IJM Int'l Fellowship (Forced Labor)
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Learn to do right. Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17
Dear Friends,
Time and time again, the Bible talks about caring for the poor, the oppressed, the widowed, the orphaned, and the sick. Since graduating high school eight years ago, it has been an exciting journey discerning how best to use my passions and talents to serve God and work toward justice. My interest in human rights was ignited in high school when I first learned about human trafficking and sexual slavery. This led to a strong desire to dedicate my life to working for justice in this area. In college and law school, I enrolled in various human rights classes and had the opportunity to work on human trafficking issues through a number of internships. As my passion deepened, I realized that I desired to continue in this work upon graduating from Georgetown Law.
As many of you may already know, I have been given an exciting opportunity to advocate for human rights and defend the oppressed in a very direct way. In less than three months (January 2016), I will be leaving for South Asia to spend a year working as a Legal Fellow for International Justice Mission (IJM). I will be assisting the legal department as they plead the cases of those who have been bound into slavery.
Without the help of IJM, these slaves would have no other hope for emancipation. Often sold to pay off a debt, they toil relentlessly in brick kilns, stone quarries, and rice mills, performing grueling work for long hours. Their owners may beat them or threaten them by withholding food and water. At times, the women may even be sexually abused. Because these slaves are forced to live on a compound, the little money they make is taken by the owner to pay for their rent and the food they occasionally receive. The only thing their children stand to inherit is their parents’ insurmountable debt and a lifetime of bondage. These are the people whom the Bible talks about in Isaiah Chapter 1.
IJM is a non-profit organization composed of Christian attorneys, social workers, criminal investigators, and support staff. IJM carefully investigates situations of abuse and partners with local officials to free victims from their immediate situations of danger. After the victims have been freed, IJM seeks to address the root of the problem by prosecuting the perpetrators in local court systems and empowering communities to make structural changes that can prevent such abuses in the future. IJM also works with aftercare providers to help the newly-freed victims adjust to a life that is very different from their past oppressive experiences.
Many people – especially those in the United States – are unaware that millions of other humans still live in such oppressive conditions. I encourage you to consult the IJM website (www.ijm.org) if you desire to learn more about this issue.
I hope that your awareness of such grim situations will encourage you to act. There are many ways that you can help! A simple step that everyone can take to partner in the fight against injustice is to pray: Please pray that God will provide strength and hope to the victims. Pray that God will convict the hearts of the perpetrators. Pray that God will bless IJM’s efforts as they seek to liberate the oppressed, strengthen communities, and prevent future injustices. Pray for me as I learn to adjust to life in a new country and tackle the responsibilities of a new position.
But there is still another way you can partner in the fight against injustice. Besides prayerful support, you can provide financial support as well. IJM is a non-profit organization, which depends largely on individuals’ donations. Your financial support empowers us to infiltrate some of the darkest places of human suffering and to emerge from them with victims who desperately need to see the light of hope. The fellowship I have been offered with IJM is a volunteer position, and as such, I am responsible for all costs associated with my assignment. Based on estimated costs for working with IJM in South Asia for a year, my fundraising goal is $20,000.
I want to be as transparent with you as possible; thus, I have included the break down for this estimated figure (below). Please remember that these are just estimates: while I am in South Asia, I will be doing my best to live frugally. Also, please do not feel as though a small contribution is not worth sending. Any amount that you can give will be greatly appreciated, and I hope that you will (prayerfully) consider this option. All of the details on providing financial support can be found on my GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/courtneymacdiaries.
If you would like to join my prayer team and/or receive regular updates of my time in South Asia, please email me at [email redacted]; message me on Facebook; or check my blog at courtneymacdiaries.wordpress.com. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions about the ways in which you can seek justice and encourage the oppressed.
Thanks so much for considering!
Joyful in hope,
Courtney Mac
ESTIMATED BUDGET: AVERAGE COST (USD)
One-Time Costs (On-Boarding and Deployment):
Support-building materials – $100
Medical costs, immunizations – $400
Visa application fees – $200
International Insurance (1 year) – $750
Incidental purchases (professional clothes, items to bring overseas, etc.) – $400
Travel to/from Field Office location (round trip) – $1600
Security Deposit (Lodging)* – $1,000
Home Furnishings/Set-up (Furniture, appliances, etc.) – $450
Visa run(s), Visa extension costs, Local registration fees, etc. – $750
____________________________________________________________
Total = $5,650
*The standard security deposit is about 3 months’ rent.
Re-occurring Monthly Expenses:
Rent – $300
Food (Groceries, Restaurants, etc.) – $200
Utilities (Water, Gas, Internet, Phone, etc.) – $225
Transportation (public, personal vehicle, etc.) – $100
House-keeping, House Maintenance, Laundry, etc. – $50
Entertainment (local) – $40
Incidental purchases (clothes, toiletries, etc.) – $40
Entertainment (non-local; travel, tourism, etc.) – $200
Health & Wellness (doctors, gyms, medical needs, etc.) – $50
____________________________________________________________
Monthly Total = $1,205 (12 months = $14,460)
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR BUDGET PURPOSES = $20,110
Dear Friends,
Time and time again, the Bible talks about caring for the poor, the oppressed, the widowed, the orphaned, and the sick. Since graduating high school eight years ago, it has been an exciting journey discerning how best to use my passions and talents to serve God and work toward justice. My interest in human rights was ignited in high school when I first learned about human trafficking and sexual slavery. This led to a strong desire to dedicate my life to working for justice in this area. In college and law school, I enrolled in various human rights classes and had the opportunity to work on human trafficking issues through a number of internships. As my passion deepened, I realized that I desired to continue in this work upon graduating from Georgetown Law.
