Yoga Freedom Project

Yoga is rejuvenating, relaxing, and calming. But the yogi activists of the Yoga Freedom Project are not taking the fight against modern-day slavery calmly. What started as just a small idea in early 2011 has turned into a global movement using yoga practice as a way to raise awareness about human trafficking and funds for the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Heather Snyder first became aware and involved with the Somaly Mam Foundation when she read Somaly's book, The Road of Lost Innocence, three years ago. Somaly inspired Snyder with her courageous effort to rescue and empower victims and Snyder quickly began searching online for a way to help. Through SMF's volunteer initiative PROJECT FUTURES global, Snyder found an opportunity to join the fight.

"As the regional leader for NYC Off the Mat, Into the World, I am amongst an amazing group of yogis dedicated to service. I knew I had found my way in to help," Snyder explained. Through the effort of a team from PROJECT FUTURES and fellow volunteers, the Yoga Freedom Project came into being. In the month of January alone, there have been more than 50 donation-based classes around the world.

The month long yoga awareness project culminates on January 31 with a Practice for Freedom, an inspirational class and celebration led collaboratively by Elena Brower, Sri Dharma Mittra, Dana Flynn, Alan Finger, Cyndi Lee, Jodie Rufty, Sierra Bender, Tricia Donegan, and Off the Mat's Suzanne Sterling.

"All of these powerful teachers from varying yoga lineages are coming together to give a voice to this cause and stand in unity," Snyder explained.

2011: The Year of the Volunteer

2011 was a year of action. From Australia to New York City, Los Angeles and beyond, volunteers took action against modern-day slavery in support of the Somaly Mam Foundation. The partnership between Project Futures (an Australian volunteer group) and SMF led to the launch of the PROJECT FUTURES global volunteer initiative was hugely successful. The partnership continues to empower volunteers to take action against sex slavery.

 

Hundreds of volunteers embraced and continue to embrace the program pledging time, making commitments, and creating new ideas to take action. Volunteers raised impressive funds in 2011 with events and campaigns such as 18 for 18, 50g For Our Sisters, Hamptons Marathon, and the Run for Freedom.

PROJECT FUTURES global officially launched in New York City with a party hosted by Seth Meyers hosted at the Bowery Hotel. The NYC launch raised nearly $20,000 dollars and gained many new volunteers.

The Los Angeles launch was a star studded event. Celebrities and ambassadors such as AnnaLynne McCord, Shay Mitchell, and Ron Livingston showed their support for SMF and mingled with volunteers and other supporters all sharing ideas to create action.

Join PROJECT FUTURES global in 2012. Take action and become part of a global team of amazing volunteers.

Young and taking action

She may only be in high school, but Olivia Dufour is doing her part to fight against trafficking and help victims and survivors in the shelters. Olivia has collected over 350 items for the shelters including; 181 books, 61 dolls, 10 toys, 10 types of art supplies, book bags, and tote bags. She estimates the total of items to be around 365.

Olivia first met Somaly Mam two years ago at a Young Professionals dinner.

"We've been friends ever since and my passion for ending human trafficking has only grown stronger," Olivia said.

After Somaly told Olivia that she needed supplies for survivors living in shelters, Olivia started Dolls for Healing, a program that collects items for shelters and raises awareness and create action. Olivia holds seminars and events to help end the sex trade in the United States and abroad.

Do you have your own volunteer project? Want to start your own? Visit PROJECT FUTURES global and get involved today. The future awaits!

Two blokes cycle against slavery

Inspired by the work of Somaly Mam and the Somaly Mam Foundation to eradicate modern-day slavery, two young men named Adam and Ben have embarked on a journey to raise awareness and funds to fight this great evil. They first about sexual slavery during a two month visit to South East Asia. They were horrified by the soaring number of victims and decided to take action and do something about it.

Adam and Ben are cycling 1600 kilometers through Vietnam — from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Along they way they will be documenting the ride through blogging, taking photos, and shooting video. You can follow them on their blog, or contribute to their journey here.

Donate Your Birthday to End Slavery

Do you have a birthday coming up? Looking for a way to support a good cause?

What if you donated your birthday?

Join our Birthday Campaign and in lieu of gifts, ask your friends and family to donate to end sexual slavery and support the victims as a birthday present to you. We are so lucky to be able to celebrate our birthdays with gifts, laughter, and love, but not everyone is as fortunate. By donating your birthday to end slavery, you will remind yourself and all of your loved ones of how lucky we are. A donation to the Somaly Mam Foundation can have a profound impact on the life of a survivor and on the eradication of slavery. This is an amazing gift that will have a lasting effect on many people across the globe.

New Video to Raise Awareness of Trafficking

Richard Simko, a supporter of the Somaly Mam Foundation and PROJECT FUTURES global created a video to raise awareness of modern day slavery. He hopes that this video will create movement and we do to. Please take a moment to watch, learn, and turn your awareness into action.

Help fighting sex slavery V2 from Richard Simko on Vimeo.

Twilight Musician Bobby Long Fights Trafficking

British singer-songwriter Bobby Long, featured on the Twilight sountrack, placed his guitar up for auction on eBay, with all proceeds going to the Somaly Mam Foundation. The auction closed this morning, with the guitar selling for $2,125.

