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iSanctuary empowers survivors of human trafficking

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Welcome to iSanctuary!

Each year 800,000 people are trafficked globally.

14,500-17,000 people are trafficked into the

United States each year.

iSanctuary advocates on behalf of survivors of human trafficking.

We hope you find opportunities to give back here!

Help a survivor immediately, when you

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About Us

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iSanctuary empowers survivors of human trafficking

Mission

The Mission of International Sanctuary: To advocate for exploited people of the world, to educate the public about human trafficking and its prevention, and to be instrumental in providing survivors the means to be reintegrated as valued members of a community.

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Vision

Our vision is expressed by the acronym H.O.P.E.:H - HealingO - OpportunityP - Purchase with PurposeE - Empowerment Healing: International Sanctuary works to ensure that the girls it serves have access to proper mental, emotional, and spiritual counseling as well as medical treatment. Survivors of human trafficking and forced sexual exploitation have often experienced severe trauma from repeated violence, rape and other abuse. Psychological after-effects including post-traumatic stress disorder are common; additionally, many girls contract sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. iSanctuary prioritizes the psychological and physical well-being of its girls, and works towards restoring them to wholeness.Opportunity: International Sanctuary exists to provide opportunities for girls to grow, gain restoration, and eventually sustain themselves by earning an income as they reintegrate into society. Opportunity is created through education: literacy, numeracy, and the development of life and vocational skills. iSanctuarys ultimate goal is that every survivor be literate in their national language and English, be able to count money and have a working knowledge of math applicable to their trade of interest, and have a vocational skill so that they may never return to the sex trade. Education and vocational training combat one of the most significant factors that make women and girls vulnerable to traffickingpoverty. Purchase with Purpose: International Sanctuary offers the world an opportunity to purchase with purposeto buy unique, progressively-styled handcrafted products, and in so doing help trafficked survivors earn an income with which they can sustain themselves. By creating and selling handmade items, survivors are able to earn a life-giving income. Furthermore, when survivors are equipped with the skills to make various products, they often develop a deep sense of pride in their creations and a satisfaction in knowing that the works of their hands are valued and admired. Every creation that iSanctuary sells, has significance and meaning, while it also affirms a survivors self-confidence.Empowerment: International Sanctuarys goal is to see trafficked survivors fully restored and reintegrated into society. For this to happen, survivors must be empowered with belief in themselvesbelief that they can truly succeed. The foundation for rehabilitation and reintegration lies in the empowerment that results from self-confidence, self-reliance, and hope for a future filled with possibility. iSanctuary stands behind each of its trafficked survivors to provide the necessary and individual support each girl needs as she is empowered for reintegration into society.

