Trafficked Children Project are made sustainable

To reduce the children’s vulnerability to being re-trafficked following the period of IOM sponsorship.

Beneficiaries

Trafficked children in Ghana


Concrete Benefits

The health of each sponsored child improves from extra medical assistance

Each child performs better in school by working closely with his or her tutor

Each child makes a smoother transition into his or her community through participation in more activities with peers

The specific individual needs of each sponsored child are assessed and met through targeted assistance

The child cannot be re-trafficked during the period of sponsorship due to extensive monitoring missions and inclusion of the child into a mentoring and tutoring programme.

Funding required for 1 year: USD 240 per child per year x 587 children = USD 140,880


For further information & to make a donation: http://www.iom.int/jahia/page1666.html

~ ~ ~ Can you donate $10 to help these children? ~ ~ ~


The Little Boy Oprah Couldn't Forget


Mark


The February 9th Oprah Winfrey Show was A Special Report: The Little Boy Oprah Couldn't Forget. The little boy’s name is Mark. He was a child slave in Ghana. He was rescued with the financial assistance of a woman from Missouri, and now lives in the Village of Hope.

The International Organization for Migration has rescued 587 trafficked children in Ghana. It takes a minimum of $20/month to support each child. One year/child = $240. If 14,088 of us can donate $10 each, we can support these 587 children for one year.

I am hoping that we can put aside our political differences to work together in helping these children. I respectfully request that negative comments about those of a different political persuasion not be posted in this thread. If you are able to post a link to this thread on another board, please do so!

Please forward this information to your friends, family, Church, and community groups.

Thank you!
Sapphire Blue



May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you will work for justice, equality and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.



I'm foolish enough to believe that we can do this! Please prove me right!

[SeattleGirl]

1. I watched this Oprah episode too, and had the same thought.

How many children could we help save if we got together on this?

Methinks, quite a few.

Thanks for posting this, Sapphire.

[Sapphire Blue]

2. I'm aiming to help 587 children for one year.

[SeattleGirl]

3. Wow! That is a great goal.

From what I understood from Oprah's show, that could be close to half of the "fish boat children".

It's amazing what can be done by many people contributing just a little.

Edited to add: I will be making a donation in a week or so. This is a great cause!

[Sapphire Blue]

12. An easy goal for 14,088 of us ;)

:hug: :loveya: :hug: Thank you for donating, SeattleGirl!

[Pushed To The Left]

4. Just made a donation! n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

5. Thank you so much, Pushed To The Left!!!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Hekate]

6. Kicking this worthy thread

:kick:

Hekate

[Sapphire Blue]

13. Thank you, Hekate !

:hug:

[Solly Mack]

7. Gladly recommending

and will promote this within my community

Thank you, SB!

[Sapphire Blue]

14. Thank you so much, Solly Mack!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[pecwae]

8. Absolutely!

I was looking for another organization to give to this year as I usually rotate. This one is perfect. Thank you.

edit to add: Just a one time $5 donation will provide food, lodging and vital expenses for a full day for a child in rehab. Forgoing a cup of overpriced coffee can do all that!

[Sapphire Blue]

15. Thank you, pecwae!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[tblue37]

9. Kicked and donated. (eom)

[Sapphire Blue]

16. Thank you, tblue37!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[EFerrari]

10. "The time comes when silence is betrayal." -- MLK

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

17. Indeed, sfexpat2000!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[InternalDialogue]

11. Sapphire Blue, I know your DU anniversary is coming up.

And my real birthday is on the same day. I planned to PM you and ask about what organization you would like me to make a donation to in honor of your anniversary, and I was going to give myself at the same time. Then you post this thread.

I've just donated $20.

Thank you for providing a target for the gifts.

[Sapphire Blue]

19. InternalDialogue, you have given me a gift to cherish! Thank you, with all my heart!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[lonestarnot]

18. Blue how do we know they either get the money or the benefit of what we provide?

[Sapphire Blue]

20. FAQ...

Q7: How can I be assured that my contribution will go directly to the children?

A7: There are three separate ways in which to account for the money spent on the
children, depending on the type of sponsorship package.

1. If you are an individual donor contributing to the provision of rehabilitation,
reintegration, and follow-up assistance to trafficked children in general, you will
receive biannual narrative reports on activities undertaken and results obtained by
IOM and its partners.

