Dec 7, 2009

It makes you sick to think of the rape of four year olds. Wait until you meet one!

What Happened?

We were surprisingly invited to visit the Prajwala school by Dr. Krishnan. At first, she had indicated we would only have a half-hour meeting in her office. Then, she understood we were there not out of curiosity, but out of a clear intention to make a difference.

At the school, we started by visiting the class of 3-5 year olds. Each one, rescued from slavery. 85% HIV positive.

One little girl was asked to sing for us. Her voice was sweet and pure. She sang "Twinkle, twinkle little star." She sang just as your little daughter, little niece or little granddaughter would sing. But she has had a different life.

Did you know that in the world of prostitution, the younger the child, the more she is worth?

You remember your daughter or granddaughter or niece when she was four - innocent, cute, trusting!

Prajwala also rescued another little girl, four year-old Felicia. She had been sold into prostitution for 5,000 Rupees ($108.28) by her dying mother. She had been raped six times and had become HIV Positive before being rescued.

What did I learn?

Carol: I watched the brilliant, beautiful sparkling black eyes of the little girl singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star." I knew her story in general. I smiled and thanked her. Inside I wanted to grab her and hold her to my heart. I wanted to tell her how remarkable she is. I wanted to scream and cry and attack her previous perpetrators. I blew her a kiss instead.

We must not wallow in the heinous crimes these children and women have endured. We must give up feeling sad and hopeless. Our action is required.

I will spread the word in order to take others out of their denial. I will speak out and share the facts. I will work tirelessly to raise money to build a new dorm and school for the little girl with those brilliant, beautiful, sparkling black eyes.

Tim: I can't imagine the pain, the shock, the bewilderment a four year-old girl like Felicia must have felt. The same is true for the thousands more who are placed in sex slavery every day across the world. I can't fathom a legal system that looks the other way. By this I mean not only the Indian Government but also the US Department of Justice. How can hunting down Al-Qaeda or Taliban be more important than hunting down the perpetrators of crimes against children like Felicia?