Goals

Educating the public to bring awareness and prevention· School presentations· Community and church functions· Home Parties Providing job opportunities in varying career paths through the growing social enterprise of International Sanctuary · PresentlyJewelry making· Opportunities for continued education/training· Experience in leadership/teaching· Management· Additional career options, as they arise Preparing survivors for reintegration· Life Skills· Counseling· Education· Financial stability Advocating for rescued and bonded people.· Creating awareness about modern day slavery· Promoting fair trade products· Health Care for iSanctuary apprentices, as needed· Partnering with other organizations to emancipate trafficked people· Promoting the implementation of best practices for IS apprentices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is human trafficking?Human trafficking is the transportation and sale of human beings, often for purposes of exploitation. Leading authorities estimate that more than 800,000 people are trafficked every year, adding to the figure of 12.3 million people around the world presently living in slavery. 80% of trafficking victims are women and children. Victims of sex trafficking are most commonly forced, deceived, abducted or sold by their families, transported and then sold into slavery.What does iSanctuary do in response to human trafficking and forced commercial sexual exploitation?International Sanctuary works to rehabilitate girls rescued from sexual slavery, provides them with marketable training, and empowers them with the skills they need to sustain themselves, pursuing better futures filled with hope.How are the survivors rescued?International Sanctuary partners with a large international human rights agency that works with local authorities around the world to rescue victims of oppression and slavery. The organization utilizes legal and investigative professionals to collect evidence of forced sexual exploitation. Once sufficient evidence is gathered, the information is brought to local authorities who work with the human rights agency to physically remove the girls from their situations of abuse and exploitation. In the United States, iSanctuary partners with the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force Coalition, made up of Westminster Police Department, Investigative Customs Enforcement, and other non-government agencies which work on behalf of victims to rescue them out of trafficking situations.Does International Sanctuary ever purchase girls freedom?No, iSanctuary does not advocate purchasing victims freedom from their exploiters. This only contributes to the supply and demand equation, giving criminals added incentive to acquire and enslave girls, along with an additional source of income. Legally removing exploited girls from situations of slavery and holding traffickers accountable for their crimes is necessary for lasting change to be achieved.What happens to the survivors once they are rescued?Upon rescue in India, the survivors are placed in a government facility (for a maximum of 30 days) until their ages can be verified. Once it is medically confirmed that the girls are minorsunder 18 years of agethey are placed under the protection of the Child Welfare Committee and transferred to government-run or privately-run care homes. These aftercare homes serve as places of safety for the girls. The girls live in the aftercare homes until they reach the age of 18.In the United States, survivors are sheltered in safe homes and given the resources they need through CSP (Community Service Programs) and non-government agencies.How old are the survivors International Sanctuary serves?In India, iSanctuary works with girls who are generally between the ages of 12 and 25 years old. At the time of trafficking and sale, girls have been younger than 12. Statistics show that girls that are trafficked have been known to be as young as age 5. In the United States, the majority of survivors iSanctuary works with are adults.What happens to the girls once they get to the US?The girls are never brought to the United States. Survivors typically remain in the country where they were rescued. It would not be beneficial to survivors to be transported and introduced into yet another culture. Once their court case is closed they usually have the option to return home if their families were found innocent in the transaction of the girl. For survivors that have been trafficked and rescued in the US, specific US laws are in place for victims rights. Laws vary from country to country.How much is returned to the girls from the sale of products?The girls are paid 100% above fair trade wage. Each girl has a bank account where her earnings are deposited and saved for her future when she transitions out of the aftercare home. The Fair Trade Federation is an association that was established as a global movement to build equitable and sustainable partnerships in order to alleviate poverty. Fair trade wage is calculated according to each countrys economic scale. Fair Trade products ensure that items were not made by slave labor. The additional funds cover the material cost, shipping, and tax.What happens to the girls once they turn 18?Though the care homes are primarily intended for minor girls, young women are permitted to stay once they turn 18 if they so choose. When the girls reach 18 years of age, they are encouraged to move to transitional group homes where they can gain more independence and gradually reintegrate into society.How was International Sanctuary started?Please read OC Register article written by Lori Basheda. Why India?India has over 10,000 women enslaved in prostitution. 70% of Indias population lives in poverty. India was the country Stephanie Pollaro, Founder & President, heard of when she learned about human trafficking.Trafficking happens in the United States?Trafficking is a global issue. It occurs in countries all over the world. Americans are trafficked within the borders of the United States, while 14,500 to 17,500 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked in to the U.S. each year. See the US Trafficking in Persons report for more information. http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010/What are you doing to help survivors in the US?iSanctuarys vision is to work with survivors globally, in a variety of countries. iSanctuary started its efforts in India, where the needs of trafficking survivors are exceedingly great. As a member of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force Coalition in California, iSanctuary partners with other organizations to provide resources for survivors. In November of 2010, iSanctuary began a program providing employment, life skills and mentoring relationships to survivors rescued in the United States.

