Growing up in a small town in Midwest America, James Evans always knew he was different. He also knew that his family and hometown would never accept his authentic self if he ever found the courage to be open about his sexuality. In his final year of high school, Evans' worst fear came true. He was "outed" and his family rejected him. This sent him into a dangerous spiral that lead to being trafficked.

This month's featured anti-trafficking abolitionist is Bhumika Patel! After completing her Master's degree, she knew she wanted to enter a role in which she could somehow support others who were oppressed or marginalized. And she has done just that!

When regular media and news outlets cover stories that involve human trafficking, they typically share a story that sounds something like this: "An villain has kidnapped people and is holding them in his basement for sex. Someone tipped off the police, the SWAT team completed a sting operation, and rescued all of the victims! They're safe now. The End!" This story is horrifying, thought provoking, wrapped up in a nice little bow, and, unfortunately, far from the truth.

With a problem as pervasive as human trafficking, how can a single person make much of a difference? Follow our new series for practical tips for the individual anti-trafficking advocate!

Here at Timbelo, we love to share stories about people who were brave enough to leave their traffickers and of immediate-response organizations that help them. Stories that don't typically get as much attention, however, are ones that end before they even truly begin.

Ryan Berg was preparing for a work trip to India when he saw a disturbing story on a cable news program. Children were being rescued from human trafficking in a brothel in the very city he was about to visit. Ryan and his wife saw this glaring need and decided to fill it in specific and holistic ways.

Today, we would like to share some books written by survivors! Check out these books to hear about these survivors' experiences straight from them, and support them in their future.

This month's featured episode of the Ending Human Trafficking podcast is all about Ben Skinner and how he works to end labor trafficking!

It is often said that ending human trafficking is a "team effort" that requires many different gifts, talents, specialties, etc. In this story, Jacob, a young Destiny Rescue agent located in the Dominican Republic, utilized some creativity and even some acting skills to safely bring a young girl home to her family.

“My clients are the strongest people I’ve ever met,” she says. “It’s about being a resource for them, not at rescuer.”

12-year-old Barbara Amaya was a pretty normal little girl. After suffering abuse at the hands of her family, however, she became severely depressed and decided to run away from her abusers and her home.

People seem to think that those in trafficking are just waiting around for a rescuer. But that’s not exactly the case.

As we here at Timbelo learn more about anti-human trafficking work, two things become very apparent. Firstly, trafficking does not happen in a vacuum. Secondly, we continue to learn that just as many factors feed into human trafficking, solving this issue will require a diverse group of problem solvers.

Sometimes, the concern for others' safety is more motivating than our own safety. This was definitely the case for Ursel Hughes. Ursel was twenty years old when she became pregnant, and her pimp was the father.

Every human trafficking abolitionist has to begin their journey somewhere, and this month's featured advocate started in the United States Navy.