The Maryknoll Sisters have long been working to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against girls and women. At the present time, sexual exploitation and human trafficking of women and children in Southeast is an enormous problem.
The Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center, run by Sister Helene O’Sullivan, M.M. offers vocational training to trafficked women as well as survivors of rape and domestic violence. Each year, Sister Helene takes referrals from Church and anti-trafficking organizations to help identify and support 25 young women (16-25 years old) to begin her two year study program.
Sister Helene has found that helping these women create options for themselves was one of the most important things she could do to assist them saying, “Creating options together brings hope, and hope heralds the coming of the reign of God.”
Pictured below are a few of the young women whose lives were impacted by the women’s center.
•Social, medical and psychological support
•Food supplements for the women’s families
•School supplies and uniform
•Room and board