Bios

Stephanie Pollaro, President and Founder(pictured on the right) The passion Stephanie Pollaro has for empowering women and children suffering in the bonds of sexual slavery was born from a magazine article that she read in May 2003. The article outlined the brutality of human sex trafficking in India and around the world. After multiple short trips to India and a one year volunteer stint with an Indian NGO in Andhra Pradesh that served women and girls in red-light districts, Stephanie was struck by the need to provide skills training and employment alternatives for women rescued from forced commercial sexual exploitation.International Sanctuary is the realization of Stephanie's dream to create a business that helps those freed from enslavement to sustain themselves with marketable artisan skills. Originally a California resident, Stephanie now lives in Mumbai, India, where she works in government-run and private rehabilitation facilities for trafficking survivors, teaching the art of jewelry-making. In addition to driving International Sanctuary's strategic direction as President, Stephanie is responsible for providing much of the first-person care and training to the girls who participate in International Sanctuary's programs.Stephanie holds a Masters degree in Counseling from California State University Long Beach. Stephanie's objective is to see women living free of bondage and full of hope.Wendy Dailey, Co-Founder (pictured on the left) When Wendy Dailey embarked on a two-week trip with Rock Harbor Church in 2004 to rural India, she could not have known how profoundly the experiences there would shape her future. Wendy fell in love with the country and its' culture, but was also haunted by the incredible poverty. Wendy met Stephanie on that trip, and at that time neither of them could have imagined that they would together found a non-profit organization.As Co-Founder, Wendy oversees International Sanctuary's operations in the United States and provides leadership to address the organizations administrative needs. Though she has previously spent considerable time in Mumbai working firsthand with the girls that International Sanctuary serves, Wendy is presently based in Orange County, California where she coordinates volunteers, events, sales, trainings, promotions, communications, development, and partnerships.Wendy graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Liberal Arts and a California Teaching Credential. After teaching for four years in the Orange Unified School District, Wendy moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia where she taught English in an orphan care organization. Wendy desires to see iSanctuary grow to have a lasting impact, transforming the lives of girls rescued from sex trafficking.

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Trafficking
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One million people are trafficked every year.

Report or Suspect Trafficking: Call the National Hotline 1.888.3737.888"Defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our day. Together with our allies and friends, we will continue our efforts to bring this cruel practice to an end. Together we can make a difference, and together we can build a safer, freer, and more prosperous world for all. " - Condoleezza RiceHuman Trafficking: The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation". - United Nations- 27 million people are enslaved today. (forced labor, sexually exploited, domestic servitude)- Modern day slavery is a 32 billion dollar industry.- Every year one million people are trafficked.- 80 % are women and girls. - Sex trafficking is the second largest source of profits for international organized crime, behind drugs.- Girls as young as age five are known to have been trafficked and sold into child prostitution. - Human Trafficking takes place globally, including the United States.- Mumbai, India is Asias largest sex industry center. - There are more than 100,000 sexually exploited people in Mumbai, India.- In Mumbai, 95% of the children of prostituted women become prostitutes. - Girls are sold into brothels for less than $100.United States- 14,000-17,500 victims are trafficked into the US each year.- Average age of a trafficked victim in the US is fourteen. - Laws have been implemented for the rights of victims of human trafficking.- Within 72 hours on the street, 1 in 3 runaway girls end up in the sex trade.International Sanctuary is a member of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force Coalition, a network of organizations working to abolish human trafficking and related crimes in Orange County through collaboration, prevention, protection and prosecution.Please visit our blog to view more information about what other organizations are doing to combat trafficking.

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iSanctuary urges you to support California Against Slavery.

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www.californiaagainstslavery.org

Survivors

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''The trafficking of persons... is one of the most egregious violations of human rights...''

