Hopes and Dreams for Everyone: Soroptimist Tora Brown talks about her trip to Moldova

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Moldova Adventure Opens Eyes

Trafficking preyAs Region 1 chairwoman for Soroptomist International, Brown recently returned from a trip to Moldova, a hotspot for human trafficking, which was determined as the organization’s 2010 human rights focus.

“Human trafficking is not always for the sex trade. Many of these women are looking for opportunity, and think they’re going to be a nanny or a housekeeper. Then they get there and are kept against their will, have their passports taken and earn no wages,” she said. “We definitely need to work to provide women with opportunities so they don’t get stuck.”

In addition to Brown, 14 other Soroptimists, including members from Norway and other parts of Europe, made the early October trip to Moldova. The tiny country, located between Ukraine and Romania, has incredibly high unemployment.

“One of the things I found really interesting is that 62 percent of the country has had at least three family members leave due to poverty,” Brown said. “There’s no commerce, no structure, no real industry.”

Moldova’s childrenWhat Moldova does have are numerous children that live in boarding houses, left behind by parents in search of work.

“Unlike the foster-care system here where kids leave at age 18, it’s 16 in Moldova. Often the kids don’t have documentation and can’t get social services, which will allow them to continue school,” she said.

The youngsters then become prime prey for trafficking operators.

“The traffickers will hang out and tell them, ‘I have an opportunity for you. Come with me, I’ll take you to Russia,’” Brown said. “These aren’t even for glamorous jobs, but for things like housekeeping and construction.”

Creating opportunitiesAccording to Soroptimist International, there are 68 boarding schools in Moldova. The organization has chosen four schools in the northern part of the country to act as a model for easily transferable programs to other schools and regions.

Programs include life and skill education such as career guidance, health care, sexual education, communication with public offices, and information about domestic violence.

The latter is key, Brown said.

“I found out on our trip that 90 percent of woman who are trafficked have been victims of domestic violence,” she said.

Soroptimist International also provides higher education to selected children in the four schools. Students receive housing allowances and living support, as well as access to social assistants, during their continuing education.

Support for victimsFrom 2005 to 2009, more than 300 girls age 13 to 16 attended the life-skill education training course, 30 girls received support through high school and college, and nine social assistants were trained to support the girls.

There’s also support for victims of trafficking who have managed to get back to Moldova and attempt to resume their lives, though it’s not a simple process, according to Brown.

“It’s really hard after you’ve been trafficked to get reintegrated. They still don’t have opportunities,” she said. “Even when you know trafficking exists, if you had nothing, would you take the chance of getting a better life so you could eat?”