my philosophy

Dressember: Raising Money for Victims of Modern-Day Slavery

Hey friends! Kiera here! This is my third year participating in Dressember and I am so excited to tell you all about it. I am on a team of 25 women joining together to make a change and raise $20,000! This year Dressember has over 6,000 advocates participating including some names you may recognize: Shailene Woodley, Kathie Lee & Hoda, and Debra Messing just to name a few.

Below you will find my crash course on what Dressember is and how it enacts change! I must warn you that some of the facts presented can be tough to read. These realities are sad, but they are true and they are why I do Dressember every year.

What It Is

Dressember is a campaign in which advocates wear dresses every day of December (men can join by wearing a tie everyday). By doing so we use fashion to advocate for women who have been exploited for their femininity. We post pictures everyday in our dresses for several reasons: 1) to be held accountable that we ARE wearing a dress everyday, 2) to raise awareness on the issue of modern-day slavery and 3) to raise money for two human rights organizations: A21 and International Justice Mission.

Where the Money Goes

International Justice Mission:

IJM partners with those working in the local justice system to help victims of violence. They do this in four ways:

  1. Rescue: Working with local police to rescue victims from ongoing violence
  2. Restore: Working with social workers to restore the survivors to their community
  3. Restrain: Working with local police to restrain criminals
  4. Represent: Working with public prosecution to represent survivors in court

 

As they do this they identify weaknesses in the justice system and work together to help strengthen the system. This in turn helps protect the poor and prevents violence from happening in the first place.

Here are some of the ways you can see their impact in the world:

  • Cebu, Phillipines: 79% drop in availability of minors for commercial sexual exploitation after 4 years of IJM partnership with the justice system
  • Pampanga, Phillipines: 86% drop in availability of minors for commercial sexual exploitation after 4 years of IJM partnership with the justice system
  • Manila, Phillipines: 75% drop in availability of minors for commercial sexual exploitation after 7 years of IJM partnership with the justice system
  • Cambodia: Studies in the early 2000’s found a high percentage of children being sold for sexual exploitation. After a decade in partnership with IJM, that percentage has dropped to 0.1%
  • India: It used to be virtually impossible to get a slave-owner charged for their violations against India’s laws against slavery. There are now more frequent chargers. Owning a slave is starting to shift from risk-free to high-risk

Read more about International Justice Mission on their website.

A21:

 Their operational strategy, and the heart cry of their organization, is to:

  1. Reach the vulnerable and disrupt the demand. Prevent slavery from ever happening by engaging people through events, student presentations, and education programs
  2. Rescue victims through identification and seek justice against their captors. They work closely with law enforcement on the ground to support raids, identify victims through their resource lines, assist in the prosecution of traffickers, represent survivors in court proceedings, and collaborate with Governments and other NGOs to eradicate slavery at every level.
  3. Restore survivors and equip them to live independently. They work face-to-face with every person in their care, providing them with access to housing, medical treatment, counseling, education, employment, and repatriation based on their individual needs.

 

A21 has 12 offices in 11 different countries. All their offices are stopping human trafficking before it starts. Seven of them focus in fierce intervention and six of them provide restorative aftercare.

Read more about A21 on their website.

Why I Do Dressember

I believe that I have a choice to make everyday in how I use my voice, my time, my money. I want to use it to make a change. So often in this messed up world I feel helpless. I want to do everything but feel like I can’t do anything. Dressember gives me an entire month where I know I can enact change for something so important. Not only is raising funds super important to this change, but even just posting about the realities of modern-day slavery has a profound impact! Simply put, I believe that my voice matters and yours does too!

How Can You Help?

Donate to my campaign! I have set my fundraising goal this year to $1000. That is enough for 3 victims to go to 8 hours worth of therapy each. Or to meet the urgent needs of 5 victims, such as a hot meal, job training, or legal proceedings. That is enough to provide 23 victims with immediate emergency nutrition or medical care. It is enough to pay for 10 victims trial fees so that they can have a voice in court. Your monetary donations TRULY make a difference! It would mean so much to me if you considered partnering with me in this cause! Another way you can help? Join Dressember next year! I’d love to talk to you more about what it is like to wear a dress everyday for a month!