FAQ
Please click on a question to see the answer.
1. How did you get your name?
2. Can we sponsor a child?
3. Can we volunteer and/or use our skills/trades in the USA/Europe office or overseas?
4. Can we visit and/or work in a safehome?
5. Does Love146 rescue children from brothels?
6. Does Love146 purchase children out of brothels?
7. How do I order a DVD, Info. Pack etc?
8. What are your admin/programs ratios?
9. Have questions about raising funds for Love146?
10. Does Love146 work in the USA?
11. What is the difference between human trafficking and slavery?
12. How many children are affected?
13. What is the impact of trafficking on children?
14. What contributes to a child’s risk of being trafficked?
15. Is Love146 a faith-based organization?
16. Where do you get your funding?
17. Does Love146 fund other organizations?
18. May I interview a Love146 staff member?
In 2002 co-founders Rob Morris, Desirea Rodgers, Lamont Hiebert and Caroline Hahm traveled to South East Asia to witness first hand the atrocity of child sex slavery and the hope of abolition and restoration. While there, Rob and Lamont went undercover with professional investigators into a brothel. In that brothel, they witnessed little girls standing behind a wall of glass, each wore a matching red dress with a number pinned to her chest; they were watching children’s cartoons on small television sets. Men were purchasing these girls by the number pinned to her dress. As Rob and Lamont looked at these children watching cartoons they were struck by the eyes of each child. Their eyes seemed empty, without spark of life, like robots. And then there was #146. The only one not watching cartoons, she was staring back through the glass with fire and fight left in her eyes, there was still life there. In her eyes we found our calling. In her number came our name. Please visit the Love Story page for the full story and video. back to the top
Because in the past, survivors of child sex slavery and exploitation have had a price (or value) put on them, we are hesitant to do the same. back to the top
3.Can we volunteer and/or use our skills/trades in the USA/Europe office or overseas?
If you are interested in volunteering or seeking employment in our USA or Europe office you can go here for a list of US opportunities and here for Europe opportunities.
4. Can we visit and/or work in a safehome?
At this time Love146 has no employment needs overseas. Because survivors of exploitation have been traumatized in the past, we work hard to protect them and their path of restoration. Having a short-term volunteer can be harmful to a child should one become attached only for the volunteer to leave soon after. The staff in place is highly trained and fully committed which is best for the children. Our training programs currently are for grassroots workers in Asia. We do not have any US or European training programs at this time - for more info visit our Aftercare Training Page. back to the top
5. Does Love146 rescue children from brothels?
No. Love146 works strictly in prevention and aftercare. We do however work closely with organizations that rescue children. back to the top
6. Does Love146 purchase children out of brothels?
Love146 does not purchase children as a means of rescue from enslavement. Though this may seem like an appropriate response it is in fact contributing to the problem. The purchase of a child financially supports the very systems and structures of abuse that we are fighting. Financially supporting this system contributes to the circle of abuse by allowing the brothel owner, mamasan, or trafficker to simply purchase another child. In some cases, it actually increases the number of children trafficked. We support and endorse the work of rescue agencies and law enforcement that not only remove children form brothels but also shut down brothels, convict, and sentence the exploiters. back to the top
7. How do I order a DVD, Info. Pack etc?
Visit our store or resources page. back to the top
8. What are your admin/programs ratios?
In 2010/11 our US office ratios were 72% programs, 13% fundraising and 15% Management & General. For more information visit our Financials page. Our European office's financials can be found on the UK Charity Commission's website. back to the top
9. Have questions about raising funds for Love146?
please read visit the Financial FAQ page. back to the top
10. Does Love146 work in the USA?
Yes. Love146 has developed a multi-level response program designed to reduce the risk toward commercial sexual exploitation of youth. In an effort to combat commercial sexual exploitation, Love146 believes that it is important to train and educate youth as well as the adults who work with youth, providing education and support prior to any involvement in commercial sexual exploitation. At that point, there is an existing community that youths are still connected to and, consequently, youths have support to protect themselves.
For more information visit our U.S. Prevention page. back to the top
11. What is the difference between human trafficking and slavery?
Trafficking is the act of recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a human for the purpose of exploitation either within or outside a country. Human trafficking is the process or act of enslaving a human being. Slavery is the state of entire subjection of a person to the will of another. back to the top
12. How many children are affected?
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimate that 1.2 million are children trafficked annually. back to the top
13. What is the impact of trafficking on children?
Issues that arise from trafficking include:
- HIV and other serious illnesses
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of educational opportunities
- Loss of family and community
- Increased vulnerability to further abuse back to the top
14. What contributes to a child’s risk of being trafficked?
Some of the main reasons include:
- Lucrative business: 12 billion dollar per year industry
- Weak law enforcement
- Demand for commercial sex and for cheap labor
- Poverty and lack of economic opportunities
- Discrimination
- Low social status of girls back to the top
15. Is Love146 a faith-based organization?
No. Though the co-founders of Love146 are inspired by Christian faith, a system of faith is not required to work at Love146 and we value the diverse perspectives of our staff and supporters. We readily embrace all those who unite in our common vision of the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. While some Love146 programs and partners may incorporate faith foundations, we evaluate programs based on their effectiveness and impact in protecting, defending, restoring, and empowering children.
Love146 is an international human rights organization, serving people regardless of religion, political preference, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, or gender. Love146 believes partnerships across religious, political, social, and cultural boundaries are vital in working towards the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. back to the top
16. Where do you get your funding?
Love146 is primarily funded by individuals. Other sources of funding include grants, foundations and faith communities.
17. Does Love146 fund other organizations?
The following statement represents our Philosophy of Partnership:
We have developed our own programs as well as helped develop existing grassroots efforts. Within the countries Love146 works in there are some amazing people and small grassroots organizations already on the ground, who speak the language, know the culture etc. but who just lack the resources, training and access to networks to do an even more effective job. We see this as an incredibly wise and effective use of resources. Love146 is very selective in whom we partner with and have very effective monitoring and accountability/reporting systems in place. This enables us to not “lose sight of where the money goes” as well as helps us measure the effectiveness of our programs. If we are going to abolish child sex slavery and exploitation it will take people and organizations working together with thoughtful and effective programs.
The following paragraph is taken from an email written by Love146 President, Rob Morris, as he expanded on the above information to answer this question:
At the very beginning of our development as an organization, we were challenged by the Director of a large human rights organization in Cambodia when she asked; “Do you know what your problem is as Americans?” With impending dread and bracing myself for the answer, I asked; “What is our problem?” She answered; “You don’t think. Instead…you react”. She explained that she thinks many times Americans see something that we feel needs to be fixed, but instead of taking the time to really think through a response that could be effective and sustainable, we just react. And she went on to explain that because we have not been thoughtful…many times our reaction causes more harm than good. I thought this was an interesting observation. Then she said; “My advice to you in starting up this organization is to think. Be thoughtful in your approach to the issue you are dealing with so that you will be effective.” We built our organization on this advice. The Love146 approach is based on thoughtfulness and research.
18. May I interview a Love146 staff member?
Love146 staff are sometimes available for media interviews. Due to high demand, staff are unable to provide interviews for other purposes such as student research projects.