The Freedom Challenge Asks Women Everywhere To Help Free One Thousand Women and Children From Modern Day Slavery
TYRONE, Ga., Dec. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- There could only be one unifying force significant enough to bring 48 women from seven different countries to Tanzania and then get them to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro – the world's tallest freestanding mountain – together. The cause that made it worth it was regarding the 30 million people and victims of modern day slavery worldwide today – and especially so for 80% of them who are women and children. The event is one of several that has led to today's founding of The Freedom Challenge, a program of Operation Mobilization USA (OM), which brings women together in unique and creative ways to raise funds for programs that help set women on a pathway to freedom.
The Freedom Challenge participants engage in one of three types of challenges:
- physical / fitness events managed or supervised by Operation Mobilization
- challenges groups have created with their local church community, or
- grass-root challenges, designed and carried out by individuals across the county
The international movement of passionate women who have climbed mountains and gone through other physical challenges do it to raise awareness, prayers and funds for the four-part strategy OM pursues to fight against modern day slavery which includes:
- Prevention: Education, skills training and a basic support system to break the cycles of poverty, exploitation and trafficking.
- Development: Long-term solutions such as vocational training and micro-loan programs to help women overcome poverty.
- Rescue: Interventions for bringing women and children out of trafficking and slavery into a safe place for long-term care.
- Restoration: Extensive longer term care including physical healing, trauma counseling, and life skills training.
Through the programs and activities which OM operates in countries like France, Ghana and Moldova, US$150 in funding helps set another woman on the path to freedom. By the end of 2016, The Freedom Challenge aims to raise enough funds to set the next 1,000 enslaved women and children on a path to freedom.
The first events of 2016 will include a national Freedom Challenge event in which women everywhere can participate wherever they are; details to be announced in early January. Interested parties can also attend a Freedom Challenge luncheon January 22, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale. An additional Freedom Challenge mountain climbing event is scheduled for July at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
"It is amazing to see our event participants be transformed as they participate. I love seeing each participant begin to claim 'my challenge equates to their freedom,'" said Tina Yeager, US Director for The Freedom Challenge.
Several physical challenge events have been already completed in places like the Rockies, the Alps, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Everest -- all have been used as vehicles to raise funds via sponsorship model through friends, family, and community.
For information on upcoming challenge events and how to get involved, details are available at www.thefreedomchallenge.com
ABOUT THE FREEDOM CHALLENGE
The Freedom Challenge is a movement led by passionate women dedicated to freeing oppressed and enslaved women and children all around the world. Hundreds of women have participated in various fitness challenges that test personal limits, while raising funds and awareness. The Freedom Challenge was founded by Operation Mobilization (OM), an international Christian missions organization with over 6,800 workers in over 110 countries around the world. The Freedom Challenge raises funds that support various OM projects helping women and children impacted by modern day slavery. More details can be found at www.thefreedomchallenge.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Michele Nadeem-Baker
+1 617-818-1223
[email protected]
SOURCE The Freedom Challenge
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