-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan

*All names are changed to keep anonymity.* In the darkness of Bangladesh a girl slept on the dirt floor of a shack. Poverty is commonplace in developing countries but this is not a story of poverty, it's a story about how poverty can lead to some of the most inhumane treatment of people.As Saheli* slept one night, a neighbor crept into the house and kidnapped her. Rendered unconscious, Saheli awoke in Mumbai, far from her village and her home. As a 12-year old village girl, she was very confused and afraid which led her to trust the one person she knew, her neighbor. He lied and told her that a job had been arranged for her in a restaurant in the city. But Saheli never made it to that restaurant. Instead, she spent the first week in Mumbai being beaten, starved, and raped. Once her spirit was broken, she spent every day and night for the remaining four years as a sex slave for a brothel owner.Fortunately, Saheli's story doesn't end in a brothel. She was rescued.Saheli has been part of iSanctuary's program for over a year. Though she was hesitant to get involved in the beginning, she has now risen to the top and excelled, proving herself to be a skilled jewelry designer. She has designed several one of a kind, exclusive pieces that are a favorite of many women. Saheli continues to attend school and will hopefully join iSanctuary on a full-time basis when she graduates. She is a young woman with much tenacity. Her bold enthusiasm has made her a natural leader. iSanctuary will be grateful to have her as a leader in the program.------------------------Megala* grew up in the deep poverty of Bangladesh - poverty which eventually forced her family to move Mumbai in search of work. Her mother accepted a job at a steel mill, where she met and then married a man named Yogesh*.Though Megala did not know it, her new step-father Yogesh started negotiating a way to make money from Megala's innocence. Working with another man who was similarly trying to prostitute his 15-year-old sister-in-law, Yogesh started shopping the sex industry for men who would pay for the opportunity to abuse his 12-year-old stepdaughter.At one such meeting, Yogesh inadvertently met with investigators working for a human rights organization that works to bring rescue and justice to victims of sex trafficking in Mumbai, India. Yogesh showed the IJM operatives a picture of his daughter Megala, explained that she was a virgin, and began to negotiate a price.When Megala's step-father purchased her a new outfit and told her he was bringing her to visit her uncle, she had no idea of his real intentions. She accompanied him to the hotel where he planned to sell her for the first time. There, they also met with the young sister-in-law of Yogesh's coworker. It was there at the hotel, on the brink of assault, that the investigators, partnering with local authorities, intervened and rescued Megala and the other young girl.The organizations legal team determinedly sought justice for Megala. Though the team faced many obstacles in the legal process, they persevered. Eventually, Megala had the opportunity to testify against her abuser. In December 2007, her stepfather and his coworker were both convicted of procuring minor girls for sex, selling minor girls for prostitution, unlawfully compelling the girls to work against their will under the Indian Penal Code, for knowingly living off the earnings of a prostitute, and for procuring a female for prostitution under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Each of the perpetrators was sentenced to seven years in prison.Megala moved to a long-term aftercare home, where she has had the opportunity to join iSanctuary's program. She has started to learn the process of trusting others, and how to build healthy relationships. When she grows up, Megala wants to be a social worker or a drawing teacher. She says that as a social worker she will be able to go back to the slums where she grew up and help other children get food and housing. She would tell the girls in the slums her own story and give them advice about what to do in the future - how it is important to study and get a job and care for their children.'

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To learn more about the survivors we serve, visit our blog

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“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

- Edmund Burke

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Volunteer

Become an AdvocateEducate yourself. Please visit our blog.VolunteerOrange County needs volunteers! If you are interested, please fill out our online application form.Educate others Awareness is the first step in eradicating sexual slavery.Report or Suspect Trafficking Call the National Hotline 1.888.3737.888Donate TimeiSanctuary is in a constant state of growth. Chapters are continuing to start in various cities across the country. Please keep an eye out to get involved in a chapter in your area. Contact info_isanctuary.org for more information.Attend an iSanctuary eventVisit the blog to view upcoming events. Schedule an awareness eventContact: events_isanctuary.orgDonate ServicesIf you have a professional skill or service you would like to donate please contact Wendy Please enclose a link, resume, or portfolio as it applies. Contact: info_isanctuary.orgDonate FundsiSanctuary has been a grassroots movement: Ordinary people working together to accomplish extraordinary things. Please join us. Every contribution is welcome and appreciated!Join our PartnershipSubscribe to monthly donations, anywhere from $10 a month to $100. We appreciate your support! (The option to donate online is coming soon.)Purchase with Purpose™ Your purchase directly impacts the lives of girls rescued from trafficking. Visit our online boutique. Give iSanctuary products as gifts It supports survivors and creates awareness. www.shopsanctuary.orgJoin us on Facebook and help spread the word.

