Conspiracy Of Hope turned one year old this week. For all of you who have given of your hearts, time and resources....words cannot express my gratitude. I am deeply humbled by your compassion, your commitment and your passion for justice. There may not be a greater calling than to be the voice of the voiceless and to defend the defenseless.
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army said "While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!"
And if I might be so bold to put words along side his, "While children are chained to workbenches, as they are now, we'll fight; while children are maimed and forced to beg, as they are now, we'll fight; while child soldiers are forced to kill, as they are now, we'll fight; while children are being brutally raped in brothels and basements, as they are right now, we'll fight, we will fight to the very end!"
Please join us in the fight. Millions of children live in slavery right now. They are powerless and we, we have the means to fight, if we can find the will.
Here's to year number two. To freedom. To justice. To the end of slavery.
From Third World Orphans :
Every 15 SECONDS, another child becomes an AIDS orphan in Africa
Every DAY 5,760 more children become orphans
Every YEAR 2,102,400 more children become orphans (in Africa alone)
143,000,000 Orphans in the world today.
Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…
Every YEAR 14,050,000 children still grow up as orphans and AGE OUT of the system
Every DAY 38,493 children AGE OUT
Every 2.2 SECONDS, another orphan child AGES OUT with no family to belong to and no place to call home
In Ukraine and Russia 10% -15% of children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide before age 18
60% of those girls are lured into prostitution
70% of those boys become hardened criminals
Many of these children accept job offers that ultimately result in their being sold as slaves. Millions of girls are sex slaves today, simply because they were unfortunate enough to grow up as orphans.
