What I Have Been Through Is Not Who I Am has been nominated for an award in the FILManthropy 2012 Film Festival in Santa Monica, California. The FILManthropy Festival is a unique philanthropic film festival that honors the film makers who use film as a medium to help make the world a better place, celebrates their work, and raises funds for the causes and organizations that they are passionate about and that are touched on in the films. To find out more about the festival or purchase tickets please click here.
In this final extended interview from our documentary, Karen Countryman-Roswurm of the Anti-Sexual Exploitation Roundtable for Community Action (ASERCA) and Laurel Edinburgh of the Midwest Children’s Resource Center talk about local responses to child sex trafficking in Kansas and the midwest. They specifically talk about what governments and NGOs are doing to help rehabilitate victims of commercial sexual exploitation and survival sex.
This was the last of our extended interviews from our documentary. We hope that you have been following along the releases of these extended excerpts and have seen the documentary. Most importantly, we hope that you have shared these videos with your friends and family. Too often, we are asked ‘what can I do?’. So many people want the hands on experience of being a councilor for a victim, of volunteering at a safe house, and other direct methods of help. Unfortunately, life is not so simple. While caring for one victim is noble, there are tens of thousands every year in need of help. These children need to stop being re-victimized by the judicial system, and given access to a multifaceted support network, which includes counseling, housing, healthcare, education, job training, and financial support. Certainly, one person can make a difference in one person’s life by offering them direct support, but the needs are far greater than that. The best thing you can do is inform others, and together push your legislators to change the laws and finance the support these victims need. You can make a difference in thousands of children suffering right now, and better the future for hundreds of thousands yet to be harmed.
Bart Lubow, of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, took the time to talk to us about about what the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI), and how it has changed the way children are handled by the justice system.
While our documentary was officially released last week, that’s not the end of the story. One film could not possibly capture and detail the heart-wrenching saga of every youth, let alone the full story of the survivors’ lives used in the film.
While the following is little more than a minute long, it captures much of the emotion and heart-ache being a child victim of commercial sexual exploitation.
What I Have Been Through is Not Who I Am Extended JL’s Story
Arresting children involved in prostitution does not rescue them. That is the clear message of “What I’ve Been Through Is Not Who I Am,” a new documentary released by ECPAT-USA and WITNESS that tells the story of Katrina, a formerly sexually exploited teen who was arrested many times. It was only after she accepted an offer of help from a safe haven that she was able to escape.
With this happy new year, we wish to share with you the progress and great strides currently being achieved at the Georgia Care Connection, as talked about in this extended interview from our documentary by Jennifer Bennecke.
What I Have Been Through is Not Who I Am Extended Interview Jennifer Bennecke
Georgia Care Connection, Executive Director
During the Holidays it’s important to maintain hope and faith in the face of adversity and despair. Listen to what Jeff Bauer of The Family Partnership and Michele Garnett-McKenzie of the Advocates for Human Rights have to say in this extended interview and keep that flame of courage alive in your heart this holiday season.
As part of our lead up to the release of our documentary on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, January 11, 2012 here is one of the many testimonials used in part our documentary. If it moves you, pass it on to a friend and tell them to pass it on to another friend if it moves them as well. Together we can raise awareness of the issue and change the perception the prostitution of children is a victimless crime only perpetrated by “bad kids”.
As part of our lead up to the release of our documentary on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, January 11, 2012 here is one of the extended interviews from our documentary. If you find it informative pass it onto a friend, and if they like it to pass it on to another friend of theirs. Together we can raise awareness of the issue and change the perception the prostitution of children is a victimless crime only perpetrated by “bad kids”.
As part of our lead up to the release of our documentary on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, January 11, 2012 here is one of the many testimonials used in part our documentary. If it moves you, pass it on to a friend and tell them to pass it on to another friend if it moves them as well. Together we can raise awareness of the issue and change the perception the prostitution of children is a victimless crime only perpetrated by “bad kids”.