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Introducing Eden Ministry Jewellery - Restoring freedom for all held captive in the darkness of Asia's red light districts.
From this month we will be selling jewellery designed and created by Eden Ministires. While we share a name, their missionary work is not associated with Eden.co.uk but we are delighted to support what they do through sales of the jewellery. Each piece is inspired by a scripture, often focussing on justice, mercy and compassion. You can see the full range here. Today the founder answers some questions about their work, mission and the jewellery.
Q. How did Eden Ministry start?
A. Eden began in a very simple way: two housewives with only one evening a week to spare had a desire to do something about human trafficking in their city. They began to prayer-walk around the red light areas and build relationships with all those involved in the sex industry. Twelve years later, we have created multiple shelters in major trafficking hubs in Asia, established an international jewellery business and witnessed thousands of people from the sex industry be impacted with God’s love.
Q. What’s the vision that drives your work?
A. Our vision is that all nations are free from sexual slavery.
Q. That’s a big vision, how do you go about realising it?
A. Our mission, on one level, is simple and it’s to extend God’s love to people in sexual slavery.
Q. You use three words to describe what you aim to do - reach, rescue and restore. Can you explain more?
A. We reach entire red-light districts and those trafficked for sexual exploitation through innovative prevention, outreach, and advocacy strategies – transforming entire communities.
We rescue the sexually exploited, and provide a safe and dignified environment for them to live and work.
Following the example of Jesus Christ, we journey with them out of trauma to restore dignity and hope for their future. We care for the whole person: their physical, emotional, spiritual, economic, and social well-being.
Q. The people that you reach, rescue and restore need practical help, don’t they?
A Yes, we foster independence by providing stable employment and tailored vocational skills training in our international jewellery social enterprise, empowering them to be make a positive impact in their families and community.
Q. So, you give them a job?
A Each woman that joins Eden will receive employment and on-the-job training in jewellery-making and design in one of our sites.
Q. Do they all stay with Eden?
We encourage our women to pursue their dreams. We invest in their lives through the provision of classes so that they can grow and excel in reaching for their goals. We equip them for the future whether they decide to stay at one of the Eden sites or decide to pursue other opportunities outside of Eden.
Q. I imagine that some of those that you rescue have had a difficult time?
A Yes, most importantly, we care for each woman that comes to Eden. The women may be dealing with health issues (such as HIV/AIDS and STDs), and may bear scars from abuse and trauma. Eden fosters a compassionate environment where each employee’s needs are assessed and supported. We also provide them with medical assistance and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based counselling as well as a safe place to live where they can receive holistic restoration and healing of mind, body and spirit.
Q. How do you afford all this?
A. Well, the jewellery that we make is sold and the profits pay for salaries, services, shelter and other programmes with the aim that more of the women that leave the red light districts can be provided with the opportunity to gain training and employment.
Q. We’ve noticed that a quote that appears on some of your jewellery is Speak Up. Why “Speak Up?”
A. We are committed to calling the nations to speak up until all are free from sexual slavery. We need as many people as possible to raise their voices so that those who have influence and resources are doing as much as they can to fight against the sex industry and trafficking.
