Freedom for the Weekend: Children of the Night

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-09-11 12:00:00 UTC
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Well, it's Friday afternoon, and that means the weekend is almost here!  W00t! Perhaps you're reading this blog because you're bored at work or school and you're thinking about what you want to do this weekend.  How about spending part of your weekend fighting slavery?  Each week I'll profile a different anti-trafficking nonprofit who you can connect with to help free slaves and prevent slavery around the world.  So, spend a couple hours this weekend getting to know this nonprofit through their website, and then get involved!

This Week's Profile: Children of the Night

The Bottom Line: Children of the Night is dedicated to assisting children between the ages of 11 and 17 who are forced to prostitute on the streets for food to eat and a place to sleep, many of whom are under the control of vicious pimps.

What They Do: They provide shelter for kids ages 13-18, as well as a comprehensive, on-site educational program for the kids who live there.   They also do street outreach in areas where prostituion and child trafficking are high.  The kids even get to take weekend trips to enrich educational and life experiences.

What Can I Do?: If you live in the Los Angeles area, you can volunteer at the shelter or their offices.  You can also donate, either in-kind donations from their wish list or through their website.

Why They Rock: Despite the fact that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children now estimates between 100,000 and 300,000 American children are at risk for trafficking into prostitution, Children of the Night is one of the few dedicated shelters in the country for these kids.  Their comprehensive programs are unique.

So now that you've got some basic information on Children of the Night, visit their website this weekend and get involved.  And on Monday morning when everyone else is talking about sleeping in and watching tv over the weekend, you can say, "What did I do this weekend?  Oh, just the usual- abolition of slavery."

Do you have a favorite nonprofit you'd like to see featured here?  If so, let me know!

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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