The foundation also educates the girls to create an alternate career path to prostitution. The
ht Somaly Mam foundation teaches English language skills so the woman can gain an
advantage within securing a job, as well as giving workshops on basic human rights, health
care, and labor laws (Somaly Mam Foundation). They also teach entrepreneurial and smallbusiness skills to those interested in becoming private business owners. In 2013 the Somaly
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Mam foundation gave 36 start up kits to women trying to start businesses. (Somaly Mam
Foundation). The final goal is to reintegrate all of these former sex workers back into their
local communities and destigmatize things such as sex work and promote gender equality.
(Somaly Mam Foundation). So far, 180 survivors have safely left the organization’s care and
receive regular follow up sessions to ensure health and success. (Somaly Mam Foundation).
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Finally the Somaly Mam foundation helps raise awareness on the issue. It gives survivors
the opportunity to make their voices heard in courts of law, communities, and worldwide
(Somaly Mam Foundation). The Foundation also builds strong ties with law enforcement,
government agencies, and other NGOs with the hope of spreading awareness on the issue
and to attempt to prevent future instances of trafficking to occur throughout the country
(Somaly Mam Foundation). In addition they hold programs and activities that focuses on
eradicating modern day slavery, such as Anti-Trafficking Day, a weekday radio program that
educates listeners how to recognize, address, and prevent trafficking, a student oriented
program to fight slavery, etc (Somaly Mam Foundation).
“Sometimes you can learn, even from a bad experience. By coping you become stronger. The
pain does not go away, but it becomes manageable.” (Somaly Mam). The Somaly Mam
Foundation truly reflects the thoughts of its founder. Through help and support they attempt
to turn young girls and women whom witnessed horrendous atrocities, that no one should
ever face, and try to help them if they themselves allow it. Through free medical centers
which also provides psychological counseling they help their minds and bodies. They then
give them education so that they may live a life away from prostitution and start a new life.
The Somaly Mam foundation allows the girls to turn their experiences towards helping
others, if they wish to. They also work with others under the united banner of those whom
fell victim to slavery. It doesn’t matter one’s country, race, religion, background, social
placement, or anything; if the world wishes for such an issue to cease to exist everyone must
work together, in unity.