Global Relief Association for Crises & Emergencies

Traveling around the world revealed the great injustice of human trafficking and exploitation of children which plagues every country of our world. Our passion to provide hope and prevent the children from a lifetime of trauma led my husband, Jon, and me to begin an organization. We founded Global Relief Association for Crises in Emergencies, Inc. (GRACE) to foster social change through strengthening families and eradicating the vulnerabilities of human trafficking and exploitation. 

The work expands beyond Georgia into Southeast Asia's Thailand and Bangladesh cultures. GRACE has expanded organically through increasing awareness, obtaining creditable localized research data, preventing, rescuing and recovering victims. In Thailand, one of seven school-aged children work with most never attending school or only attending for three to five years; Bangladesh has similar statistics. We developed a strategic plan to provide educational, nutritional and wellness support through family resource centers addresses the vulnerabilities of poverty and illiteracy. 

Educational services including scholarships for school, homework assistance, tutoring, English language skills, computer skills, and more provide children of multi-generational illiteracy opportunities to advance in formal after school and day camp settings. Parents, guardians and extended family members receive adult enrichment classes including financial management, parenting skills, internet safety skills, human trafficking awareness and safety measures, marriage enrichment, health and wellness, and more. 

Nutritional support provides meals at the family resource centers during day camp and after school programs. Additionally, families receive allotments of rice, cooking oil, and basic cooking sauces.

Wellness and health services include on-site basic first aid and preventive care, reimbursement of medications and clinic visits, hospitalization stipends, vision care and corrective eye wear, dental care supplies and personal hygiene supplies. Clothing and shoes are provided.

The program has proven effective in many ways. Children who were educationally delayed are scoring in the top of their classes on the end of the year standardized tests. In less than three years, one child obtained the highest score in his school, five scored the highest in their classes with an average size of forty students, and all children scored in the top 25th percentile. Seventy children received free vision screenings with twenty receiving optical testing; of these, twelve children received vision eyeglasses and two received patches to correct alignment. Families are healthier with better nutrition and funding for basic medical care and hospitalizations. Parents are better employees with increased dependability as children are shuttled directly from public school to the centers by the GRACE staff. Some have gained promotions and increased pay at their jobs. Some have been employed by GRACE to staff the family resource centers. Most have moved from slum conditions to a studio apartment, or from a studio apartment to a two bedroom apartment/home. Children and families are gaining confidence and hope. 

Children have been rescued from sex trafficking, forced marriage and sexual abuse. Single moms have been afforded the opportunity to transition out of the sex industry into another field of labor. A mother received guidance in not repeating the sell of an infant through the black market in SE Asia. 

Based in Millen, Georgia, GRACE is funded completely through the generous donations of individuals, clubs, church groups, and corporations. We have a very small group of paid staff and lots of volunteers with plans to expand services in Georgia USA and southeast Asia. 

Written by: Angie King Sullivan, Cofounder

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.globalreliefassociation.com.

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