After ending our time at Daughter’s Vision, we visited a small start-up organization called Amila (meaning, She Is Precious” in Nyanja) founded by a woman named Kasonde (Kassie) and her partner, Aunty D, which was definitely an eye opener. Clarence and Jermaine began talking to Kassie at the Dutch Market on Saturday where she was selling leather earrings. That’s how we learned about her organization, so adding her to the itinerary was a last-minute decision. But, one I’m glad we did because it was truly inspirational!
Amila helps women escape sex trafficking and learn new trade skills to help them earn a living and hopefully heal from their traumatic experiences. Most of the women in sex trafficking are forced to be there. They come from dysfunctional or impoverished backgrounds and do not have a monthly income, so prostitution is their last resort. Kassie shared stories and personal experiences of some of the women, as well as some of what she witnessed in Thailand where she first worked for a year and a half with an organization that fights sex trafficking.
We learned that large numbers of women from Africa are being trafficked to Thailand where they are severely mistreated, often being told that they owe large debts to those who brought them there which they can almost never pay off. These debts are made up and basically keep them in captivity. Others are drugged and beaten. Some make it out but come back to the same circumstances in their communities from which they left where they may also be shamed for what happened to them. Believe it or not, many return to prostitution as it is the only way they know of to make money, especially if they have children. While being sex trafficked, if they become pregnant or contract a disease, they often become homeless because their “pimps” or “madams” have no more use for them. Many of these women are living with HIV.
After returning to Zambia, Kassie said she had a calling to help women working as prostitutes in her own country where sex workers make as little as 100K ($8) in a 10 hour shift of 8pm to 6am. Unfortunately, prostitution is on the rise in Zambia and these women are looked down upon by most of society, so it is a difficult issue to address. But organizations like Amila are slowly starting to address it while connecting with other similar organizations worldwide who are already doing this work. One big challenge for Kassie, though, is funding. Most foundations want to fund programs that have already proven themselves, so it’s much harder to find money for smaller start-ups like Amila. It seemed like connecting Kassie to our Zambian trip leader Japhet, though — who has access to many more people and resources through the work he does — could hopefully benefit her in the future.
Our conversation made me reflect, and put life into perspective. I realized how fortunate I am and that the things I take for granted are worth cherishing. The conversation from one social entrepreneur to another was also very helpful and connecting. As a social entrepreneur in the LearnServe Fellows program, I am working on creating an after-school program to address some negative social behaviors in my school. One of the more important takeaways I received from the conversation with Kassie and Aunty D is their determination. Their drive to start an organization about a strong social issue without any sort of financial support opened my eyes to believe that difficult things are possible if you have the passion and vision. It was inspirational! Their drive and determination will be a reminder for me to work harder and become a better citizen in my own community as I work through my own successes, trials and triumphs.
Janee J., Central High School