2. If you would like to adopt a child or children, it will be up to you to go through
the profiles sent to you based on the questionnaires you submitted to us and
choose which child/ren you would like to sponsor on a monthly basis. Once you
have committed to adopting a child/ren, you will receive biannual progress
updates that include financial reports categorized according to broad
budget/expenditure lines for the child/ren you have selected for sponsorship.
Until you have committed to adopt a child/ren, information will be limited. No
photos or names of the child/ren will be given; rather, codes and basic
information will be included in their profiles.
Once you have signed an agreement not to violate the confidentiality of the
identity of the child/ren, we will send you full details on the child/ren with photos.

3. If you have contributed funds for a rescue mission, then you will receive a more
generic financial report on a biannual basis.

Q8: What percentage of my contribution will go to IOM and its local partners’
staff and office costs?

A8: We will guarantee in every agreement that we sign that no more than 20 percent
of every contribution will go to IOM or local service providers assisting the
children.

In the particular case of rescue missions, which require a number of extra project
officers in order to be successful in securing the release of the children, no more
than 30 percent of every contribution will go to IOM or local service providers
assisting the children.

Q9: How can I obtain more background information and make donations?
A9: You can obtain a detailed description of the Yeji Trafficked Children Project and
our other counter-trafficking activities in Ghana in English and French from the
IOM Accra website, to be found at http://www.iom.int/ghana/

You can obtain more general information on IOM’s counter-trafficking activities
worldwide from the main IOM website at the following link: http://www.iom.int/en/what/ct_donation.shtml

You can make a donation by clicking on the following link: http://iomdonations.kintera.org/

Q14: How do I obtain more information that is specific to my situation if my
questions are not answered or my concerns are not addressed in this list of
frequently asked questions?

A14: You could contact the IOM focal points for the “Adopt a Trafficked Child in
Ghana Project”, Joseph Rispoli, at the following e-mail address: jrispoli@iom.
int or Eric Peasah at the following address: [email protected] .

http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/projects/documents/indi_donors_faq.pdf

[EFerrari]

21. Ten dollars is a burger and a shake and a side of fries.

[Sapphire Blue]

22. Or food, lodging, & other vital expenses for 1 child for 2 days while in initial rehabilitation.

:hi: :hug:

[calimary]

43. Or three lattes a week. I know people who have more than one PER DAY.

Or one movie ticket. Or a few bags of potato chips and other junk food that you shouldn't be eating anyway.

KICK!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

47. Or food, lodging, & other vital expenses for 1 child for 2 days while in initial rehabilitation.

:hi: :hug: Seems like it wouldn't be too hard for the more fortunate among us to go w/o those 3 lattes/week to help these children who were rescued from slavery!

[EFerrari]

51. Right on, calimary! It's a parking meter and a dry cleaning stub.

You know, it's not much at all. We have so much and we don't even notice it.

:kick:

[Zero Division]

23. Donated!

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

24. Thank you, darkblue!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[LeftishBrit]

25. Donated, and KICKED!

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

26. Thank you, LeftishBrit!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Change has come]

27. Me and my partner donated

:kick:

[EFerrari]

28. I have to wait until Monday. But, I'm in.

:hi:

Maybe we could spread this OP around our networks? Why not?

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

34. Thank you, sfexpat2000! Yes, by all means, please spread this message as far & wide as possible!

:hug: :loveya: :hug: We've got some children to take care of!

[EFerrari]

35. The net makes it so easy to distribute our actions. Let's go!

:hi:

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

36. ..

:kick:

:hi: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

30. Thank you both, sgcase!

:hug: :loveya: :hug: to you

& :hug: :loveya: :hug: to your partner.

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Donated, with pleasure.

:kick: for more help.

[Sapphire Blue]

31. Thank you so much, in_cog_ni_to!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[fortyfeetunder]

32. I showed part of this Oprah show to my kid

who could have been old enough to be a child slave and explained we can make a difference if we help save one of these kids...Then said we, too can be philanthropists like Oprah.

[Sapphire Blue]

33. If we were in Ghana, our children & grandchildren could easily be child slaves. There but for...

... fortune, as the song goes.

:hug: :loveya: :hug: Thank you for teaching your child to open his/her eyes & heart, and live accordingly.

[Booster]

86. Whenever I read about things like this, I always think of that song.

I watched this Oprah show also and was in awe of the woman who did something about it. I was going to donate to Oprah's Angel Network, but will donate to this instead. JOAN BAEZ ROCKS. Thanks for posting the info.

[bobbolink]

37. Pushing this to the top, for the children!

:hug: :grouphug:

[Sapphire Blue]

38. Thank you, bobbolink!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Q3JR4]

39. Kicked.

I don't currently have money to donate (not working right now, living off of my credit card and that's almost maxed out). I will, however, post this in other online communities I'm involved in.

