Nobel Peace Prize Winner to Visit MIPC’s Christian Education class on June 12

Tun Channareth, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Cambodian advocate for a ban on landmines, will be teaching and telling A Story From the Heart in the Pressing Issues class at MIPC on June 12 at 9:15 AM. All are invited to attend.

Channareth (Reth) was born in Cambodia and was forced to leave Phnom Penh with his family in 1975. Much of his family was killed by Pol Pot’s soldiers and Reth had to flee Cambodia during the invasion of the Vietnamese in 1979. As a member of the resistance army, Reth was maimed by an anti-personnel landmine in 1982 and lost both legs. After eleven years in refugee camps, Reth returned to Cambodia.

Reth is an ambassador for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and has travelled the world urging governments to ban landmines. He also works with the Jesuit Service of Cambodia to make affordable wheelchairs for landmine survivors.

Send A Poor Child to School

May is International Student Scholarship Month at MIPC. It’s a time to renew our commitment to send poor children to school and have another chance to sponsor a child in Cambodia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, or Vietnam. Hundreds of poor children have had a chance to go to school through our scholarships and some have even graduated from the university. Our in-country administrators are trusted friends who not only choose and support our sponsored children but also give additional support when a family is in crisis. We are blessed to have found such strong partners who care so deeply for our children and their families. If you are interested in learning more about ISSF (International Student Scholarship Fund)please contact Glo Ceteznik, Mission Director, at gloc@mipc.org.

Going Beyond Good Intentions Regarding Trafficking

HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE/From Presbyterians Today

Three key practices

1. Learn. We know more about human trafficking now than we did 10 years ago. Explore the real outcomes of efforts to help trafficked persons and consult the latest information.

2. Don’t go it alone. Develop and coordinate your efforts to assist trafficked persons with experienced social service, legal and government entities.

3.Keep trafficked persons in the decision-making seat. Explain the options available and do not coerce them into help they don’t want. Do not allow your desire to protect trafficked persons to override their ability to make choices about their own lives and situations.

IJM Recues Laborers in Brick Factory in India

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE

Location: Chennai, India
Result: More than 500 people freed in IJM’s largest rescue operation ever

Last week, 522 people are returning to their homes in freedom after being rescued from a brutal brick factory in IJM’s largest operation ever.

Earlier this week, a man reported that his younger brother was being held as a slave in the brick

CHENNAI, India - Rescued from slavery, 143 families prepare to return to their homes.
My IJM colleagues and the local government partnered to release him and found not just one man, but hundreds of children, women and men desperate to escape. The team quickly moved into action, initiating the biggest rescue operation in IJM’s history.

Conditions in the factory were brutal: A government medical official saw scars that indicated many of the victims may have been tortured. The laborers were forbidden to leave the factory, and did not have enough food. The owner has been placed under arrest.

But today, these families know great kindness and care, due to the commitment of the government officials who not only ordered their release but even held a special ceremony to celebrate their freedom.

These great miracles of freedom would simply not be possible without your support. Thank you for standing with us.

Gratefully,

Gary Haugen
President and CEO
International Justice Mission