- Jun 9, 2020
Many of those who fell into the trafficking trap are women from rural villages jumping into a promised better income and brighter prospects only to find that they have been sold and forced to marry "wealthy men" and subjected to domestic servitude.
We are proud to be in partnership with Ratanak International. In the past two years, Mother's Heart and Ratanak International worked together to support women who have survived trafficking and helped them get back on their feet again.
*** The Trafficking Journey - Setting the Perfect Trap
Each year, in Cambodia, thousands of young women and men are trafficked and exploited. How does this happen?
When we talk to the trafficking survivors in our programs, the trafficking journey they describe often begins with meeting a trafficking broker. Sometimes this is a stranger, sometimes it is a village member, neighbour or even a family member that has been recruited into finding young men and women for labour, marriages abroad or sexual exploitation. Some brokers might not even fully understand what will happen to the young men or women they convince.
Trafficking brokers typically approach vulnerable Cambodians who are living in severe poverty, struggling with debt or family illness with few other options to remedy their economic situations. Brokers offer high paying "opportunities" for work abroad or in the city, or share of idyllic marriages with "kind, wealthy and generous men" in foreign countries that will support families back in Cambodia. Doesn't sound so bad, does it?The trap is set. Read more about Ratanak International's work and advocacy here.
- Jun 5, 2020
A few weeks ago, Mother's Heart's staff in Phnom Penh gathered for an activity where we learned a new planning and evaluation tool called the Theory of Change that will help us define and refine our long-term strategic goals.
The Theory of Change (ToC) is a new concept for us at Mother's Heart. We are grateful to Mr. Tek Sophath, M and E Specialist, for facilitating the training/workshop, for introducing us to the concept of Theory of Change, touching on the difference between ToC and the logframe (which we are currently using), as well as guiding us step by step to create our own ToC that will serve as a framework for Mother's Heart's future strategic planning. The activity also allowed the staff to converse thoughtfully, articulate what we think and ultimately share the same understanding of our goals, outcomes, and interventions.
- Jun 3, 2020
Mother's Heart said thank you and goodbye to Ruthie Giovas two days ago. As our Case Manager for the last three years, Ruthie worked hard to ensure every woman who enters our door receives appropriate support and care necessary for her healing and stability. She has also been incredibly supportive and encouraging to our staff and we will surely miss her. Good luck and best wishes, Ruthie, wherever your next journey takes you. ❤️
