YWCA Monterey County
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Mission
The YWCA Monterey County is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.The Big Idea
Human Trafficking is a form of modern day slavery and an estimated $32 billion dollar a year global industry. It's the world's second most profitable criminal enterprise. It strips victims of their freedom and violates our nation's promise that every person in the United States is guaranteed basic human rights. Here in Monterey County, the YWCA operates the region's only confidential safe house program serving victims of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is a low-risk, high profit business with the crime itself well hidden and under-reported. Many victims have entered into the life of trafficking as young as 11 and 12 years old, so once free from their traffickers they need comprehensive services including, completing their education and learning new skills in order to lead successful lives complete their journey of healing. A donation to the YWCA Human Trafficking program will assist victims in advancing their education through vocational training, and assisting them with job training skills to establish financial stability upon successful completion of the program. Empowering survivors leads them on a path to successful future."When I came into the program, I didn't know what I was doing, I felt like a lost confused soul, I didn't have anyone, so I turned to the only person and only resource I knew. I had let so many things come in the way of what I really needed. I thought I knew what was better for me and my life than anybody else. I had never felt or been so low in my life. I didn't know where I was headed and I was scared. I needed help, I felt like being in that program was my only choice. I had two chances to turn my life around, and when I was there I realized so much and dealt with so much. I am so young and I needed help. I needed a fresh start and I was willing to do whatever I had to do, to never put myself in that position again."
- Ashley