I have just spent the last 3 weeks in Europe with a woman name Leanne Rhodes who is the CEO and Founder of Abolishion. Leanne moved from Melbourne over to France on a mission "to break the systems that keep people in sexual slavery". It was a hectic 3 weeks and I missed Tim a lot, I really wished he was there to experience it with me. When we were in Romania we went to a church called "Bookafe" that Leanne has contact with and it just reminded me of my Wednesday night church back home. It just felt so relaxed and there were discussion and I did think to myself, "I think we could definitely get along well here".
The whole purpose of the trip though for me was to get to see what it is like on the ground in Europe working firstly to prevent human trafficking, but also with the hope of talking with people who work with victims of trafficking and ask them about the care and shelters that currently exist. I must admit it was a bit of a scouting expedition to see whether or not Tim and I could come here for a year, we have talked about moving overseas for a short term previously and this would be a great opportunity. Tim could teach in an international school nearby wherever we are and I could maybe volunteer as a worker in a shelter caring for victims of human trafficking. I'm pretty sad, I just don't think that will work out. Now that I have been over and seen what it is like there would just be too many obstacles. For example, I wasn't really expecting the culture to be as different from Australia as it is. It would take a few years just to be embedded into their culture to understand vital things like why choices are made, how family dynamics are different, etc. Even the language barrier is huge, I don't think it would work very well if I am trying to talk to a girl about her experiences, care for her and try to help her if I was always having to communicate through a translator. Also the nature of being there short-term, these girls need safety and security and I can't honestly build up the trust and provide that level of safety if I am not going to commit to working alongside them long-term.
As valuable as an experience as it was, visiting some Roma villages, helping Leanne run the anti-human trafficking conferences, getting to meet and talk with social workers and professors and visiting shelters for victims of human trafficking. I have to admit that I am a bit disheartened at what I will be able to do in the short term. Everyone I talk to says that it will take time, and I know that it will, I still have a lot of study ahead of me. I suppose I have a clearer vision of what I could study and research for Masters or even a Doctorate, I would like to research the different models of practice in shelters across Europe and try and find a 'best practice' model that could be adapted to different cultural contexts. Ideally so that I could use this back in Australia for a shelter that I will one day be involved in (long-term dream).
I guess we will keep praying, keep our options open. I know for sure now that this is what I want to do.
Shell :)
The whole purpose of the trip though for me was to get to see what it is like on the ground in Europe working firstly to prevent human trafficking, but also with the hope of talking with people who work with victims of trafficking and ask them about the care and shelters that currently exist. I must admit it was a bit of a scouting expedition to see whether or not Tim and I could come here for a year, we have talked about moving overseas for a short term previously and this would be a great opportunity. Tim could teach in an international school nearby wherever we are and I could maybe volunteer as a worker in a shelter caring for victims of human trafficking. I'm pretty sad, I just don't think that will work out. Now that I have been over and seen what it is like there would just be too many obstacles. For example, I wasn't really expecting the culture to be as different from Australia as it is. It would take a few years just to be embedded into their culture to understand vital things like why choices are made, how family dynamics are different, etc. Even the language barrier is huge, I don't think it would work very well if I am trying to talk to a girl about her experiences, care for her and try to help her if I was always having to communicate through a translator. Also the nature of being there short-term, these girls need safety and security and I can't honestly build up the trust and provide that level of safety if I am not going to commit to working alongside them long-term.
As valuable as an experience as it was, visiting some Roma villages, helping Leanne run the anti-human trafficking conferences, getting to meet and talk with social workers and professors and visiting shelters for victims of human trafficking. I have to admit that I am a bit disheartened at what I will be able to do in the short term. Everyone I talk to says that it will take time, and I know that it will, I still have a lot of study ahead of me. I suppose I have a clearer vision of what I could study and research for Masters or even a Doctorate, I would like to research the different models of practice in shelters across Europe and try and find a 'best practice' model that could be adapted to different cultural contexts. Ideally so that I could use this back in Australia for a shelter that I will one day be involved in (long-term dream).
I guess we will keep praying, keep our options open. I know for sure now that this is what I want to do.
Shell :)