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Campus Ambassador Program

The iSanctuary Campus Ambassador Program is designed to help students make a personal contribution in the fight against human trafficking. Through creating an anti-human trafficking presence on campus, organizing an awareness event, and encouraging peers to get involved, students can improve the quality of life for those survivors and help to prevent future trafficking operations.Program Requirements:Spend at least 5-10 hours per month fulfilling their responsibilities each semester termOrganize at least two big events each semester to raise awarenessSell iSanctuary jewelry and Tori Higa StationeryCreatively promote and inform peers and community members about iSanctuarys anti-trafficking effortsProgram open to students nationwide

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Home Parties

Selling jewelry is great way to advocate for the woman and girls we serveBook a party now!Contact events_isanctuary.orgHome parties are available nationwide

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Purchase with Purpose™

The concept of Purchase with Purpose™ is that consumers should have the opportunity to use their money in a powerful way. When you buy from iSanctuary, you not only receive the merchandise, you also change lives. Purchasing a product from iSanctuary provides a foundation for survivors futures. Proceeds offer rescued girls vocational training, education, and monetary savings upon their transition from the aftercare home.

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Online Boutique

Please visit our online boutique:

www.shopsanctuary.org

We are always updating our site with new items, so please visit often. Our jewelry pieces are handmade by survivors of human trafficking while our THS greeting card line is handmade by volunteers in the US. We can proudly say that all proceeds for both product lines go toward iSanctuary, working toward the restoration of survivors of human trafficking. We offer truly unique and one of a kind gifts. No two items are exactly alike. Colors may vary.

Retail Locations

We are grateful to our retailers that are contributing to the fight against human trafficking. If you are a retailer interested in carrying iSanctuary products please contact wendyk_isanctuary.orgHere is a list of current shops where iSanctuary jewelry can be found:CaliforniaA Place of Our Own10655 Los AlamitosLos Alamitos, CA 90720(714) 287-9665Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort21100 Pacific Coast HighwayHuntington Beach, CA 92648(714) 845-8404http://www.waterfrontresort.com/SEED People’s Marketc101 2937 Bristol StreetCosta Mesa, CA 92626(714) 708-2277Vanguard University Bookstore55 Fair Dr.Costa Mesa, CA 92626(717) 556-3610 ex. 4715Anaheim Vineyard Christian Fellowship Bookstore5340 E La Palma Ave.Anaheim, CA 92807(714) 777-4777Soul At Home7612 17th St # 101Tustin, CA 92780(714) 573-7685www.soulathome.comMerry’'s245 W. Broadway, Suite 190Long Beach, CA 90802http://www.merrys.biz/Laurie’s Little Secret4133 Viking WayLong Beach, CA 90808(562) 421-6300http://www.laurieslittlesecret.comFruitful Hands Boutique336 Pecan DriveRipon, CA 95366(209) 614-3746http://www.fruitfulhandsboutique.com/Westmont BookstoreLa Paz RoadSanta Monica, CA 93108(805) 565-6000http://www.westmont.edu/Biola Bookstore13800 Biola Ave.La Mirada, CA 90639(562) 903-6000http://www.biola.edu/Outback Trading Company6257 Highway 9Felton, CA 95018(831) 335-1076Fiore Boutique5911 Warner AvenueHuntington Beach, CA 92649(714) 846-3330Laurenly Boutique142 North Glassell St.Orange, CA 92866(714) 538-7467www.laurenly.net---------------IllinoisUrban Style Salon and Spa3 East WilsonBatavia, IL 60510http://www.urbanstylesalonandspa.com---------------KansasImagery10577 Mission Rd.Leawood, KS 66206(913) 602-8510Family Home Treasures210 3rd St.Home, KS 66438----------------TexasBEST FRIENDZ103. S. Main St. Cibolo, TX 78108(210) 231-0403----------------MissouriNMG Fashions4149 Pennsylvania Ave.Kansas City, MO 64111-3034----------------PennsylvaniaBorn Yesterday1901 Walnut St.Philadelphia, PA 19103(215) 568-6556

