My husband and I live in Chiang Rai and have been supporters of The SOLD Project since their beginning. We have been deeply impressed with the integrity, intelligence and dedication of the SOLD Project's founders and staff. They not only raise money to keep at risk children in school, they involve the parents and families, teaching them how to manage donated funds for the childrens' education. They provide after school educational activities in a safe environment. They care deeply about each child and we have seen them go to great lengths to help at risk children. One of the children that has been supported by the SOLD Project since their beginning, now lives with us and has shared her experiences with us. She is very focused on her education, and has described how her life has evolved with the support and guidance of the SOLD Project. The SOLD Project's only agenda is to keep children safe and to support their education as a means to a stable and productive life. We greatly admire the work they are doing and can see that they are truly making a difference in the lives of many children.
The SOLD Project is a much needed effort to prevent child trafficking and to raise the education and confidence level of kids in Southeast Asia and beyond. I respect their system of work a lot and am still learning from it. Whether it is a big or little impact in a child's life, SOLD is there trying and most often succeeding in making a positive difference in the lives of precious children. I hope its reputation grows and is copied and imitated by many others.
The SOLD Project is doing amazing, needed work in education to prevent children from being trafficked in Thailand. I recently visited their Resource Center in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and was quite impressed by the staff, the facility, and the work ethic and values of everyone at SOLD. They definitely stand out as one of the best anti-human trafficking organizations out there!
The Sold Project raises funds to keep girls in Thailand out of prostitution. They find the most at-risk children and they supply them with the money they need to stay in school. They're a straight-forward and honest group of people at Sold, and I'm happy to give my time volunteering with them! Rachel Goble is a smart, articulate leader, who more importantly loves children and wants to give them a chance to grow up educated and have the freedom to make an honest living instead of being sold for sex.
I support The SOLD Project 100%. I have sponsored a student in their program since 2009 and have witnessed the incredible work they do firsthand, both in my travels and later as a volunteer. When I first encountered SOLD in early 2009 I was immediately impressed by their focus on the prevention of child exploitation through education; almost no one else was doing that at the time. The fact that their entire prevention model was developed by locals and continues to be run by truly wonderful, dedicated people from among the Thai and hill tribe communities that they serve gives them immense credibility, and they've seen remarkable success. Through educational scholarships, mentors, trafficking awareness programs, and a truly robust Resource Center in the village, they've brought the school drop-out rate down from more than 50 percent to now less than 5 percent in the community. That's in less than five years. And now there are girls graduating from high school and pursuing university degrees. All of this was unheard of for this region before The SOLD Project came along. They're a relatively small organization, but they're making an incredible difference. And they only continue to grow. I can't wait to see where they go next.
The SOLD Project is an incredible organization run by amazing, genuine people that are truly working to make a difference in the world. Their passion in every aspect of the organization shines. My experience volunteering with SOLD has been life changing. I began volunteering in 2009 when I screened the documentary to my university. They provided me with the resources and support to plan the event and speak about the issue of child exploitation in Thailand. Shortly after I graduated, I volunteered in the California office, helping with events, fundraising, and other tasks. During this time, I was offered the opportunity to travel to Thailand with other SOLD Project supporters to see our work first-hand and learn more about the issue. It was this trip that influenced my decision to pursue a master’s degree to continue working to fight human trafficking. After my postgraduate studies, I returned to Thailand to continue volunteer work with The SOLD Project. During the past 7 months, I have been on the ground hosting volunteers and interns and helping others use their talents and gifts to make an impact in prevention of child prostitution.
Volunteering with The SOLD Project has been a truly incredible experience. Being given the opportunity to volunteer in both the US and Thailand is something I would have never dreamed, but has changed my life forever. The SOLD Project invests in their volunteers and empowers individuals to get involved however they feel they can contribute. Aside from your specific volunteer tasks, the SOLD team helps you grow into your strengths. It is one of the most encouraging organizations I have ever been a part of and am so thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with them.
My experience with The SOLD Project was one of the best of my life. I lived in Thailand for 9 months working in development of the volunteer program and as the ESL teacher. The main aspect which makesSOLD such an incredible experience was seeing the direct, postive and legitmately life changing opportunities it provides for the children. I think of one of my students named Cat; when SOLD first arrived in Thailand Cat had been recently orphaned (her mother a former sex worker in Bangkok) and her sister did not have the financial means to provide for Cat and her future was grim. SOLD stepped in and, now a few years later, Cat is one of the brightest students I taught and a natural leader among her peers. A university in Chiang Rai recently offered Cat a scholarship to come and study English there on the weekends. Without SOLD providing a chance for Cat, I shudder to think what could have happened to her. SOLD goes above and beyond to work to think of opportunties and programs to offer to these children.
An incredible organization, doing good work, putting all of their resources to work in the right way. Had the opportunity to visit Thailand with them last year and was very impressed. Can't say enough good about the work being done.
Through a friend of a friend, I discovered The SOLD Project. I visited their work with at-risk youth in Thailand and fell in love with the the mission. The SOLD Project provides responsible, intelligent and practical solutions to solve a real and dire problem. I gladly give of my personal time and finances to The SOLD Project.
I can't speak highly enough of the work of The Sold Project. I was privileged to spend ten days in Thailand with the Sold team, seeing first hand the ground breaking work they are pioneering in the field of prevention of child prostitution. I believe the programs and model Sold are developing could be replicated throughout Asia and in other parts of the world, educating and supporting communities where a high percentage of children are at risk of being trafficked or coerced into child prostitution as a result of poverty, lack of education and support. Since returning to Australia, it has been an honor to use my platform as a communicator to be an advocate for Sold and to financially support the work their team are doing.
Adrian
Melbourne, Australia
As a previous Board Member for two years for SOLD, I learned how heart and action can create change in not only my life, but the lives of close to one hundred at-risk children in Northern Thailand. Though I have yet to travel to Thailand to see the work with my own eyes, I look forward expectantly to the day that I will get to see and play with the children that have captured my heart. In looking at the Leadership within SOLD, I would describe the team as motivated, passionate, ceaseless, and organized. They address the tender issue of child prostitution with hope and prevention through education.
The SOLD Project has embarked on a mission that most overlook--the issue of prevention and awareness. Without any previous knowledge of sex-trafficking, it was through the SOLD Project's exposure trip that I was able to learn first-hand the issue of sex-trafficking and how critical the prevention piece is to part of the solution. The trip was remarkably organized with daily presentations and visits to local organizations also working first-hand on the issue of after-care and support.
The opportunity to visit the SOLD Project's Resource Center was truly impressive and offered a peak into what realistic and sustainable solutions look like. The community that has been created around education, support, opportunity is remarkable and visible.
I feel so fortunate to have been able to be exposed to the work that is being done by the SOLD Project. They have inspired me and many others.
The SOLD Project is an inspiration to families and children in both Thailand and the United States. As a volunteer, I have had to opportunity to travel to Thailand and work alongside SOLD and am continually impressed with their efforts. Within a year, SOLD established a mentorship and after school center for the children as a safe place to hang out and learn English. The staff learned Thai to better communicate with the children, and did a great job of loving on the children and acting as mentors. Many lives have been brightened by SOLD through their scholarship program, and many others, such as mine, have been challenged to continue to support SOLD as they passionately work towards providing education and preventing child prostitution.