Thank you so much to Bobby for his generosity, and thank you to the auction winner for placing a bid to end human trafficking!

To learn more about Bobby's involvement with PROJECT FUTURES global and the Somaly Mam Foundation, and the collective work of Artists Against Traffik, click here.   

Hearts Aligned: Anusara Yoga with Kenny Graham

Hearts Aligned poster

The Hearts Aligned yoga event on July 10 in San Jose was a huge success! 50 activists gathered to focus their energy and brightness into bringing change to the world.

The workshop held at Downtown Yoga Shala. Thank you very much to Anusara™ teacher Kenny Graham and the Downtown Yoga Shala’s Noell Clark who generously led practice for the morning and spoke so kindly about Somaly Mam and the Foundation.

Thank you also to Prajna Vieira and Ben Leinbach for providing live music and kirtan for the workshop, a perfect accompaniment to such moving practice.

Most importantly, thank you to all those who attended the event, for bring all of your incredible energy and fullness of heart.

Interested in creating your own yoga event? Or maybe youhave another idea on how to get others engaged in the fight against trafficking? Visit PROJECT FUTURES global online and get started today. The future awaits!

Send a Postcard to a Survivor of Sex Trafficking

"Human presence and moral support is as important as ... financial aid to the girls, who need to be recognized as full fellow human beings." - Somaly Mam, The Road of Lost Innocence

Show your solidarity with survivors of sex trafficking and send messages of love and encouragement. Join PROJECT FUTURES global's postcard campaign to touch the lives of a survivor in the shelter, sending a positive message of support and strength.

If you're in the New York area, check out the campaign launch tonight (July 7) at DDC Lab for a volunteer mixer and to make a postcard. (427 West 14th Street, New York, NY; 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.) This is an excellent opportunity to show your support for survivors and to tell them about your dedication to ending slavery.

Not in New York or can't make it to the event? Send your postcards to the PROJECT FUTURES team before July 31st. We'll send them to survivors living in shelters in South East Asia so that they can hear your beautiful words.

Send Postcards to:
PROJECT FUTURES Postcard Campaign
c/o Somaly Mam Foundation
PO Box 4569
New York, NY 10163

Postcard Guidelines - Be sure to include:
"Dear sister"
Your name, age, and hometown
Something about you and your favorite things
Words of strength and encouragement
(Helpful hint: Think about what you would tell a survivor to inspire her and empower her for the future)

Volunteer Profile: Jacquelene Adam

This volunteer story was shared by Jacquelene Adam, a volunteer with PROJECT FUTURES global. To share your story or to highlight a volunteer project in your area, contact futures@somaly.org.

"The ancient city of Angkor, smiling faces and kind conversations are what made me fall in love with Cambodia. The extreme poverty and human trafficking industry in the country are what made me decide I wanted to do something to help these people and this beautiful country.

My trip to Cambodia happened by accident, I was traveling through Thailand for over a month with the hopes of continuing my travels in that country. After I crossed the Malaysian border and was stamped back into Thailand with only a 15 day visa, I decided to travel to Cambodia with the remaining time I had left until flying back to the states, 25 days later. Little did I know, that this country and these people would change my life.

I rode around with my travel companion and our tuk tuk driver who became our dear friend, through the streets of Siem Reap, visiting the temples of Angkor and the floating villages. We spent nights chatting with our new Cambodian friends and navigating our way through the night markets. I educated myself on the countries history, watching videos and visiting museums and my heart was broken. I visited the killing fields and prison in Phnom Phen and cried at the base of a memorial. After dinner, on our walks back to our hotel, we passed young girls, outside buildings wearing make up and luring in visitors. At that time, I was completely unaware that I was probably passing a brothel, that these girls were sex slaves. I just walked by, ignoring them.

Upon my return I began reaching out to different organizations that worked in Cambodia and helped with education, poverty and health care. While searching, I stumbled upon the Somaly Mam Foundation. I watched the videos on the page. I read about the programs and the girls living at AFESIP. It took me only two days to read Somaly's book, The Road of Lost Innocence. I became aware.

Since then, I have been volunteering with the organization, working on this blog and helping at the events. I was excited to be part of the New York launch of Project Futures global and will be traveling to Los Angeles for the launch with the floral company I work with, Gira, who kindly donated floral arrangements for both events.

I continue to be moved by everything Somaly Mam, the foundation, and Project Futures does for these girls and I am thankful to be a part of it. Join me in the fight and become aware."

This volunteer story was shared by Jacqueline Adam, a volunteer with PROJECT FUTURES global. To share your story or to highlight a volunteer project in your area, contact futures@somaly.org. 

Shay Mitchell: Slavery Exists

Actress Shay Mitchell, star of ABC Family's hit television series Pretty Little Liars has joined the Somaly Mam Foundation in the fight to end slavery. Check out the PSA she recorded on a visit to the shelters in Cambodia.

PROJECT FUTURES Global: Los Angeles Launch, July 23

Los Angeles is joining in and launching PROJECT FUTURES global on July 23rd at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. If you are in the area and would like to attend the event, check out the invite. Donated product for the auction and gift bags is still needed and we appreciate the support. Volunteers are also still needed and we would love for you to join the Los Angeles team and help with this sure to be amazing event!