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Human Rights Volunteer Trip

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Thanks so much for looking at my ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign.

I guess that after watching the video you’ve got some questions right?  Well, the ones I think I would want answered first are....

Where’s my money going?
o   All donations go into a seperately dedicated account that I have created just for this campaign via G.F.M's 'stripe' escrow service where all money will be held until enough has been raised for me to get the ball rolling.

How do I know you’re not just going to disappear with my money?
o   See below for my plans to stay in touch throughout my trip with all donors who leave their details.

Do I get anything for my donation?
o   Although I’m not in a position to offer any tangible ‘return on investment’ due to the nature of this campaign, I will endeavour to share whatever I can with those who have helped facilitate my trip.

What makes you think you can do anything about it?
o   This question comes up a lot. I can’t do anything as far as the big picture is concerned yet my involvement with D.R. and meeting with Somaly Mam of A.F.E.S.I.P. at her Cambodian H.O. (also in 2013) has shown me that a vast number of those rescued are very keen on joining the fight against forced prostitution in their own countries. This is the single biggest hope in ‘the war against women’. Not that they will be ‘saved’ by altruistic westerners but when given the opportunity they can, and do become a voice for other women and will slowly create reform their own countries. They just need to be given the chance and the support. It’s a long journey but every journey begins with a single step and I’m very please to say that this was taken a long time ago. I’m merely joining the fight. Will you please come and help too?

Why don’t you just donate yourself – why do you want to go?
o   As mentioned in the video, I do indeed donate on a regular basis both in support of D.R.’s projects and as a child sponsor also. Yet with the amount of research I’ve done on this topic, I feel like I’ve been called to action or at least challenged to live up to supporting an ideal. Think of all those slogans famous people have said like “Be the change you want to see in the world” (Ghandi) and "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke).  These and many other phrases like them weigh heavy on my conscience. The reality is that I can go, where as others, such as perhaps yourself, may be willing but not able to make such a large personal commitment. I am single, I have no debt, I am of able mind and body and there is most definitely a need for individuals to facilitate the path for these girls between their living nightmares and the ‘answers to their prayers’.  And it’s relatively EASY for someone as unencumbered as myself.  Yes, I am giving up a great career that I love and do very well (or at the very least – am putting it on hold) but when you see for yourself the life that these people face every day and know that it is completely pointless because the answer for them is just around the corner, my creature comforts and job satisfaction melt away into much less of a priority.  Anyone who is even remotely aware of the issues of globalisation and the ‘thinning’ of each country’s borders cannot ignore for much longer the reality that western ‘consumers’ are both directly and indirectly responsible for the life styles of our brothers and sisters in poorer nations. I’m going because I feel ready to embrace my responsibilities as a citizen of the world. If everybody took this responsibility seriously then such individual dramatic actions would not be necessary. I’m excited to say that I believe this is an awareness that is growing and being facilitated on the internet by advocate groups like ‘Get Up’ and ‘Change.org’ who seek public support to lobby governments and private corporations on a continual basis thus facilitating the public’s obligation to ‘keep the bastards honest’. Something that voting once every 3 years at the polling booth has failed miserably at.

How come you’re not putting up any money yourself?
o    I am, I have about $2.5k saved which I intend to take with me. There will be things I will need for my own sanity such as recreational funds, books to read, perhaps a night at the movies when I need some time off, beer money etc... costs that I could not expect to be covered by money raised by this campaign. No, all funds deriving from this campaign will be used solely to facilitate my relocation and necessary amenities to enable me to achieve my campaign pledge.

Please send me your questions which I’ll be only too happy to answer the best I can here in the ‘Go fund me’ campaign blog.

So, I’ve contacted everyone I personally know (or at least have contact details for) which totals just over 430 people. That means if everyone donates $30 dollars, which is just over the cost of a packet of cigarettes or approximately two pints of a nice larger at the pub, I will have reached my goal. If it’s not too much to ask to forward my campaign to any friends and associates who you feel may want to contribute then the individual contributions needed would be even less. But please don’t be deterred by this figure. If you can donate only $10 or $20 then even this would be amazing and I (and any girls benefiting directly from my efforts) will really appreciate it.

All donors who leave their details will be invited to join a special Facebook page that will be opened prior to my departure.  Here I will post regular status updates so you can all keep in touch with me and see how far your money’s going.

For more information on Destiny Rescue, their child sponsorship programme, sponsor a rescue or to become an advocate yourself please go to www.destinyrescue.org

Thank you so much for viewing my campaign and helping me help the girls who need it most.

Sincerely, Euan Heriot.

Donations 

  • Steven Widdop
    • $100 
    • 9 yrs

Organizer

Bleke Winter
Organizer
Tooronga VIC

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