The number of issues plaguing Uganda are too numerous to count. One I've recently become aware of is the trafficking of young Ugandan girls to other countries with the promise of jobs. Recently five brave Ugandan girls that were rescued after being trafficked to Iraq gave their testimony before the Ugandan parliament committee on Gender, Labor and Social Development. You can read more about their story HERE.Another informative article can be read HERE
As wonderful and amazing as these girls' dramatic rescue by American Marines is, I was shocked to read about it on a Ugandan news site…having never heard about it on the US news. Even more upsetting is the 145 girls (just those mentioned in this story, there are reportedly thousands more Ugandan girls who have been taken in this way) that have not been rescued. I wonder how many other stories like this we are missing.
It breaks my heart to imagine the precious girls, in this picture, that we visited in the village of Lwanjuki, or any other child, being exploited and abused in this way. But in a nation like Uganda with such generational poverty and little to no hope of improving their station in life, many girls like these hear the promise of a good job and a way to help their families escape from poverty and are eager to take that opportunity. Unlike my daughters, these girls haven't been taught about "stranger danger", "if it's too
good to be true it probably is", and a million other little life lessons we take for granted.
Thankfully, there are organizations on the ground in Uganda. Some, like African Children's Mission, start at the roots by helping to provide a firm foundation of hope through education, a strong support system, the love of Jesus Christ and a way toward financial improvement. Others, like Kwagala Project are actively working to rescue these girls and then counsel, educate and provide financial assistance once they have been found and have returned home.
You can help by supporting these organizations and you can help these girls by sharing their story. I just did.
"They are fat and well fed. There is no limit to their evil deeds. They do not give orphans their rights or show justice to the oppressed. 'But I, the LORD, will punish them for these things; I will take revenge on this nation.' " Jeremiah 5:28-29
"The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:18
