Setting Women Free

The faraway city of Kolkata, India is home to over 10,000 women who earn wages as sex trade “workers.” These women didn’t choose prostitution, it was forced on them and poverty keeps them trapped with no way out. Imagine the shame these women feel trying to feed themselves and their families. On the outskirts of Kolkata, in the neighborhood of Sonagacchi, a small, but growing company called Freeset battles the established big business of prostitution. Freeset offers dignified employment to women wanting to escape the trade. Freeset teaches these women sewing skills, provides them with above market wages, supplies health insurance, makes daycare available for their children and teaches basic skills like reading and writing. Freeset employees manufacture both off-the-shelf and customized jute tote bags in a variety of styles, sizes and colors as well as a beautiful line of organic cotton tee-shirts. Ultimately, Freeset offers freedom.

Come hear from the founder of Freeset
On April 26, Annie Hilton, co-founder of Freeset, comes to Prairie Ridge to share uplifting stories from the 170 women Freeset currently employs. Learn how Annie and her husband, Kerry, are making a significant difference in the lives of women who previously had no hope. Come and hear how this New Zealand couple abandoned their “normal” lives, moved to Kolkata along with their four children and started a business from scratch, thus committing their lives to live among the poorest of the poor. This special speaking engagement is FREE and starts at 7 p.m. in the worship center. The Global Cafe will be open.

Sexual trafficking is a worldwide evil
Sexual trafficking is not just a Kolkata problem, it’s a worldwide problem. Over 27 million people are held in modern day slavery, even in the nearby Minneapolis/St. Paul, Interstate 94 has become a major trafficking corridor. Consider the statistic of human trafficking being the third most profitable business in the world behind illegal weapon and drug sales.

Women know no other way of survival
Women don’t choose this “profession,” it chooses them. Women are born or sold into slavery by parents, husbands or boyfriends. They are routinely kidnapped by traffickers or lured into prostitution often on the false promise of marriage. After the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti, reports suggest that many women and teenage girls were swept into the massive corruption of the sex trade.

Think our economy is rough? Visualize what it’s like to “stand in the line” with hundreds of women waiting for the male customer who will pay as little as a quarter for a sexual encounter. We complain about escalating gasoline prices, rising taxes and serious unemployment, but these women don’t complain because they believe this is the only way they can possibly survive. There are no opportunities for them except those that we as Christians are called by God to offer. Think you can’t possibly make a difference in this faraway place? You can. Freeset needs prayers and conversations to begin with your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and community about women who have no voice and are helpless to escape the forced life of prostitution. Together, working as one body of Christ, human beings can be freed from the wickedness of trafficking.
You can make a difference

Please come on April 26th and learn from Annie how you can make a difference. Freeset, along with other organizations committed to ending human trafficking, will be on hand after Annie’s presentation to share the facts with those interested in learning more. Additionally, Freeset will have tote bags available for sale with the proceeds going to support Freeset workers. Please join us to hear Annie’s unforgettable story.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” Proverbs 3:27