Agape International Missions

Agape International Missions (AIM) is a nonprofit, non-denominational, non-governmental organization working to rescue, heal and empower survivors of sex trafficking in Cambodia.[1][2][3][4] It has staff in California and Southeast Asia and carries out housing, education, health, employment, rehabilitation, and community care initiatives in Cambodia.[5] The AIM Apparel is a retail site that sells jewelry and other products made by survivors and supports the organization's initiatives.[6] AIM received GuideStar USA, Inc.'s gold seal of transparency in 2019.[7] Charity Navigator gave AIM the highest rating of 4 out of 4 stars and a score of 100 out of 100 for accountability & transparency.[8]

Agape International Missions
AbbreviationAIM
Formation1989 (US), 2006 (Cambodia)
TypeNPO, NGO
PurposeRelentlessly rescue, heal and empower survivors of sex trafficking in Cambodia
HeadquartersRoseville, California
Location
Region served
Southeast Asia
CEO
Don and Bridget Brewster
Board Chair
Ken Petersen
Affiliations3Strands
Websiteaimfree.org

AIM has a SWAT team, authorized by the Cambodian government, that conducts investigations, raids brothels and indirect sex establishments (i.e. beer gardens, massage parlours, salons, karaoke bars, retail spaces, and non-commercial sites), rescues sex trafficked victims, and arrests perpetrators alongside Cambodian law enforcement.[9][10][11] AIM also rescues girls and women sex trafficked to China.[12]

Rescued victims are provided with support, education, employment opportunities, and more so they are well taken care of, heal from physical and psychological trauma, and do not end up in child prostitution again.[13]

AIM was founded by Bridget and Don Brewster, a former pastor of Adventure Christian Church,[14] in California in 1989 and began operations in Cambodia in 2006. The organization opened its first shelter and restoration center for former child sex slaves in the village of Svay Pak, Cambodia.[15][16][17][18][19]

In 2022, it was reported that AIM has assisted the Cambodian government in its controversial crack-down on surrogacy in Cambodia.[20] In 2016, the Cambodian government banned commercial surrogacy, which was a thriving industry in the country. The ban was prompted by the organization's concerns that women were exploited by being surrogates.[21][22][23]

References
  1. "Don and Bridget Brewster of Agape International Missions on combating Cambodia's child sex traffickers". South China Morning Post. July 1, 2014.
  2. "Trafficking fight honoured". Khmer Times. December 5, 2017.
  3. "Cambodia's Child Sex Industry Is Dwindling—And They Have Christians to Thank". CT. May 19, 2017.
  4. "The Issue". Agape International Missions. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  5. "The World's Biggest Trafficking Problem Remains in the Background". CT. May 19, 2017.
  6. "Agape International Missions Store". The AIM Shop. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  7. "AIM". GuideStar. 2019.
  8. "Agape International Missions". Charity Navigator.
  9. "Non-profit group, which helps sex-trafficking victims, seeks tie-ups with ethical business partners in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. April 21, 2019.
  10. "Reporter's notebook: Covering brothel raids and Christian missionaries rescuing girls in Cambodia". ABC News. March 13, 2017.
  11. "Our Fight". Agape International Missions. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  12. "Non-profit group, which helps sex-trafficking victims, seeks tie-ups with ethical business partners in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. April 21, 2019.
  13. "Inside the world of Cambodia's child sex trade, as told through the eyes of a survivor". ABC News. March 8, 2017.
  14. Jennifer K. Morita (August 7, 2008). "Girls turn camera on world: Teacher aids victims of child sex trade". The Sacramento Bee: G7.
  15. "Don and Bridget Brewster of Agape International Missions on combating Cambodia's child sex traffickers". South China Morning Post. July 1, 2014.
  16. Magagnini, Stephen (16 August 2010). "A PLACE OF SAFETY Granite Bay missionaries bring message of hope for a better life to victims of child sex trade in Cambodia (profile)". The Sacramento Bee.
  17. Locke, Cathy (21 August 2011). "Granite Bay event to focus on efforts to combat sex trafficking". McClatchy - Tribune Business News.
  18. Bramhan, Daphne (26 March 2012). "Svay Pak's glimmers of hope; Vancouver-based Ratanak International and others work to rebuild a community". Vancouver Sun.
  19. Sara Sidner (October 24, 2011). "Cambodian village has disturbing reputation for child sex slavery". CNN. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  20. Beech, Hannah; Cohen, Nadia Shira (2022-11-26). "They Were Surrogates. Now They Must Raise the Children". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  21. "Cambodia releases surrogate mothers who agree to keep children". BBC News. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  22. "Paid to carry a stranger's baby - then forced to raise it". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  23. Handley, Erin; Meta, Kong (2018-10-02). "'I will not give them the baby': the plight of Cambodia's detained surrogates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
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