At Wild Women Expeditions, we are lucky to have a platform to amplify issues that face women and girls in the countries that we are so privileged to visit on our Wild Women adventures. As a socially-responsible tourism company, we also appreciate that we have a lovely community of Wild Women who want to learn more about the lives of women around the world and help when an extra hand is needed.

Our CEO, Jennifer Haddow, has been speaking with several organizations that are dedicated to helping women and girls who have been trafficked into the sex trade. How can Wild Women Expeditions get involved and raise awareness about this silent crisis?

On our WWE trips based in Nepal and Thailand, we visit some of the remote villages where innocent girls are targeted by traffickers. We know that tourism can be a force for positive change and empowerment in these villages. We’ve seen the power of a global, united voice in changing policies surrounding the ethical treatment of elephants. We’ve championed and pushed for the training and hiring of female porters on the Inca Trail in Peru. We know that we have the power to contribute to a positive, impactful change. The Wild Women community can help rewrite this story.

With the momentum of International Women’s Day in our hearts, we’d like to share the story (click here) of a Nepalese girl who was rescued from sex slavery. This 30 minute documentary entitled ‘The Twelve Thousand‘ tells the story of Sona. The video is beautiful, raw and educational. She was brought to a safe house operated by the Ally Global Foundation. Ally helps survivors of human trafficking find healing and restoration through safe homes, education and job training. Survivors of human trafficking have lived through immense trauma and their pain can make them feel broken and terrified. Safe homes provide a secure place for children to work through past trauma, build meaningful relationships with others and start to dream for their future.

Jennifer has been in deep conversation with the foundation about how our company can help fund the construction of a new safe house in Nepal and develop a long-term partnership. This construction is greater than a mere structure–it’s about building a new beginning for women. It’s about creating a legacy and rewriting history. Our team is working on establishing our first Move for Freedom fundraising event that we will share more details about in the very near future.

WWE is also engaged in talks with NightLight International, a social enterprise based in Bangkok. NightLight builds trusting relationships with individuals in the sex industry, offering dignifying alternatives and employment opportunities and helpful resources. Their programs provide assistance and intervention to both national and international victims. We’d like to help fund their shelter for women affected by trafficking and the sex industry in Thailand. We hope that you’ll join us and consider contributing to help women and girls escape sex slavery.

You can read more about NightLight International’s initiatives for intervention, personal development and dignified employment opportunities here. For additional information on the healing and educational work of Ally with survivors in Nepal and Cambodia, click here. 

This is a cause that we want to stand behind and continue to shine a bright light. We hope that you will join us in supporting Ally Global Foundation and Nightlight International because together, we’ll have a bigger and better impact.