Q3JR4

[Sapphire Blue]

40. Thank you, Q3JR4!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Nutmegger]

41. C'mon here SB:

:hug:

:thumbsup:and:kick:!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

42. ...

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[InternalDialogue]

44. Kick for Saturday night.

A we'll kick it again Sunday night, and Monday, and....

:kick:

[Katherine Brengle]

45. Can Admin organize this as a fund drive?

DU fundraisers always work like a charm - this would be a great way to make that money.

Count me in.

[Sapphire Blue]

46. You could ask them.

In the meantime, we can all do whatever we can to help these children... and ask others to do the same. I know there are thousands of people willing to help; they just need to know how to help. Let's show them the way!

[Katherine Brengle]

54. I'm broke as a joke till Friday, but this will be on my list for that day.

Every little bit, anywhere possible.

[Sapphire Blue]

56. Thank you for whatever you can do, whenever you can do it, including forwarding the info.

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[nofurylike]

48. ah, guiding fool.... gratitude! k&r eom

[Sapphire Blue]

50. Thank you, nofurylike!

:hi: ;) :hug: :loveya: :hug:

[nofurylike]

70. kick! and thank you!

:hi:

and profound gratitude for all you do, dear Sapphire Blue. shining, your example and inspiration. divine.

:hug:

:loveya:


peace and solidarity, always!!

[nofurylike]

49. kick

[EFerrari]

52. You have a really nice kick there, nofurylike.

:)

:hi:

[nofurylike]

71. o my. thank you, sfexpat2000

:blush:
high praise

i just learn from the best roun here!

:hi:


peace and solidarity, always!!

[Sapphire Blue]

53. ^^^

:kick: for 587 children.

[nam78_two]

55. K&R

I am in...

[Sapphire Blue]

57. Thank you, nam78_two!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[nam78_two]

58. Just donated...thanks forposting again :)!

I hope more people donate...a very worthy cause :kick:
You are a DU treasure SB - a :toast: to you...

[Sapphire Blue]

59. This thread has gotten more than 1,000 views. Imagine if everyone reading it forwards the info...

... to 10 more people, and they each forward it to 10 more people, and they forward it... the possibilities are endless.

Imagine if IOM could rescue another 587 children from slavery!

We can do this!

:hug: :loveya: :hug: Thank you so much, nam78_two, for donating!

[halobeam]

61. wish it had a thousand recs.

[Sapphire Blue]

64. 1,000 recs would be nice; 1,000 donations to IOM would be even better!

;) 10 'forwards' per view, w/additional donations from the forwardees would be fantastic.

[halobeam]

60. What the heck happens to the one child that gets helped for one year

after the one year is Up? It's over $4,000 for the year to completely take care of a child. Don't misunderstand me, this is most definitely not a reservation I am having. I'm just wondering what happens when a drive like this ends? I think paying for the ponds, and the nets until these men have everything they need would solve the problem more in the long run, to rid the reason for the trafficking these kids.

How many kids are in need of help now and how many ponds and nets are needed? Once these needs are met, do they fall apart if donations stop or do they (the men, the ponds, nets, etc) become self sufficient?

I didn't see the Oprah show.

Sorry to blast questions at you, I probably need to call them. I would hope everyone actually calls them. This looks like it needs life support, so totally unfreakin' believably tragic. I'm broken hearted...

[Sapphire Blue]

62. You can specify what you want your donation to be used for.

Here is some info from the donation page...




Contact info:

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Donor Relations Department
17, route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
E-mail: [email protected]

[halobeam]

63. Thank you, I read that

I was questioning things beyond that, and then realized I'd better contact them.

Much appreciated.:hug:

[Dystopian]

65. Sapphire Blue...

You're a beautiful soul....always driving us to help...I would not have known about this....Thank you for posting...

I wandered into DU tonight...with a heavy heart. There is no better way to nourish the soul than to reach out to the children...

Yes, I donated.....
I will now be able to sleep in much needed peace knowing that I could help....

Today....my existence is worth much more than I thought....

Thank you for being you.....


peace~

[EFerrari]

66. You're gonna turn her head.

And it's doing so well in its present position.

lol

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

68. Nobody can turn my head...

... the way that Mark (the little boy Oprah couldn't forget), or Bessie, Larry, and Charlie, or Ivan, Moochie, and Billy, and so many others can ;).

[EFerrari]

69. I hear you.

:)

:kick:

[Dystopian]

82. cute.....

:hi:


peace~

[Sapphire Blue]

67. Dystopian, thank you for being you, for wandering in here tonight, for helping the children!

:hug: :loveya: :hug: Sweet dreams, my friend.