As many of you may already know, I have been given an exciting opportunity to advocate for human rights and defend the oppressed in a very direct way. In less than three months (January 2016), I will be leaving for South Asia to spend a year working as a Legal Fellow for International Justice Mission (IJM). I will be assisting the legal department as they plead the cases of those who have been bound into slavery.
Without the help of IJM, these slaves would have no other hope for emancipation. Often sold to pay off a debt, they toil relentlessly in brick kilns, stone quarries, and rice mills, performing grueling work for long hours. Their owners may beat them or threaten them by withholding food and water. At times, the women may even be sexually abused. Because these slaves are forced to live on a compound, the little money they make is taken by the owner to pay for their rent and the food they occasionally receive. The only thing their children stand to inherit is their parents’ insurmountable debt and a lifetime of bondage. These are the people whom the Bible talks about in Isaiah Chapter 1.
IJM is a non-profit organization composed of Christian attorneys, social workers, criminal investigators, and support staff. IJM carefully investigates situations of abuse and partners with local officials to free victims from their immediate situations of danger. After the victims have been freed, IJM seeks to address the root of the problem by prosecuting the perpetrators in local court systems and empowering communities to make structural changes that can prevent such abuses in the future. IJM also works with aftercare providers to help the newly-freed victims adjust to a life that is very different from their past oppressive experiences.
Many people – especially those in the United States – are unaware that millions of other humans still live in such oppressive conditions. I encourage you to consult the IJM website (www.ijm.org) if you desire to learn more about this issue.
I hope that your awareness of such grim situations will encourage you to act. There are many ways that you can help! A simple step that everyone can take to partner in the fight against injustice is to pray: Please pray that God will provide strength and hope to the victims. Pray that God will convict the hearts of the perpetrators. Pray that God will bless IJM’s efforts as they seek to liberate the oppressed, strengthen communities, and prevent future injustices. Pray for me as I learn to adjust to life in a new country and tackle the responsibilities of a new position.
But there is still another way you can partner in the fight against injustice. Besides prayerful support, you can provide financial support as well. IJM is a non-profit organization, which depends largely on individuals’ donations. Your financial support empowers us to infiltrate some of the darkest places of human suffering and to emerge from them with victims who desperately need to see the light of hope. The fellowship I have been offered with IJM is a volunteer position, and as such, I am responsible for all costs associated with my assignment. Based on estimated costs for working with IJM in South Asia for a year, my fundraising goal is $20,000.
I want to be as transparent with you as possible; thus, I have included the break down for this estimated figure (below). Please remember that these are just estimates: while I am in South Asia, I will be doing my best to live frugally. Also, please do not feel as though a small contribution is not worth sending. Any amount that you can give will be greatly appreciated, and I hope that you will (prayerfully) consider this option. All of the details on providing financial support can be found on my GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/courtneymacdiaries.
If you would like to join my prayer team and/or receive regular updates of my time in South Asia, please email me at [email redacted]; message me on Facebook; or check my blog at courtneymacdiaries.wordpress.com. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions about the ways in which you can seek justice and encourage the oppressed.
Thanks so much for considering!
Joyful in hope,
Courtney Mac
ESTIMATED BUDGET: AVERAGE COST (USD)
One-Time Costs (On-Boarding and Deployment):
Support-building materials – $100
Medical costs, immunizations – $400
Visa application fees – $200
International Insurance (1 year) – $750
Incidental purchases (professional clothes, items to bring overseas, etc.) – $400
Travel to/from Field Office location (round trip) – $1600
Security Deposit (Lodging)* – $1,000
Home Furnishings/Set-up (Furniture, appliances, etc.) – $450
Visa run(s), Visa extension costs, Local registration fees, etc. – $750
____________________________________________________________
Total = $5,650
*The standard security deposit is about 3 months’ rent.
Re-occurring Monthly Expenses:
Rent – $300
Food (Groceries, Restaurants, etc.) – $200
Utilities (Water, Gas, Internet, Phone, etc.) – $225
Transportation (public, personal vehicle, etc.) – $100
House-keeping, House Maintenance, Laundry, etc. – $50
Entertainment (local) – $40
Incidental purchases (clothes, toiletries, etc.) – $40
Entertainment (non-local; travel, tourism, etc.) – $200
Health & Wellness (doctors, gyms, medical needs, etc.) – $50
____________________________________________________________
Monthly Total = $1,205 (12 months = $14,460)
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR BUDGET PURPOSES = $20,110
Organizer
Courtney McIntyre
Organizer
Rockville, MD