The Sold Project
In June 2006, Rachel Sparks-Graeser began researching the global issue of child prostitution and decided she wanted to do something about it. One year later, she had raised enough funds to shoot a documentary in Thailand. The SOLD Project Rough Cut was screened to friends and family and many people began asking what they could do to help.
In response, the nonprofit The SOLD Project was born, offering educational scholarships to children at risk of exploitation in Northern Thailand. Indeed, children in these areas are often forced to drop out of school and sent to the city to work. But without proper education, their options are few and they are easily lured into the sex industry.
A second trip in June 2008 completed the footage necessary to create the documentary “The SOLD Project: Thailand” a collection of short films that expose the truth behind child prostitution in Thailand and the hope that exists for prevention.
This hope led to the FREEDOM Project. A prevention program seeks to empower vulnerable children in poor rural areas by offering them educational opportunities and additional resources to help ensure that they are able to live a life free from sexual exploitation. Not only does it offers scholarships, but also mentorship from university students, a Resource Center to supplement their current education with English classes, computer training and other necessary skills, and a trafficking awareness program to talk about the reality of prostitution in Thailand.
Of course, everything has a cost.
$35: One year’s tuition
$50: One year’s worth of books
$260: One month Thai scholarship teacher salary
$365: One year student scholarship ($31/ month)
Want to help? You can donate here.
And if you don’t have cash to donate, you can now support the amazing work of Sold Project by selling or buying stuff on karmagoat.com!