Tori Higa Stationery

We have had the pleasure of partnering with Tori Higa Stationery. In 2004, Tori Higa launched her vintage fabric greeting card line from gaining inspiration from her husband's late grandmother. As an artist, designer, and entrepreneur, Tori designed chic, classic, and innovative greeting cards. After soaring to Oprahs Favorite Things List, as well as selling to over 300 stores both nationally and internationally, Tori graciously offered to partner with International Sanctuary in 2008. We are so grateful to be working with such an exceptional artist. Retailers please contact wendyk_isanctuary.org
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Click here to download the 2010 catalog! Please e-mail Wendy for a list of wholesale prices and terms.

Tasmin Francesca Designs

Tamsin Francesca Designs

Tamsin Francesca (www.tamsinfrancesca.co.uk) is a young English jeweler who has just returned from a year in Mumbai, teaching jewelry making skills to survivors of sex trafficking. She taught at International Sanctuary, a non-profit organization set up 5 years ago in direct response to an article in Marie Claire. This is the story of her work with Stephanie Pollaro, the founder, in Mumbai.There are times in life when everything changes. It can creep up on you bit by bit, or, as in my case, it can smack you in the face full force. A year ago I moved to India to join my partner who worked in Mumbai. As a jeweler I had thought there would be no way I could put my specific skill set to any great use other than to produce my work, the jewelry industry being what it is in India. My workshop was set up at home within the first month and I set to work, preparing for a sales event in Spring for the expat community.Time passed, I learned to manage the intense staring in the street at the blonde white girl in the suburbs, who to talk to and who to avoid, not to wear anything lower than my collar bone, or tighter fitting than a kurta, and enough Hindi to get me about. By pure chance one day, we had retreated into one of the grander hotels for a taste of proper Italian food, without ketchup, which is no mean feat in Mumbai, and I wore a pair of my signature earrings. My work is very light and feminine, but not subtle; it really makes a statement, so became something of a conversation starter around the table. Two rather loud American women came up to me to tell me how much they loved my earrings, where did I get them? I told them I made them, it's what I do, and their faces lit up. 'We make jewelry too!' It's fashion jewelry, whereas I make fine jewelry in sterling silver and gold, but we started talking and it turns out they were looking for help. Help that I could give, and I jumped at the chance.Stephanie Pollaro was one of these women, the co-founder of iSanctuary (isanctuary.org), a non-profit organization that rehabilitates rescued survivors of trafficking, teaching them new skills and providing arts therapy through jewelry making. The benefits though, are three fold, the women (and girls, some are very young) are also given a long term income by making jewelry. Stephanie's partner, Wendy Hicks, in the States, organizes the distribution and sales of the pieces via iSanctuary.org, house parties and festivals, raising awareness there in the process as every piece comes with a message of its origin, and is signed by the girl who made it. What these two extraordinary women face is a battle, uphill, through quicksand. They face it with smiles, determination, utterly undaunted by the size of the task ahead. Everyone has one issue that makes their blood boil, and for me it has always been the persecution of women for simply being born female, the violence and discrimination women face every day. So, for me to be able to work with iSanctuary and use my jewelry skills to help girls into a new freedom was extraordinary.Stephanie says, "In my experience, the biggest obstacle facing women in India is that there isnt just one obstacle that they face. Though more women are being formally educated in India than ever before, the cultural norms that are so strictly engrained into their everyday lives are extremely slow to change. Therefore, you have these educated women that still have to maintain a curfew, are paid less for the same jobs as men, are restricted to a dress code that is often not to their liking, and do not have the freedom to choose their own life partner. The society that they live in also allows domestic violence to go unchallenged and even believe that it is a mans right to hit their wives. The hope that iSanctuary has for these women is that they never give up on believing that they do have choices, and more importantly that they continue believing in themselves." This is where I could fit in. I taught jewelry metal working skills to a small group of girls every week in a make shift workshop in flux. In the process we set up a proper workshop from scratch, acquiring the necessary equipment as we went along step by step. In the long term this will enable the manufacture of more advanced work, enabling the women to work for iSanctuary, earning a living wage, passing on the skills ad infinitum, enabling others; or move on into a new life, working within the enormous jewelry industry in India. It's