FAQ
Please click on a question to see the answer.
1. How did you get your name?
2. Can we sponsor a child?
3. Can we volunteer and/or use our skills/trades in the USA/UK office or overseas?
4. Can we visit and/or work in a safehome?
5. Does Love146 rescue children from brothels?
6. Does Love146 purchase children out of brothels?
7. How do I order a DVD, Info. Pack etc?
8. What are your admin/programs ratios?
9. Have questions about raising funds for Love146?
10. Does Love146 work in the USA?
11. What is the difference between human trafficking and slavery?
12. How many children are affected?
13. What is the impact of trafficking on children?
14. What contributes to a child’s risk of being trafficked?
15. Is Love146 a faith-based organization?
16. Does Love146 proselytize?
17. In your safehome, how are the children's biological, social, and spiritual needs met?
18. Where do you get your funding?
19. Does Love146 simply fund other organizations?
In 2002 co-founders Rob Morris, Desirea Rodgers, Lamont Hiebert and Caroline Hahm traveled to South East Asia to witness first hand the atrocity of child sex slavery and the hope of abolition and restoration. While there, Rob and Lamont went undercover with professional investigators into a brothel. In that brothel, they witnessed little girls standing behind a wall of glass, each wore a matching red dress with a number pinned to her chest; they were watching children’s cartoons on small television sets. Men were purchasing these girls by the number pinned to her dress. As Rob and Lamont looked at these children watching cartoons they were struck by the eyes of each child. Their eyes seemed empty, without spark of life, like robots. And then there was #146. The only one not watching cartoons, she was staring back through the glass with fire and fight left in her eyes, there was still life there. In her eyes we found our calling. In her number came our name. Please visit the Love Story page for the full story and video. back to the top
Because in the past, survivors of child sex slavery and exploitation have had a price (or value) put on them, we are hesitant to do the same. We do have program where you can support our Round Safehome for $25 a month. This monthly giving provides children with safe housing, therapy, nutrition, medical care, education and something every child has a right to, a home full of love and care. back to the top
3.Can we volunteer and/or use our skills/trades in the USA/UK office or overseas?
If you are interested in volunteering or seeking employment in our USA or UK office you can go here for a list of opportunities.
4. Can we visit and/or work in a safehome?
At this time Love146 has no employment needs overseas. Because survivors of exploitation have been traumatized in the past, we work hard to protect them and their path of restoration. Having a short-term volunteer can be harmful to a child should one become attached only for the volunteer to leave soon after. The staff in place is highly trained and fully committed which is best for the children. Our training programs currently are for grassroots workers in Asia. We do not have any US or European training programs at this time - for more info visit our Aftercare Training Page. back to the top
5. Does Love146 rescue children from brothels?
No. Love146 works strictly in prevention and aftercare. We do however work closely with organizations that rescue children. back to the top
6. Does Love146 purchase children out of brothels?
Love146 does not purchase children as a means of rescue from enslavement. Though this may seem like an appropriate response it is in fact contributing to the problem. The purchase of a child financially supports the very systems and structures of abuse that we are fighting. Financially supporting this system contributes to the circle of abuse by allowing the brothel owner, mamasan, or trafficker to simply purchase another child. In some cases, it actually increases the number of children trafficked. We support and endorse the work of rescue agencies and law enforcement that not only remove children form brothels but also shut down brothels, convict, and sentence the exploiters. back to the top
7. How do I order a DVD, Info. Pack etc?
Visit our store or resources page. back to the top
8. What are your admin/programs ratios?
In 2008 our ratios were 75% programs and 25% admin. For more information visit our Financials page. back to the top
9. Have questions about raising funds for Love146?
please read visit the Financial FAQ page. back to the top
10. Does Love146 work in the USA?
Yes. Love146 has developed a U.S. prevention strategy that focuses on advocacy to prevent child sex trafficking (slavery) and exploitation(CSTE). Through detailed research and collaboration, Love146 contributes to the modern-day abolitionist movement in the USA by emphasizing coalition building and partnerships as well as innovative, creative advocacy strategies.
