The Story of Shanta’s Safe House Shines a Light on Everyday Heroes – and the People of Retail – Who Provide Rescue and Rehabilitation to Human Trafficking Victims
APTOS ENGAGE 2017 – HOLLYWOOD, Fla., May 1, 2017 – Aptos’ award-winning Commerce of Caring podcast, which has taken listeners from the ravages of civil war in the Congo to the devastation of Ebola in Liberia, announced today the release of its latest episode, “Shanta’s Safe House.” In the spirit of the podcast series, “Shanta’s Safe House” shines a light on ordinary people bringing hope and a brighter future to vulnerable children.
The podcast journey begins with the grim reality of life in Nepal. “More than half of the population of Nepal lives on less than a dollar a day, and many children grow up with no sense of security,” explains Commerce of Caring moderator Leo Camacho. For girls, the cycle of poverty is made worse by their lack of opportunity for education or independence.
In their desperation to escape, thousands of Nepalese young women become victims of exploitation. Traffickers approach these girls with promises of employment and better lives in India. Instead of finding real opportunities, however, most are sold into squalid brothels, forced to live and work under abhorrent conditions.
Fighting back against this injustice is Shanta Sapkota, founder of the Peace Rehabilitation Center (PRC), an organization committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of victims of Nepal’s sex trade. The podcast illuminates how Sapkota’s own experiences — including an arranged marriage at age 12 — helped shape her mission.
In addition to Sapkota’s journey, the episode explains the help Sapkota has received along the way, including her partnership with Free for Life International and RetailROI.
“Behind all darkness is light, and behind all light there is hope,” said Gabrielle Thompson,
executive director and CEO of Free for Life International. “Since Free for Life began partnering with PRC in 2007, over 890 women’s lives have been saved from the atrocious crime of trafficking.”
Critical to supporting Free for Life’s and PRC’s efforts is RetailROI, a charitable group funded by companies in the retail industry. According to Greg Buzek, co-founder of RetailROI and president of IHL Group, human trafficking is an issue spanning geographies, industries and cultures.
“Why should the retail community care about what’s happening halfway around the world? Because we’re all citizens of the same world,” said Buzek. “Everything that we do at RetailROI is helping those who can’t help themselves, as a start, and then helping them grow so they can help themselves going forward. I can’t think of any opportunity that is stronger in terms of rescue than taking somebody out of the hell of trafficking.”
To learn how organizations such as RetailROI, Free for Life and PRC are making a difference in the rescue and restoration of human trafficking victims, listen to “Shanta’s Safe House” at www.commerceofcaring.org, on iTunes or through your favorite podcast app.
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