LCCS student on mission to combat Cambodia’s sex trade

Anna Doneson

Fri May 23, 2008
By Erin Frost

The Lincoln Courier (Illinois, USA)

Lincoln, Ill. - Lincoln Christian College and Seminary freshman Anna Doneson is on a mission. And that mission will take her to Cambodia within the month.

Doneson is involved with Rapha House, an organization that creates safe houses for girls involved in sex trafficking.

“We get girls from their parents, buy them from pimps, get them from brothels,” Doneson said. “We teach them life skills and we get them a job. We give them a new life and a new hope and everything.”

Doneson is currently working with several local organizations to raise money for the project.

She has hosted several fundraisers over the past month, including one Monday at Culver’s that she said had a very good turnout. Her final shot at raising money will be May 31 at Zamrazil Hair Studio, where a donation will get clients a free haircut.

“This is a fundraiser to help me get over there, and the rest will go to the girls,” she said.

Doneson plans to be in Cambodia from June 8 to June 23.

“The goal is to take a group of students over there to get a taste of what it’s like,” she said.

While in Cambodia, Doneson will be working to make Rapha House bigger and better as well as to extend its mission.

Rapha House is an organization “committed to rescuing young girls who are victims of slavery and prostitution and providing them with a safe home where they can heal and receive an education,” according to the organization’s Web site.
“Rapha” is the Hebrew word for “healing.”

Its parent organization, American Rehabilitation Ministries, recently received official Non-Government Organization status from the Kingdom of Cambodia, meaning they were given the freedom to build a house in Cambodia for their rescued girls.

Rapha House had operated without government recognition since 2001.

Rapha’s girls currently live in a rented house with a Cambodian staff consisting of around-the-clock dorm mothers and security guards.

“Some of the girls who will be coming to Rapha House have experienced extreme verbal abuse,” said ARM President Joe Garman.

“The majority of them are younger than 18 and lack proper hygiene. They will suffer from an array of mental disorders, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, fear of being kidnapped again, low self-esteem, rebellious and suicidal tendencies, sexually transmitted diseases, skepticism and suspicion.

“Treating their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs will be a lengthy process and monumental task; but rescuing, rehabilitating, and redeeming these victims of prostitution is the work of God.”

People can find out more about Rapha House by visiting www.arm.org and clicking on the link for Rapha House on the left.

Christian mission to help girls rescued from human trafficking in Cambodia

First Christian Church group heading to Cambodia

Mission is to help girls rescued from human trafficking

Jan 04, 2008
The Register-Mail (Galesburg, Illinois, USA)

MONMOUTH - Eleven members of First Christian Church will depart Jan. 12 for a 10-day mission trip to Rapha House in Cambodia. Around 60 girls, ages 4 to 14, who have been rescued from the horrors of human trafficking live at Rapha House.

The church group’s mission is to help the rescued girls and staff of Rapha House and share their faith. Human trafficking is a serious human rights issue facing Cambodia today. Poverty, tourism, socio-economic imbalance between rural and urban areas, and lack of employment and education opportunities result in young people being abused, coerced, deceived and abducted into sexual and labor exploitation. Victims of human trafficking face the risk of physical and psychological harm as well as being exposed to sexually transmitted diseases.

American Rehabilitation Ministries established Rapha House in 2003. The organization started ministering to U.S. prisoners in 1973. Rapha House is committed to rescuing young girls who are victims of slavery and prostitution and providing them with a safe home where they can heal and receive an education. Training at Rapha House includes computers, cosmetology, sewing and English.

The church group’s team members have been raising funds throughout the year by working booths at the car show, Prime Beef Festival and Heritage Days, holding a concert at the church, selling coupons and candles and participating in Birdies for Charity. Through these fundraisers, their own finances, private contribution and with the help of the church’s mission committee, they have been able to raise the necessary funds for airfare, housing and interpreters. Any additional funds raised will go to Rapha House.

The members have been trained in working effectively as at team and have studied the language and culture of Cambodia. They also have gathered supplies for Rapha House. While at Rapha House, they will help teach English and leadership skills. They will also provide daily lessons on loving one another, obedience to God and increasing self-esteem. All lessons will focus on scripture, provide an opportunity for discussion and end with an activity.

“Somewhere, somehow, someone has to ‘stand in the gap’ and be advocates for these little girls,” said group leader Pam Epperson. “We are realizing that they have names and faces and are being exploited in the most terrible of ways. They are real little girls just like our daughter and granddaughters. It is the privilege of the First Christian Church and this team to be part of this, working hand in hand to initiate and perpetrate further advocacy for the little girls of Cambodia.”

For more information on this mission trip or Rapha House, contact Epperson at 734-9419 or visit www.freedomforgirls.org.