HELPING HAND: (left) Project Futures founder Stephanie Lorenzo and Cambodian Somaly Mam, who was sold by sex traders at age 12. (Bottom) Stephen Copeman during his charity bike ride in Cambodia.
11 Oct 09 by Rowan Cowley
North Shore Times, Manly, NSW, Australia
JUST six words from a young Cambodian girl brought home the shocking reality of the global child sex trafficking trade to Stephen Copeman: “Hello sir, I be your wife.”
Mr Copeman, a Northbridge banking analyst, is a director of Project Futures, a not-for-profit network of young people helping Asian girls caught in sex trafficking.
It was formed by Castle Hill marketing consultant Stephanie Lorenzo, who asked Mr Copeman, 24, and fellow board member Alexandra Lomo to help organise a 489km charity bike ride in Cambodia in March.
He was one of 21 riders and it was a few days into the trip, while eating lunch in Siem Reap, that the teenage Cambodian girl sat beside him and uttered those six shocking words.
“Some of the girls were so fixated on serving men,” Mr Copeman said. “It’s like they had been programmed to think that way.”
Child trafficking is a bigger problem than most Australians would realise.
The US State Department says it is the world’s second largest organised crime - bigger than drug trafficking.
The trip raised close to $120,000 for the Somaly Mam Foundation, a charity created and co-ordinated by a former victim of underage sex trafficking.
Mr Copeman said the foundation sponsored shelters in Cambodia and Vietnam and aimed to steer girls away from the trade and into legitimate businesses.
When the group returned, a decision was made to continue supporting the foundation and Project Futures was established.
It now has a worldwide network of members aged 16-35 as well as a group of dedicated young Australian volunteers who organise and host parties and other events designed to appeal to members of Generation Y. The launch party, in Martin Place in July, attracted 300 young people and raised $7000 for the foundation.
Ms Lorenzo was recently named the foundation’s volunteer of the year.
Members are planning another bike ride from Vietnam to Cambodia next year and are seeking participants.
Riders will have to pay a $700 registration fee and raise $5500 for the foundation.
While Mr Copeman was shocked by some of the things he saw in Cambodia, he said the experience had left him with hope the organisation could make a difference by continuing to support the foundation.
For more information on Project Futures see projectfutures.com.
Mr Copeman, a Northbridge banking analyst, is a director of Project Futures, a not-for-profit network of young people helping Asian girls caught in sex trafficking.
It was formed by Castle Hill marketing consultant Stephanie Lorenzo, who asked Mr Copeman, 24, and fellow board member Alexandra Lomo to help organise a 489km charity bike ride in Cambodia in March.
He was one of 21 riders and it was a few days into the trip, while eating lunch in Siem Reap, that the teenage Cambodian girl sat beside him and uttered those six shocking words.
“Some of the girls were so fixated on serving men,” Mr Copeman said. “It’s like they had been programmed to think that way.”
Child trafficking is a bigger problem than most Australians would realise.
The US State Department says it is the world’s second largest organised crime - bigger than drug trafficking.
The trip raised close to $120,000 for the Somaly Mam Foundation, a charity created and co-ordinated by a former victim of underage sex trafficking.
Mr Copeman said the foundation sponsored shelters in Cambodia and Vietnam and aimed to steer girls away from the trade and into legitimate businesses.
When the group returned, a decision was made to continue supporting the foundation and Project Futures was established.
It now has a worldwide network of members aged 16-35 as well as a group of dedicated young Australian volunteers who organise and host parties and other events designed to appeal to members of Generation Y. The launch party, in Martin Place in July, attracted 300 young people and raised $7000 for the foundation.
Ms Lorenzo was recently named the foundation’s volunteer of the year.
Members are planning another bike ride from Vietnam to Cambodia next year and are seeking participants.
Riders will have to pay a $700 registration fee and raise $5500 for the foundation.
While Mr Copeman was shocked by some of the things he saw in Cambodia, he said the experience had left him with hope the organisation could make a difference by continuing to support the foundation.
For more information on Project Futures see projectfutures.com.
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