The Half the Sky Movement is to raise awareness of women’s issues, fight these problems, and empower women. They cover a number of issues that I will not go into here but you can read on their page under the ‘issues’ tab. I will specifically focus on Sex Trafficking and Forced Prostitution. I also found Shadhika an organization that invests in the education, empowerment, and economic self-sufficiency of girls in India, in order to chance India's future.
“far more women and girls are shipped into brothels annually now, in the early 21st century, than African slaves were shipped into slave plantations each year in the 18th century.
Now, as far as being a responsible tourist in these destinations it may seem hopeless on what you can do.
It may seem obvious, do NOT participate in sex tourism. Fair trade I very simply explain to keep tourist dollars with the locals and not the big corporations. And participating in sex tourism may be argued as "giving tourist dollars directly to the local." But, not only is wrong to pay a woman or young child for sexual favors, but also it supports that lifestyle. There is a different way of life for these women, they just need to get out of the brothels first.
Between The Half the Sky Movement and Shadhika they raise money for the women to support them after they leave the sex trade. They raise money for housing, school, uniforms, and to break the poverty cycle. Both of theses foundations educates and raises awareness about what is going on in India. Also, they stress how important it is to not only educate others but also educated the women and population there to reduce inequality issues.
Half the Sky's Fundraiser: New Light
What your donation can help support:
$40 buys school uniforms and shoes for a child of a local sex worker for one year.
$60 funds food for one month for one child of a local sex worker.
$250 supports a child's education for one year.
$500 provides vocational training to an at-risk young adolescent for one year.
Click here to donate or to just read more about this Fundraiser.