To tell you the truth, I didn't know anything about human trafficking before meeting the crew from The Voice of the Free and hearing about who they're helping at the Center of Hope.
I was so ignorant.
I thought there was no way I knew anyone involved in it and I was sure it didn't take place in the city where I was living, BGC. I was so wrong.
Human trafficking is a huge problem, much bigger than people know.
I was told that a TV crew was going to filming my Lil' Pow Boxing Class as a part of their feature on the Center of Hope but when I arrived to coach, I was then told the reality of the situation. There's a big crack down that's going on, a story that's been pursued, and today I was introduced to a particular individual that's undercover, going underground to explore more about human trafficking. After coaching my class, he and I sat talking about his job and his discoveries. He said he's quite familiar with getting death threats on the regular, dealing with corrupted police, and meeting those who are organizing the selling of young girls for sex and child pornography.
I asked him how he stays positive, how he disconnects. He told me he goes to the movies.
I also asked him how he thinks the issues of human trafficking could be solved and then we shared our ideas. However, from the family unit being broken, and people being desperate for money, to police being corrupt and getting a part of the cut, it's such a mess and I don't know if it honestly will be solved.
It's so sad.
I look at these girls I coach and sometimes as curious as I am about their individual stories, there's definitely a part of me that is scared to learn their stories. I know they all have sad stories, that's why they've been rescued and brought here, but I think it would break my heart. The more and more I coach these girls, the more I question how the ladies here at the Center of Hope do it. How do they not have their heartbroken on a daily bases working here?
I think they are miracle workers here; God's angels.
Today I got word that the youngest one I coach is two months pregnant. I knew she was pregnant, they told me this the other month, but what I didn't know is this is her third time being pregnant and they don't know what happened to her babies before and if they even survived. So I'm coaching a pregnant teen who just barely has started wearing her first training bra and is hardly a teen. I look at her though and she smiles at me. I just want to squeeze her in my arms and tell her that things will only get better but I know she's got a long journey of recovering ahead of her. She's mentally challenged too so that only adds more difficulty to the situation.
My heart breaks for these girls. They are so deserving of so much and I hope they know that there are so many of us really pulling for them. They aren't alone, there are many of us that care for them, many of us that really want to see them succeed in life and get stronger -- mind, body and soul.
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