When 12-year-old Emma Smiley from Virginia heard about girls her age involved in the horrors of sex trafficking from Abolition International’s founder, Natalie Grant, she immediately formulated a plan to help.
She researched the issue further and can now recite a long list of facts and statistics that express just how real human trafficking is in her own country as well as around the world.
She then asked her grandmother to teach her how to crochet mesh scrubbies and began making one or two per day, which requires about an hour of work each. She sells them for $2 and donates the proceeds to Abolition.
“My hope is that when people use a scrubby, they will pray for all the victims and their release from captivity,” Emma said.
On top of selling scrubbies, she went before her church board and congregation to speak about slavery and rallied their support to host a garage sale fundraiser. Emma’s efforts have already raised $1,200 in support for Abolition’s projects.
Emma said she is inspired by Psalm 146:7, “The Lord upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.”
This amazing young woman beautifully encompasses what it means to be moved into action by a cause. Instead of feeling like she was unable to help, she used the talents and abilities she had to make a difference right here, right now.
Thank you for your work Emma! Keep it up!