the first stride to a new life, away from cruelty and abuse, to independence and confidence. iSanctuary has already helped over a hundred women since its genesis 3.5 years ago, and will go on to help hundreds more become free of prostitution and the trade in human beings, for good.Although Stephanie has worked in India for five years, iSanctuary officially started in 2007 and was created as a response to Stephanie Pollaros shocking revelation of a crime that too few people are aware of, especially in terms of the sheer scale of it. She read about human trafficking and the exploitation of women and children occurring in India and around the world in an article in Marie Claire, and had what she calls "one of those moments, when you know your life will never be the same again". The purity of this statement is the Stephanie I have come to know. She has no notion of just how special a person she is, to think 'that's terrible' and actually get up and dedicate her life to it. Where most of us would think awful, turn the page and pick our favourite pair of boots this season, she just saw something wrong and reached out to fix it. Neither she nor Wendy draw a paycheck, with every penny of profit going straight back into the company, paying the girls wages and buying more supplies. When Stephanie first arrived in Mumbai, having spent the previous few years in rural projects in India, she was armed only with an email address of a woman working for an undercover operation which rescues forced sex workers. Sex parties were arranged, and then when the pimps brought the girls, some as young as 5 years old, they found police waiting for them, and the girls whisked away into safe houses to start again. They stay in these safe houses until the age of 18, where iSanctuary trains them to make jewelry and gives them the ability to earn money and create a future for themselves. In the beginning there was an incredible vision, yet being foreigners with a unique perspective on how to assist young women in need, receiving support from different NGOs and even vendors was a huge challenge in establishing iSanctuary within India. With time and unwavering persistence, iSanctuary, and Stephanie, have proven to be trustworthy and determined in helping change lives for the better, which has resulted in iSanctuary being able to work with over 100 young women throughout Mumbai. Earning the trust of these girls is no mean feat. Stephanie has told me of girls who would flinch at a gentle hand on the arm for a year after being rescued, edging away to the other side of the room, others who would not speak or look at you. It is her steady presence and faith that the girls respond to, hand in hand with their developing skills and savings. When a girl achieves a new technique and suddenly hugs Stephanie for the first time, it is all she can do to maintain her composure, such is the level of the breakthrough. Can you imagine never having a confidante in your life, no-one who cared who you were, ever, let alone carrying the weight of the heinous experiences these women have endured; and then someone returning again and again who couldn't care more, a heart as big as the country she comes from. One of the girls said to Stephanie once, "You know that first time you came, I didn't believe you were ever coming back." Stephanie says, "Believe it or not, the most rewarding aspect of having created iSanctuary, is having the opportunity to simply live alongside these exceptional young women. I love experiencing their daily lives, like eating lunch and drinking tea while discussing movies, fashion and boys (the things typical teenagers like to talk about). These informal discussions have led to deeper conversations and valuable connections have been forged which allow us to challenge these young women and give them hope to strive for greatness." "Our immediate goal for 2011 is to continue to obtain more retail opportunities in the US and to begin distribution of iSanctuary jewelry into the Indian market. By obtaining retail partners in Mumbai, iSanctuary will inevitably be able to carry our jewelry in their boutiques thus creating steadfast job opportunities and hope for many of these women."The initial group of girls I have been training are to be the core in the advanced workshop, teaching new girls in turn, on and on ad infinitum. Now I have left India to live again in the UK, I have not left iSanctuary behind me. From August 2011 I will be sending video projects for the girls to practice in the studio, and conducting critiques and classes over the net, whilst continuing to make my own work in the UK. 10% of all sales from tamsinfrancesca.co.uk go towards iSanctuary, and I will be continuing to visit and grow the workshops in Mumbai whenever I can. I am honoured to be a part of this quiet revolution. Women helping women, isn't that beautiful?For more information please visit www.isanctuary.org, and www.tamsinfrancesca.co.uk. 10% of all sales from Tamsin Francesca go towards the work of iSanctuary in Mumbai.
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One time online donation: For monthly donations from $10 - $200, click here.Checks may be sent to the address below.International Sanctuary17777 Main St. C-2Irvine, CA 92614We appreciate your support!

