Tragedy In The Philippines

WARNING: Portions of this story has graphic content

For the past 30 years I’ve been involved in the rescue of children in some way. The past 4 years we have been devoted to the rescue and restoration of children forced into the child sex trade. It is without question THE worst, most evil, horrific and heinous crime perpetrated against children in our world today. I read horror stories literally every day – 7 days a week. Just go to www.twitter.com/joyupdate to see what I mean. Each story of the commercial sexual exploitation and abuse of a child is heart-wrenching alone – but no story or report has gotten me so upset and angered about this nightmare to children as this. I’m sickened by it. As the headline I wrote says – a child was beheaded during an anti-trafficking campaign. The report was sent to me by my friend and co-worker in this fight, Diana Scimone of the Born-2-Fly Project. This is one of the projects that JOY International supports.

Here is an edited version of the report I received from Diana: (you can read her entire report here: http://bit.ly/qq8iZp)

Child Kidnapped, Beheaded in Village Where B2F Anti-Trafficking Program Being Taught ~
Reported by Diana Scimone ~

“When I tell you that child trafficking is organized crime, I’m not kidding. Trafficking is very, very lucrative with very few risks. Organized crime has made it the 2nd-highest grossing illegal industry on the planet.

So what happens when you threaten the traffickers’ livelihood?

~ Let’s say you want to cut off the supply line of kids…
~ Let’s say you teach kids and parents how to stand up to traffickers…
~ And let’s say you do this in an area where kids are regularly kidnapped and trafficked…

What happens?

This is what happened in a village in the Philippines where our brave partners have been openly teaching the B2F Project anti-trafficking curriculum to children and their parents.

First, our Philippines director was attacked by a trafficker who broke one of her ribs. (He was arrested.) Then this happened, as reported by the Philippines director:

“One of the children who we have worked with for over a year was kidnapped this week and later returned with all his organs gone and head cut off.

“His mother is obviously traumatized and is uncertain where to go from here and to be honest I just don’t have answers for her. My heart is breaking and I feel angry all in one breath.

“We have had so many children taken from our village in the last couple of months that our team is in shock and the government is searching for answers and help.

“Our course is set to expand whether we are ready or not. Prevcention is what we are aiming for.” ~

I am outraged and shocked by the murder of this child and I condemn it in the harshest possible terms. This was a warning shot from the traffickers. No traffickers bother to return a body; they did it as a warning to the team to stop interfering with their livelihood.

Did it work? Has the team pulled back?

Here’s what the Philippine director emailed a week after this child was murdered:

“After many setbacks physical and emotional, being run off the road and vandalism, we are still standing and focused probably more than even before. Our team members are more more determined than even before to protect these children and youth especially.

“Two weeks ago I was involved in a [trafficking] intervention, which saved several young girls and was an exceptionally rewarding experience.

“Our most recent test of Born2Fly is going great. The kids are loving it and the teachers and parents numbers are increasing too. Thank you, blessings and strength to you as you spearhead this movement. We are with you all the way.”

What an absolute honor to partner with brave warriors such as this director and her team who are standing up to the despicable actions of these traffickers. Please keep this team in your prayers as they continue to fight on the front lines. They are my heroes.

From Dr. Jeff Brodsky ~
My friends, I consider myself to be greatly motivated in this fight. When you’ve looked into the eyes of children who have been rescued, held them in your arms while they share their stories and weep, if it doesn’t motivate you to action then you need to check the beat of your heart. To bring greater awareness to this global tragedy, I’ve now gone barefoot for 462 days with the last 3 months 100% totally barefoot. After reading this tragic story of what the traffickers did to this child, I’m ready to put on combat boots and go into a new battle. These animals must be stopped.

A one man war will not accomplish much unless that man has an army behind him. So I’m recruiting. Yes, YOU can help in this fight. Do you know what wins wars? Commitment and major funding. We are fighting a 32 billion dollar industry. Our enemy has the funds to fight. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA FUNDS TO GIVE – WE CAN HELP YOU BE A FUNDRAISER. A young girl at a high school in Colorado said she had no extra money as she is saving for college, but what she does have is passion and commitment to help. She is putting together a fundraiser (with our help) where she is going to go barefoot for a full week (I suggested one day, but she’s committed). You don’t have to go barefoot, there are a myriad of things you can do to raise funds to help us in this fight.

Our greatest weapon in this battle is more money. The funds we receive are used for the huge expenses for undercover rescue operations as well as the cost of after-care. It is also used in the area of prevention through education and the prosecution of the traffickers and abusers.

Let’s not allow the tragedy of what happened to this child be in vain. Let’s show the animals that did this that they did not stop or deter us from our fight against the sexual exploitation of a child. Let’s show them that what they did has motivated us to greater action against them and we will not be stopped.

Please write to me personally www.joy.org/contact and tell me how you would like to help.

I need your help to win this war – one battle at a time.

Dr. Jeff Brodsky
President/Founder

To Give Now, Click Here: www.joy.org/getinvolved/donate/

“One hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.”