The Mission

For the Laos Mission 2011 MSR International is working with two organizations that already exist and are functioning within Laos; AFESIP (Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Precaire), and VYDA (Vulnerable Youth Development Association). Because Julie and I were the only two volunteers on site for the first week, we held the initial meetings with these organizations together. Since we only began actual fieldwork with AFESIP this week, I would like to focus on this organization for now. This is what the MSR mission in conjunction with AFESIP looks like for 2011:

AFESIP

AFESIP is a French organization that began combating human trafficking in Cambodia in 1996, and opened a branch in Laos in 2006. The organization was started by and continues to be run by women from all over the world. It’s kind of like the FUBU of NGO’s. (For Us By Us) Its endurance and success demonstrates the extent to which great things can be accomplished when women get together and work for a cause that not only affects victims of human trafficking, but also effectively degrades women the world over.

In Laos, AFESIP has established a sort of halfway house for young girls who have been sold and used as prostitutes. In the halfway house, (a well-guarded, private institution), these young girls receive psychological care, art therapy, essential female-bonding, general education, as well as optional training in any of the following fields; Sewing; Hairdressing; Esthetics; and Cooking. Everything that they are subject to during their stay is geared toward their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society. Girls have to stay in the house and receive treatment for a minimum of six months. However, depending on their age, their stay can be much longer. Out of the 22 girls we met, only 3 were 18 or over.

Because the MSR team for Laos 2011 is made up of four men and four women, only half the team will be participating in this part of the mission. The mission will consist of meeting with these girls three times a week, for three weeks, for 90-minute sessions that will involve exercises focused on theatre and dance. Improvisation and team leadership will be key parts of the exercises, and we hope that the sessions will encourage confidence, creative expression, and female-to-female bonding. Unfortunately, since some of these girls were saved from dangerous situations or people, anonymity is essential to their safety. Therefore no pictures or video will be available with regard to these sessions.

The first meeting was an incredible experience. We began by introducing ourselves and proceeding around the room as each girl shyly gave us her name, age, and chosen field of study. We then began stretching and dancing exercises in which one person goes in the middle of the circle, (starting with me and Julie), and everyone imitates what they do. The experience made me tear up. The girls were shy and giggly, as young girls should be, but even within the short hour that we got to work with them Julie and I saw an increase in confidence and trust. When we left everyone was smiling, laughing, and sweating excessively. (We danced in 40 degree weather without A.C.) Everyone was looking forward to our next encounter, which is scheduled to take place this afternoon.

I will keep you all updated with the progress of the mission, and information regarding our work with VYDA is still to come.

For now, I would like to take a moment to be thankful that the women who surround me in my life are all kind, intelligent, funny, sarcastic, (sometimes bitchy), wonderful women. You know who you are. You wouldn’t be my friends if you weren’t all of the above, and I couldn’t be who I am without you :)

* Also, a special thank-you to my good friend Victor, creator of MSR, who made this mission possible.