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Tasmin Francesca Designs

Proceeds go to iSanctuary, continuing to fight human trafficking.

Blog

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iSanctuary in the News:Long Beach Press-Telegram 1Long Beach Press-Telegram 2KCAL 9Affinity MagazineGolden West CollegeOC RegisterStyle Substance SoulPlease visit our blog for the latest news with iSanctuary. We also have a very comprehensive amount of valuable information and resources posted on our blog.

Contact

"Ordinary people, working together to accomplish extraordinary things."

- Stephanie Pollaro

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Contact

General InquiriesInternational Sanctuary17777 Main St. C-2Irvine, CA 92614949.752.7788 (p)310.760.5099 (f)info_isanctuary.orgSchedule an EventTo schedule an event at your school, church or community group, e-mail events_isanctuary.orgBook a PartyIf you're interested in hosting a party, email events_isanctuary.orgRetailers & Online ordersInterested in carrying iSanctuary products in your shop? E-mail wholesale_isanctuary.orgTori Higa Stationeryinfo_isanctuary.orgTamsin Francesca Design Consultant and UK Representative info_tamsinfrancesca.co.ukwww.tamsinfrancesca.co.ukIndiaSunita Khursule, Director of Operations for iSanctuary iMPEX Pvt. Ltd.skhursule_isanctuaryimpex.comCity Chapters:Santa Cruz Chapter Chair, Dorene Dawsondorene_isanctuary.orgKansas City Chapter Chair, Gretchen Wirkenteachme463_gmail.comBookkeeping:Sharon_isanctuary.org
Gala
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Save the date for the iSanctuary Fundraising Gala on April 10, 2010!iGive. iHelp. iSanctuary.iSanctuary is in the process of establishing a sanctuary center in Mumbai, India and Orange County, California, where rescued survivors will begin to receive all the elements necessary for restoration, including education, counseling, vocational training, and mental, emotional and spiritual healing. To raise money to pay for both sanctuary centers, iSanctuary is holding it's first-ever Fundraising Gala! Event DetailsWhat: iSanctuary's Human Trafficking Awareness GalaWhen: Saturday, April 10, 2010; 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.Where: Sawdust Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Rd.* Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 * www.sawdustartfestival.org The event will include live musical performances, a live and silent auction, a raffle event, door prizes, and of course, more information on how you can help stop human trafficking. For more information, please contact: info_isanctuary.comiSanctuary is in need of items to donate. To donate items, please contact: info_isanctuary.com

contest rules

iPad Contest: You could win an iPad all you have to do is sign up and VOTE!

Email: isanctuary2010_gmail.com

Subject: Daily Voting Reminder

Message: Enter NAME and ADDRESS

By sending this simply email you will be signed up for a daily reminder to vote for iSanctuary in the PEPSI REFRESH PROJECT.

You get 3 VOTES per day : 1 text, 1 on the Pepsi site, and 1 on Facebook. (EST)

If iSanctuary wins the competition, everyone that has signed up for the daily reminder will be entered in a raffle to win one of 4 new Apple iPads!!!!

Pepsi website: http://pep.si/eRNwqC

Facebook: http://bit.ly/hMpWhI

Text 104818 to 73774........standard rates apply (nothing extra :)

The idea is that this motivates you... You will really want iSanctuary to win the PEPSI Refresh Project so that you get a chance to win an iPad. We don't win there is no iPad competition so VOTE and get others to VOTE!!!!

*Rules: One Entry per person, Open to US residents 13 year of age or older. VOTING ends DEC 31st 11:59 EST

win me!

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International Sanctuary is a non profit benefit corporation under IRC501(C)(3). All donations are tax deductible.

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