Are you an abolitionist with an artistic streak? If so, you'll want to check out The Blind Project's new "Be a Biographer" design contest, which will benefit former victims of the sex-trafficking trade in Southeast Asia in more ways than one.
The Blind Project (TBP) was founded by three Americans on a mission to raise awareness about human trafficking and help the sex tourism industry's victims in a concrete, meaningful way. Wanting to understand the reality of modern-day slavery, Anthony Dodero, Liem Nguyen, and Chad Riley had traveled to Thailand and Cambodia and saw, up close and personal, the horrors of brothel life. "There was a presence of evil - kind of indescribable," one relates. "When customers arrived at the brothel, owners and pimps would wake the children and they would come out wearing PJ's ... It becomes more tangible when you see it."
Returning stateside, the guys formed their non-profit, volunteer-run organization, based on the premise that "In order to fix a problem, people must be able to see it." TBP is affiliated with several aftercare organizations in Southeast Asia, as well as NightLight, which works to rescue and recover women from sexual exploitation. And to help fund those programs, as well as provide the women with practical employment, TBP has also partnered with Hagar International, a restoration center in Cambodia that operates a garment factory. Here, former victims of sexual slavery learn, work, and earn a fair wage creating fashionable clothing lines — including TBP's own label, Biographe.
And now, you can help decide what images will be used on Biographe's apparel. TBP wants all artists who are passionate about fighting sexual exploitation to read the three stories they have posted on their contest site and "Be a Biographer" for survivors Kyi, Em, or Jia Li. Let their words inspire the image you create and submit your designs, using a maximum of four colors, by Sept. 15, 2010.
Public voting won't begin until Sept. 16, but the entries submitted so far are pretty rad — as is the final judging team, which includes Somaly Mam and 90210 actress AnnaLynne McCord. This contest is a great example of how to use your talents to support and promote a cause you care about. If you're an artist, help the world "see" sex-trafficking victims a little better through your designs. And if you're not so creatively-minded, but love fair-trade products, fashionable clothes, and social entrepreneurship, keep up with the contest, cast a vote in September, and place an order after the winners are announced!
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