---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Peggy Callahan | Free the Slaves <[email protected]> Date: Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 5:14 PM Subject: Inspiring and Courageous Women Win the 2009 Freedom Awards To: Philip Jones <[email protected]>
[image: FTS Header] *In this Edition:* Announcing the 2009 Freedom Award Winners | Freedom Awards Ceremony October 13th in LA Entire Villages Break Free in India | Boy Fights Slavery with Dino-Art The 2009 Freedom Award Winners *The Freedom Awards celebrate global heroes of the anti-slavery movement*. This year's awards honor *women who are setting the standard* for world-class anti-slavery work. <http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d503&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>• *Veero freed her entire family* then helped *700 others to freedom* in * Pakistan*. She is a modern day *Frederick Douglass* and one of the winners of the award named after a former slave in the United States who escaped and became a leading abolitionist. <http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d504&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>• As *a 13 year old Sina Vann was sold into sex slavery*. *Today* she helps *free women from Cambodian brothels* and *gives hope to survivors* as they rebuild their lives. Sina is also a *Frederick Douglass Award* winner. <http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d505&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>• *SMS* does whatever it takes to *prevent young women in rural India* from being tricked into *domestic slavery* in the big city. This group of dynamic women is the winner of the *Harriet Tubman Community Award* to a *grassroots organization* creating *sustainable change* on the ground. <http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d506&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>• *Alexis Weiss* and *Betsy Bramon* are young *American* women who've already worked to *end slavery at home and abroad*. They have been named the Anne Templeton Zimmerman Fellows. They will spend an intense year at FTS headquarters, Georgetown University and at the frontlines of slavery as we * nurture* the next generation of *anti-slavery leaders*. This year an independent, *international board of experts examined nominations from 22 countries* before selecting these *inspiring winners*. The women work in different parts of the world to prevent different types of slavery *but they share a single passion: Freedom from slavery for all*. If you *are ready to be inspired* check out the *stories of these winners*and *slideshows of their work* at *www.thefreedomawards.net*<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.thefreedomawards.net&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>. [image: Free the Slaves]<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d516&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929> ------------------------------ Report from the Frontlines [image: Free the Slaves] As *FTS Partnerships Director, Ginny Baumann*spends time at the *frontlines* of slavery *around the world*. She is working in *India* and * Nepal* now. Twice in just the past three weeks she has been there as *entire villages*, with the support of *Free the Slaves* and our *local partners*, *defy the slaveholders*, *risking everything for freedom*. Next month *we will share more* about these exciting developments, *made possible by FTS supporter*s. In the mean time, here is how she described it in an email to her son: *"So people are continuing to throw down their shackles upon our arrival. It's been a quite astonishing feature of this trip. Yesterday we joined in with around 50 stonebreakers doing their first day of work in freedom! During a meeting with us a few days ago, they decided to walk away from the slaveholders, reject the illegal debts and go to work with another group of freed slaves who have their own mining lease. So yesterday they started the new work. It was amazing to be with them - how often do we get to see people literally making their break for freedom?"* Ginny explains how Free the Slaves works on the ground helping slaves to freedom: *www.freetheslaves.net/frontlines*<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2ffrontlines&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>. [image: Free the Slaves]<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d501&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929> Freedom Awards Countdown Mark *October 13th* on your calendars and *join us* at the awards in *Los Angeles* or *on-line as we stream the show* so everyone can *join the celebration*. The celebration is free but you must have a ticket, and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served waiting list. [image: Free the Slaves] *Tom Shadyac, movie director, producer, writer* and active *abolitionist*will make us *laugh and learn* as he repeats as *host*. *Rickie Byars Beckwith* will have us *on our feet* with the 150 member *Agape International Choir*. *Stay tuned*. *More to come* here<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d516&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>. Join us immediately after the awards for a high energy *Freedom Rocks event*. We'd tell you more, but then it wouldn't be a *surprise*. This event is * free*, *fun* and *guaranteed to help you change the world*. [image: Free the Slaves]<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d516&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929> If you'd like to *meet and mingle with the 2009 Freedom Award winners before * the ceremony, consider *buying a ticket* to the *Benefactors Reception* or becoming a *Benefactor Sponsor*. *Great company*. *Great food*. *Great seats *. *Supporting great work*. Can't wait? *www.freetheslaves.net/benefactor*<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d515&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>. *Need something to celebrate right this minute?* Check out last year's show - you can watch the trailer<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fvideo.google.com%2fvideoplay%3fdocid%3d4487749527044677836&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>or the entire show<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fvideo.google.com%2fvideoplay%3fdocid%3d513586888580116533&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>. Last year people had a *hard time believing* that the *Freedom Awards* would really be a *celebration*. After all - we are talking slavery. When we saw the entire audience, including *Archbishop Desmond Tutu* on their feet and *dancing in the aisles*...well... we were *ecstatic* because the entire audience was getting a chance to see what Free the Slaves staffers get to see every day. *We can end slavery*. *There is reason to celebrate*. And there are *heroes inspiring* us and *leading the way*. [image: Free the Slaves]<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d515&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929> * Freedom Awards October 13, 2009 Los Angeles, CA * ------------------------------ [image: Free the Slaves] Dinosaurs, Slaves and a Nine-Year-Old Artist Nine-year-old *Isaac McWhinnie* knows a lot about dinosaurs. He knows their names and how to draw them. He knows they are history, extinct, kaput. *Unlike slavery*. Isaac's mom *told him about modern-day slavery*. He was determined to *do his part* to *make it disappear*. "*I want kids who are now in slavery to be able to play with toys and be free to jump and run and have an education like me*." So...he *started selling his drawings* of dinosaurs on-line for *$5 each* (*view the drawings here*<http://www.freetheslaves.net//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fhomepage.mac.com%2fsomesweetday%2ffreetheslaves%2fPhotoAlbum43.html&srcid=5714&srctid=1&erid=119929>). Isaac *raised $400 to help end slavery, and he's not done yet*. Isaac is *determined to make slavery extinct*. Just like his favorite dinosaurs. ------------------------------ Remove my name from future mailings<http://www.freetheslaves.net//Page.aspx?pid=188&srctid=1&erid=119929> | Privacy Policy<http://www.freetheslaves.net//Page.aspx?pid=187&srctid=1&erid=119929> 1320 19th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 USA (202) 775-7480 [email protected] Content Copyright ©2009 Free the Slaves. 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