The following is taken from an interview with LIA Founder, Connie Donley. It highlights the growing problem of human trafficking, forced prostitution, or sexual slavery (different words, yet they all mean the same thing), right in our own back yards. Courage 2 Be U is credited for the statistical and some of the background information that Connie refers to.

1. From your experience what do you think are the main reasons children get trapped into sex trafficking?

"Where it is the very, very young, 3 YEARS OLD and up, their parents outright sell them, mostly to support their alcohol or drug habits, but sometimes just for the money.  This is mostly in other countries, but not JUST in other countries.

Here in Sacramento, it is young girls/young women who are not receiving the love that they need, and they are desperately looking for love.  For someone to care.  For someone they feel "special" to.  They start out with some man telling them they mean all these wonderful things to them, and the girls believe them.  And that man "takes care of them", shows them the only form of "love" that the girls have ever known, which now "defines love" for them.  Before long......the man traps the girls into selling themselves because they "need money"......and the true colors, and identity, of the pimp are revealed.

The girls have no place to "return home" to.....and are trapped.  The pimps hook them up with drugs and threaten beatings, or worse, if they do not comply.

Too many people in our society believe these children have chosen this life.  This is a lie.  According to law enforcement organizations, the majority of victims are often children who suffered sexual abuse at home and have fled to the streets, believing they are safer there than back in their homes.  Once on the streets, however, predators prey on their desire for love and a place to belong, sexually exploiting, instead of caring, for them.  Forced against their will, or believing this to be their only option to live, these children become victims who have not sold their souls, but have had them stolen."

2. How serious is sex trafficking? How does it affect Sacramento or any state as a whole? ( I think I saw you mention that Sacramento is #2 for sex trafficking?)

"The numbers are staggering.  The documented cases of children who are sexually exploited in the U.S., as near as we can tell, are anywhere between 300,000 and 500,000 children. However, it is estimated that a truer range is considerably higher, from 400,000 to 800,000 children.  This is a generation of forgotten children, at the mercy of those exploiting their bodies for a profit.  Unless someone intervenes, unless someone believes in them, they will remain lost and alone.

No one denies the devastating impact of this crime on its young victims.  The average age of the victims recovered is 14, but according to law enforcement, victims are recovered as young as 10 years of age.

Sacramento is #2 in the nation (following behind Oakland, CA at #1) for the high numbers of sex slaves that end up here, or are here for a short time, en route to other parts of the country."  [According to an FBI representative who resides in this area, the ease of transporting victims in, out and through the River City makes it a major hub for the human trafficking highway.]

3. Why is a safe house the best solution to protect against sex trafficking? (First I need to ask, do you believe safe houses are the best solution?)

"I'm not sure what you mean by a "safe house", but here is what I believe is the best approach.  LOVE.  These girls.....all of us, need genuine, Godly love.  From what the statistics are telling us, these girls are runaways.......from bad foster homes, bad families, where love is not shown to them, or where they are abused.  They need to know the true love of God and the pure, healthy love of family.  Of parents who truly love them and care for them.  I think this is the best protection against sex trafficking.  If they are loved the way God intended, they will not run to the streets seeking love and "family"."

4. How can these children be rehabilitated? Is there any hope for them?

"YES, there is hope for them, but it will take work.  It starts with Jesus, but you also need psychological and emotional counseling, and medical attention, and often times too, to give them an education, as many have dropped out of school.  We need to help them on all fronts.  But it is a proven fact that it DOES work!!!  It takes love, patience, and yes, it takes money too....for the counseling and medical attention, and for school."

5. What can ordinary people do to help these children?

"Give of yourself through such places as The Lord's Gym, Adopt-A-Block, and Courage House.  Be available to these girls and show them genuine, true love.  It really is as simple as that.  Simply BE there for them, LOVE them, spend TIME with them!

Love in Action wants to raise money to donate to Courage House, which is not quite open yet.  It will provide 72 beds for rescued girls.  These girls are disease-ridden physically.  Psychologically they are gone, not present.  Emotionally, they are crippled, and they have not been in school.  So they need a place where they can receive medical attention, psychological and emotional mending, and a plan of action so they can finish their education.  All while they have a safe and nurturing place to live which will introduce them to God's Love In Action.  It takes a lot of love and work to help these precious girls!"

Love in Action, Inc. is proud to be partnering with Agape International Ministries to help fight this abuse.