Very Special Review & Giveaway: Necklace By The Emancipation Network

While you and I are free to live our lives as we please, the deplorable industry of human trafficking continues to horrifically exploit women and children around the world. 27 million people around the world are estimated to be victims of slavery, with approximately 50% of victims being under the age of 18. But there is a great organization that is helping to empower these victims to rebuild their lives. Read on to learn how to help these women and enter to win a beautiful necklace, handmade by a survivor!

What is human trafficking?

Although slavery is illegal worldwide, it is still a huge black market industry. Often controlled by organized crime syndicates, these networks turn a huge profit by forcing women and children into brothels. These victims suffer unspeakable torture at the hands of these despicable criminals. You can click here to view statistics and learn more about human trafficking – Warning: the content on that page details some of the atrocities these innocent victims suffer, and as such, it is very graphic and distressing to read.

What is T.E.N.?

The Emancipation Network is a grassroots organization that was founded to help survivors of human trafficking get their lives back. This is their mission statement:

“We help survivors of slavery rebuild their lives after rescue from slavery, with sustainable income, education and help reintegrating into society. We work to prevent slavery in high risk communities such as red light and refugee communities, by creating jobs for adults and through volunteer trips and donations to our shelter partners for rescue, school fees, emergency needs and reintegration.”

T.E.N. is a wonderful service, providing education to young victims of human trafficking who did not attend school because they were enslaved. (It makes me feel sick just to type that.) They help these women to learn skills and create an income for themselves by making beautiful handicrafts – and the crafting itself is therapeutic. Click here to read a very touching blog post by the co-founder of T.E.N, describing how art projects helped a group of young survivors to come out of their shell after being rescued.

The Made By Survivors Store sells these beautiful handmade items, and the money raised through sales goes to providing a sustainable income for these women. You can read T.E.N.’s financial breakdown by clicking here.

Win it!

You can enter to win this beautiful Garnet/Marcasite Necklace, handmade by a survivor of human trafficking. This necklace is such a pretty conversation piece, and is valued at $88.00. From T.E.N’s website:

“Delicately etched sterling silver marcasite, and fine garnets are a match made in heaven in this exquisite necklace. You will love wearing your heart on your sleeve (or rather, neck) and being reminded when you wear this piece, that it is contributing to a better life for survivors in Bangkok.

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Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, visit Made By Survivors Store and tell me what your favorite item is.
This step is required to qualify for the drawing. Be sure to leave an email address with your comment, so that I may notify you in the event that you are the lucky winner!

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Take a look around the Made By Survivors website, and tell me something you learned about human trafficking.
3. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway and Made By Survivors. Then come back here and leave me the link.
4. Write about this giveaway on Twitter, then come back and leave me the link to your tweet.
5. Subscribe to my blog updates by entering your email into the “Subscribe” box in the sidebar. Then come back and leave me the email you subscribed with.
6. Become a follower of my blog by clicking the “Follow” button in my sidebar. Then come back here and let me know in a separate comment.
7. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

<a href="http://contest-corner.blogspot.com"><img decoding="async" src="http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv279/supercoupongirl/contest_corner.gif" border="0" /></a>

8. Anyone who makes a purchase or donation at Made By Survivors while this giveaway is running will qualify for an extra entry into the drawing – please leave an additional comment to let me know if you have done so.

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 23rd at 11:59 PM. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US residents and APO/FPO addresses.