For more information visit our U.S. Prevention page. back to the top
11. What is the difference between human trafficking and slavery?
Trafficking is the act of recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a human for the purpose of exploitation either within or outside a country. Human trafficking is the process or act of enslaving a human being. Slavery is the state of entire subjection of a person to the will of another. back to the top
12. How many children are affected?
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimate that 1.2 million are children trafficked annually. back to the top
13. What is the impact of trafficking on children?
Issues that arise from trafficking include:
- HIV and other serious illnesses
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of educational opportunities
- Loss of family and community
- Increased vulnerability to further abuse back to the top
14. What contributes to a child’s risk of being trafficked?
Some of the main reasons include:
- Lucrative business: 12 billion dollar per year industry
- Weak law enforcement
- Demand for commercial sex and for cheap labor
- Poverty and lack of economic opportunities
- Discrimination
- Low social status of girls back to the top
15. Is Love146 a faith-based organization?
Love146 is an international human rights organization, serving people regardless of religion, political preference, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation or gender. Love146 believes partnerships across religious, political, social and cultural boundaries are vital in working towards the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. Although Love146 is not legally classified as a faith-based organization, the co-founders of Love146 are inspired by their Christian faith as are many of our staff. We readily embrace people of different faith expressions as we unite in the vision of the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. back to the top
Love146 does not proselytize. The organization does not coerce nor demand that people hear any religious message or convert to any particular faith before, during or after receiving assistance.
We do believe that a healthy spiritual life can contribute to recovery in sexually exploited children. Learning activities based on Judeo-Christian values are included in some Love146 projects if appropriate and desired by the community. However, Love146 fully respects the religious beliefs and practices in countries where it operates.
Our focus is ending child sex slavery and exploitation. We do this with the hope of abolition, through the excellence of our programs, with belief in the power of partnerships and by the great fueling, and a motivation of love that protects, defends, restores and empowers.
17. In your safehome, how are the children's biological, social, and spiritual needs met?
Love146 believes it is both our privilege and responsibility to respond to the Biblical and human mandate to act on behalf of the suffering, the vulnerable, and the oppressed. We affirm that all people are created equal and unique and are equally loved and valued by God. These values are communicated to children in words and deeds, as the children’s biological, spiritual, and social needs are met. The child is shown respect even as the child is encouraged to respect everyone and the environment. In the process, the child discovers his/her worth as well as the worth of others and strives to become what he/she can become in society. The child is encouraged to transcend past experiences in view of what she/he can become in the future.
Love146 affirms that a healthy spiritual life contributes to resilience in the recovery of children victimized by sexual slavery and/or exploitation. Spiritual life is strengthened by providing a physical environment that invites study, reading, reflection, and meditation in relation to God and nature. While spiritual life is encouraged, children are never forced or manipulated to participate. back to the top
18. Where do you get your funding?
Love146 is primarily funded by individuals. Other sources of funding include foundations and faith communities.
19. Does Love146 simply fund other organizations?
The following statement represents our Philosophy of Partnership:
We have developed our own programs as well as helped develop existing grassroots efforts. Within the countries Love146 works in there are some amazing people and small grassroots organizations already on the ground, who speak the language, know the culture etc. but who just lack the resources, training and access to networks to do an even more effective job. We see this as an incredibly wise and effective use of resources. Love146 is very selective in whom we partner with and have very effective monitoring and accountability/reporting systems in place. This enables us to not “lose sight of where the money goes” as well as helps us measure the effectiveness of our programs. If we are going to abolish child sex slavery and exploitation it will take people and organizations working together with thoughtful and effective programs.
The following paragraph is taken from an email written by Love146 President, Rob Morris, as he expanded on the above information to answer this question:
At the very beginning of our development as an organization, we were challenged by the Director of a large human rights organization in Cambodia when she asked; “Do you know what your problem is as Americans?” With impending dread and bracing myself for the answer, I asked; “What is our problem?” She answered; “You don’t think. Instead…you react”. She explained that she thinks many times Americans see something that we feel needs to be fixed, but instead of taking the time to really think through a response that could be effective and sustainable, we just react. And she went on to explain that because we have not been thoughtful…many times our reaction causes more harm than good. I thought this was an interesting observation. Then she said; “My advice to you in starting up this organization is to think. Be thoughtful in your approach to the issue you are dealing with so that you will be effective.” We built our organization on this advice. The Love146 approach is based on thoughtfulness and research.