Combating Exploitation
As a response to the justice and love of God, Loving Shepherd Ministries works to rescue and restore young women being exploited in Ethiopia.
Every day thousands of young girls are being coerced into leaving their rural homes in the Ethiopian countryside. They are taken to Addis Ababa, the capital, and forced to become prostitutes. Other young women naively move to the city in hopes of finding work in order to support their families. They, too, end up trapped in a life of prostitution – with virtually no hope of escaping the trade.
Our innovative, three-pronged approach to this situation is:
Prevention/Awareness - Children in Ethiopia’s rural areas are very vulnerable to being sent to the city - either trafficked there by agents, or sent to Addis by their parents themselves. Runaways are also susceptible to the lifestyle. In any case, prostitution is an almost inevitable outcome for these kids by the time they are 13 or 14. LSM is educating communities, churches, schools, etc. on the dangers of trafficking to help ensure these women and children remain in their individual family unit and community. This program has started in Addis Ababa and will eventually expand to rural areas.
Services to young women on the streets - LSM operates a drop-in center near the Red Light District of Addis Ababa called the Counseling and Resource Center where women receive group and individual counseling, showers, snacks and help in identifying opportunities for them to leave the life of prostitution. Academic support and Christian teaching programs are offered for their children. Women ready to leave prostitution are connected with appropriate and effective restoration/rehabilitation programs.
In 2012, LSM plans to open a clinic to serve the needs of the women and children we work with, including those in partner organizations and those that “graduate” from our programs. New women and children coming to the clinic who need further assistance will be referred to the Counseling and Resource Center for connection with appropriate programs.
Rescue and restoration – Loving Shepherd Ministries carefully works to remove girls from their lives of prostitution. After her needs and desires are evaluated at the Counseling and Resource Center, they may be referred to a long-term Christian rehabilitation program offered by a trusted partner. There they will receive daily counseling and vocational training while their children will receive school, medical and personal support.
To become an ongoing sponsor of LSM's work in Ethiopia, allowing us to rescue women from the vicious cycle of prostitution, please click HERE.
To make a one-time contribution for LSM's work in Ethiopia, please go to the Donate page and designate funds to Ethiopia.
