Torquay & District Soroptimist’s held their annual Bangers & Mash evening recently and raised £130.00 which was donated to Sandy Jay who is going to Ghana at the end of May working for the charity Projects Abroad Pro (Professionals).
Sandy was presented with the cheque at the monthly ‘Speaker meeting’, when she talked to members about her venture.
Sandy aims to establish a counselling and support programme for 47 young people (aged between 6 – 13years old) who have been used for sex and job trafficking. Her remit is to develop a support and training package for volunteers who work with the young people so that in the future they will be able to follow the guidelines and structures she has put in place.
These children have been ‘rescued’ from the work and are in a rehabilitation centre and have been in the centre for a year. The traffickers had taken them away from their families so the charity is still trying to locate the families of the young people. Thousands of children in Ghana have been trafficked and forced to work as porters in the fishing industry or for sexual exploitation. Projects Abroad Pro Organisation is setting up and running educational programmes in local communities.
Sandy thanked the members and said “It feels so right to be doing this and I have so much energy for it….even though I do know it will be hard work: emotionally as well as physically. I have been overwhelmed so far by the support and encouragement I have received.” She has agreed to come back and talk to us again on her return.
If you would like to donate directly please go to the charity webpage