today i would love to tell you about Mercy Project.
Heather Hendrick of the Mercy Project wrote these words about the group and their mission:
There’s an estimated 7,000 children who work in the Ghana fishing industry. Some of
these children are as young as 5 and 6 years old. All of these children are slaves.
Today many in our country will take a day off from our jobs to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers.
No matter if we’re celebrating at home or at the beach, we’re entering into a tradition that has largely been shaped by Labor Unions – organizations that are dedicated to protecting workers’ interests and improving their wages, hours, and working conditions.
Today as we lounge around or hang out with friends and family, we’re not only celebrating hard work, we’re honoring fair, ethical working practices and the laws that prevent discrimination, abuse, and child labor in our country.
Without these laws in place (and enforced), the most vulnerable members of society suffer.
Who are the most vulnerable? Children.
I’m unable to wrap my brain around the thought of my children engaged in long, hard days of physical labor, eating one meal a day, and then falling asleep at night on a dirt floor filled with other slave children.
Instead, the kids are often taken to Lake Volta where they become child slaves and their mothers never see them again.
*******please watch this documentary about the issues in Ghana and the HOPE Mercy Project is bringing! *******
Mercy Project is the only NGO working on Lake Volta addressing the injustice of child labor and child trafficking at its root – by strengthening the Ghanaian economy and eliminating the structures that cause the demand for trafficked children.
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thank you Heather….
i don't know about you, but when i hear about another kind of injustice i get to where i think about those children constantly.
i worry for them.
i hurt for them.
but i am so excited when i hear about REAL programs that are trying to fix things one step at a time.
one step at a time is better than no steps!
what would you do if this was happening HERE to our children?
these are children just like ours.
no different.
everyone deserves a chance!
let's support Mercy Project today.
can you donate today?
i would LOVE, love, looooove if ALL of my readers donated something today.
any amount is worth it.
i would love to say "WE support you Mercy Project"
$5.00 can buy you a fancy coffee or make a difference to a child in Ghana.
that is pretty amazing when you think about the impact your money can have!
you really do count in making a change!
i can't wait to see what can be done through these awesome willing servants!
Mercy Project Facebook and Twitter can you keep you up to date on what's going on daily.
“When the lives and the rights of children are at stake,
there must be no silent witnesses.” – Carol Bellamy
thanks for joining me.
Mike Cornelia - The Mercy Project sounds like a great organization. I have been reviewing human trafficking statistics and it is truly sickening to see how prevalent it has gotten around the world. I am even more discouraged with the fact that it has reached it’s way into the United States. It is so infuriating that people engage in this practice to make a living. My hope is that, if enough people find out about child trafficking it will slowly be brought to an end.
sara @ it's good to be queen - this is good stuff. thank you so much for sharing. i so needed to get out of my own head and own space today. thank you.
Carla - It’s a noble cause no doubt and it’s heartbreaking to think of these families broken up in such a horrendous way but it would be wrong to think that child slavery only happens in poor countries like Ghana. Check out Human RIghts Watch new campaign against the abuse of child labor (especially migrant child labor) in the US (hope this link works but if not just google migrant child labor US) http://www.hrw.org/news/2010/05/05/us-child-farmworkers-dangerous-lives
So perhaps while you and your readers support the children in Ghana, you would also take time to read about the plight of migrant children in the US, also victims of poor circumstances, whose parents have also had to make unimaginable decisions. It doesnt even merd to cost you a dime, just try to ensure the food you buy is properly and ethically sourced from
Farms that use properly paid workers whose human and legal rights are respected, ttell your politicians this issue matters to you, small actions add up!!
Katy - i found out about mercy project last december when i ran a local half marathon that benefitted them. i’ve been following them closely on Facebook ever since and was so excited to post about the work they are doing today! this is great- thanks for sharing! 🙂
Lisa - I love the day to day stuff you share and what you shared today. God is using you. Through the computer I can see your hearts desire to glorify Him. Some people may not hear about human trafficking and child slavery except from your blog. And others like me who are striving to make a difference needs to be reminded on days like today. Thank you!
Tanya - no silent witnesses…