[Dystopian]

83. Thank you....

Sapphire Blue...slept well...
Quirk of fate...click of fate...
It's the 'feel good' stuff that keeps us going...
I was in need...the children are in need...
You brought us together...
Heartfelt thanks.....
:loveya:

peace~

[nofurylike]

72. "more than 1,000 views. Imagine if everyone reading it..." YES! so

DUers, even if can't donate now, please pass this word on!

and kick and recommend and...

[nofurylike]

73. all the info to do this is here. SB, you always do the work to make

it easy for us to take action....

kick and.....

[nofurylike]

74. i know people want to know where to begin to really help, on a

personal level.
here it is, such direct steps.

and... in thanks for the continual labors of love of Sapphire Blue...

amazing


peace!!

[nofurylike]

75. kick

[nofurylike]

76. please help, and keep this kicked and pass the word on! eom

[nofurylike]

77. kick of gratitude to Sapphire Blue and so many compassionate

DUers

wow
again

[Sapphire Blue]

85. kick of gratitude to nofurylike!

Thank you for the :kick: :kick: :kick: ... and for your compassion & support!

:yourock:

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[nofurylike]

98. i wish it could be so much more, Sapphire Blue!! heartbreaking...

but to feel i am any support at all to your ceaseless heroic works, helps me. so, please know that is thanks enough!

YOU!!:
:yourock:


but i must say, i am so touched...

:loveya:

:hug:

[nofurylike]

78. that organization and program sounds excellent. so many

folks working so hard to make sure support is used most effectively. it seems to me to be a very good model for what we must do all around this world.

please keep this going!

[nofurylike]

79. after all, the bloated wealth of this country is what was robbed

from all round this world.

give back give back we have to give back


urgent!!!

[nofurylike]

80. have to go, but hoping kind-hearted DUers will

:kick:

and contribute
and pass the word on

please


peace and solidarity!

[nofurylike]

81. back to check and kick later. please folks, keep this going. eom

[Dystopian]

84. kick....

:kick: for the children and their beautiful kicker!

:loveya:

peace~

[nofurylike]

96. *

:blush:

they deserve so very much from us!!

:hi:

:loveya:

:kick:

[redwitch]

87. I will donate asap.

what a great goal! kicked and recommended.

[Sapphire Blue]

89. Thank you, redwitch!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[InternalDialogue]

88. kick. n/t

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

90. ..

:hi: :hug:

[InternalDialogue]

92. .....

:kick:

[EFerrari]

91. kickers

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[DesertRat]

93. Kick

[Sapphire Blue]

94. ..

:hi: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

95. ...

:kick:

[Nikki Stone1]

97. kick and good luck

Thanks

[tinfoilinfor2005]

99. How exciting...I get to be a mom again!

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to adopt one of these little guys!
:pals:

[Sapphire Blue]

100. Thank you for donating, tinfoilinfor2005!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[nofurylike]

101. "reach out your hand to comfort them" eom

[ExecutiveMom04]

102. Definitely!

What a wonderful cause - will definitely send the information
along! we need to protect all children - they are the innocent
victims in all we do.

[Sapphire Blue]

104. Thank you, ExecutiveMom04, and Welcome to DU!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[nofurylike]

103. "do the things which others tell you cannot be done" eom

[Sapphire Blue]

105. ..

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

106. ..

[nofurylike]

107. over a hundred thousand DUers, but where are you all on this? nt

[nofurylike]

108. have you read what this is about? can you see how vitally

important this is?

please help or at least spread the word. thank you.


peace

[nofurylike]

109. i thought sure we'd prove Sapphire Blue is right. what could be

*more* important than this?

please tell others about this. thank you.

[nofurylike]

110. many gave. that is beyond wonderful. thank you for bringing out

the best in so many of us, Sapphire Blue.

gratitude

:applause:

:hug:
:loveya:

:keep on:


peace and solidarity, always!!

[Sapphire Blue]

111. Imagine... more than 2,000 views x 10 forwards/view...

20,000 forwardees x 10 forwards each... 20,000 forwardees x 10 forwards each...

Endless possibilities!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:


Thank you so much, nofurylike, for all the kicks!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

113. ...

:kick:

[nofurylike]

115. "Imagine... " yes, that i WILL! thank you for reminding me!

i am imagining exactly that, and more: "Endless possibilities!" indeed!

YES!: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: !!!

and many :hug:
and always :loveya:


kicking is truly the very least i could do (just so you know, sent my lil bit in, too). how i wish i could do more, Sapphire Blue.
thank you thank you for all you do


peace and solidarity, always!!

[InternalDialogue]

112. One more kick into the work week.

[Sapphire Blue]

114. ..

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

116. ^^^

:kick: