Human Trafficking

OCC has partnered with international organizations preventing, rescuing and offering healing to those victimized by human trafficking. We will work to prevent thousands of children from being trafficked and rescue, stabilize and empower 1000 girls and boys to live free of the sex trade in the hub city of Pattaya, Thailand.

Locally, we will educate and partner with organizations and state authorities who are fighting this rising epidemic in our own backyard. Seattle is the second largest port for smuggling trafficked victims through. We are also seeing a growing trend among American at risk youth to be coerced or forced into prostitution.

See how you can join the fight against human trafficking by checking out the groups and events below.

Eastside Women of Purpose

OCC 2012 Stories: Women of Purpose
from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

Join the efforts! There are opportunities to engage your passions, professions, skills or connections to work on prevention, intervention, healing and restoring of individuals and communities most impacted. Consider…

1. Educate yourself on the issues. Check out notforsale.org or ijm.org to read more about the issue.
2. Join a focus team going after key areas of this initiative:

• Eastside Women of Purpose – a group of women from OCC and the community working to educate, advocate and do charity special events to raise funds for projects. E-mail Eastside Women of Purpose for more information.
• Host a Party with a Purpose – the cottage jewelry making industry Freedom Stones is supporting young women rescued from the brothels. This team will equip you to sell jewelry at any existing holiday party planned or host a jewelry only party. E-mail for information.
• Business and Enterprise Projects – needing business professionals to pursue a variety of opportunities to impact the poverty dynamics around this issue. E-mail Jeff McKinley for more information. 
• Local Team – a team is developing to connect to this issue locally. E-mail Lynne Ellis for more information.

3. Consider going on a short term mission trip to Thailand to see this issue first-hand. E-mail Lynne Ellis for more information.

Tee Off Against Trafficking Golf Event - 5/22/10

Eastside Women of Purpose will be hosting its third annual "Tee Off Against Trafficking" on Saturday, May 22! This is a charity golf tournament and auction to fight human trafficking. Interested in becoming a sponsor? E-mail Eastside Women of Purpose for more information.