Megan Callahan
My blogs
| Occupation | Counselor |
|---|---|
| Location | Philippines |
| Introduction | I recently graduated with a Master’s and Educational Specialist Degree in Couples and Family Counseling. For the past two years, I have anxiously awaited the opportunity to volunteer with International Justice Mission (IJM) upon graduation. There are 600,000- 800,000 people, mainly women, trafficked each year (U.S. State Department). IJM is a non-profit Christian human rights agency whose mission is to protect people from violent forces of injustice by securing rescue and restoration for victims and ensuring public justice systems work for the poor. IJM investigators spend thousands of hours infiltrating brothels and uncovering the world of sexual exploitation. IJM staff then works with local authorities to lead raids and rescue victims from this horrific nightmare, placing them in safe homes where they receive aftercare and begin new lives of freedom. IJM lawyers work to secure the conviction and sentencing of brothel keepers and other perpetrators involved in sex trafficking. These convictions help to deter future perpetrators and change the system that traffics women and girls for sexual exploitation. This blog is my story as I spend time here as an Aftercare Fellow. |