Right at this minute, a young girl is answering a job advertisement. She will be complimented and encouraged and told there is big opportunity for her in another country.
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She pays a certain amount and “The Firm” organises passport and transport.
When she arrives in the foreign country, she is met and pampered for a while. But then it all turns sour. She is seduced and beaten and threatened with broken limbs and reprisals on her parents unless she co-operates. Her passport is taken and she is a prisoner. It may be forced labour, sex slavery or organ harvesting.
It is estimated that there are 27 million slaves worldwide, more than at any time in history. It’s the fastest growing crime in the world. It happens again every 30 seconds.
And Australia is one of the top 10 destinations.
Next month, 10 girls from Tamworth’s Northwest Church will walk the Great Ocean Road to raise awareness and funds to rescue people from the scourge of human trafficking.
It’s a story that started when Tamworth mother, Mia Cottrell-Dormer learned about the situation eight years ago.
“I was angry,” she declares. “I couldn’t believe that humans would do that to each other. I thought, ‘If only Jesus would come back and put an end to this.’
“Then I heard about an Australian movement called A21, which was actively rescuing and rehabilitating people from slavery.
“We formed a group called Tri-Freedom and went in the Port Macquarie Iron Man contest. From there, God has opened doors everywhere.”
It costs $10,000 for each person liberated. This will include finding, rescuing, protection, medical care, repatriation and often conviction for the perpetrators.
Tri-Freedom’s aim this year was to raise $10,000, enough to make a difference to one person. But a fundraising “Blingo” night at the Tamworth Golf Club raised $21,000 and the walk hasn’t even started.
One of the walkers, Karen Linich says: “We are just some ordinary girls who are using their privilege to make a difference for someone. What would we do if it was our sister or daughter? Well it is someone’s sister, someone’s daughter. We will speak up for her.”
In the six years of its existence, Tri-Freedom has held dinners and sporting events, fun runs and mud runs.
There are currently nine netball teams and two soccer teams that wear the Tri-Freedom shirt. They have even raffled a Harley! They have had card-making nights to send love across the world to the girls they have rescued.
They have raised $215,000.
