Bootstraps help young women aged 16 and up who are involved in the sex trade in Cambodia to commit to vocational training into safe jobs. The women talk and bond through outings to fun places like the waterpark or behind-the-scenes at a restaurant that give them a chance to be ordinary young women and see new opportunities. 60 women have already graduated into safe jobs in hairdressing, housekeeping, cooking and sewing. We have a waiting list of women eager for a second chance.
Poverty, illiteracy, illnesses and debt in the family put young women and girls in Cambodia at risk of child and sex trafficking. If the problem is not addressed, they face bleak ends such as being sold into brothels or labour. More girls will not see a hope for their future and instead resort to being sold to support the family as the best way out of poverty. They will benefit through our encouragement and support to step out of sex work into apprenticeship in safe jobs before it's too late.
The hopes and dreams of these young women and girls are raised through bonding with their peers and counselling by our social workers. They have the opportunity to build up their self-esteem and confidence, and form healthy friendships. Then, we lead them into the next step, that is, to step out of the hazardous sex trade by attending training in sewing, cooking, housekeeping and hairdressing. Their family gets income replacement and food support while they focus in training until they graduate.
The project will help 20 young women and girls to step out of sex work. It will reduce the amount of girls at risk of child trafficking, sex trafficking, sexual abuse and HIV. It empowers the women to support their parents and younger siblings with a stable and safe job. For a female with low education, these training we provide are comparatively easier for them to learn and the skills are very useful in Cambodia.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
