Covid-19 requires the best of us, and I do mean to say us. While many are confined to our homes, there is a deep sense that we are all in this together. Nations are uniting, medical facilities are merging, and competing suppliers are working together to fill the most pressing needs. We are more aware than ever that we are all connected through the pandemic that is facing our world. Together, we will not only come through the challenges that face us, but we will be better because of them!
At All People Free our work is to end slavery for those stuck in the brick kilns. We are clearer on that mission now than ever before. We believe with your help we will see slavery end for millions. While we continue to support our work in the brickyards, these uncertain times have changed some of the immediate needs we are faced with. The health and safety of our students and families are our first priority. Currently, our schools are on hold to try to slow the spread of covid-19. We are continuing to pay our teachers and partners through this time, and they are doing everything they can to keep themselves and their families safe while also staying connected to the brickyards and families needs.
March 8th is International Women's Day and in Pakistan thousands of women will take to the streets to protest, many of whom have histories of being enslaved in brickyards. Pakistani women are fighting for the right to determine what happens to their bodies. According to Amnesty International (linked below), that includes "sexual and reproductive rights, and freedom from physical abuse, domestic violence and rape, or being subjected to any medical procedure without informed consent."
Women everywhere deserve to be free, and we stand with them as they fight for the freedom they deserve. Learn more about Pakistan and this year's Women's March (known in Pakistan as "Aurat March") here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/03/pakistan-amnesty-international-stands-with-aurat-march/ Learn more about International Women's Day here: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ Meet Safia and her sons, Asif and Qasim. Both of Safia’s sons lost their eyesight due to a disease and her late husband, Nazeer Masih, took out a loan to pay for their treatment. He used to work in the brickyards to feed his family and pay back the loan, but when he passed, the burden of supporting their family fell to Safia. Needing a way to pay back their debt and feed her family, she went to work in the brickyard.
Safia, her two sons, and her young daughter now live in the brickyard where they endure the harshness of the weather in a mud house and struggle to escape from the crippling debt that keeps them enslaved. Her daughter was unable to continue her education, and her sons’ blindness prevents them from most jobs. With their debts recently paid off by generous people in their local community, All People Free is working to raise $1000 to relocate them and set them up with employment that will give them a sustainable income and a hopeful future. If you’d like to help, please click below to donate towards the future of this family. To learn more about their story, feel free to watch a video that can be found here: https//www.facebook.com/minoritieswatch/videos/609663986434232/ |
Archives
September 2024
Categories
All
|