UGA Students Host Benefit to Help Victims of Sex Slavery

By: CARRIE CHAPPELL For The Red & Black

Posted: 4/18/08

Around 100 people came out Thursday to support victims of sex slavery at a benefit held by University students.

A team of six students from Creative Consultants, a student-run firm through the University's chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America, has been working with client Women to the World, Inc. since last September.

"[Women to the World] is an organization designed to meet the needs of the victims and to promote sex slavery intervention," said Marah Lidey, a freshman from Savannah and a member of Creative Consultants.

The organization, along with the University group, has been focusing its efforts on raising both funds and awareness about the issue as it exists in the country of Burkina Faso, Africa.

"Most Burkinabe women are trafficked to Europe for prostitution," said Lidey in a speech given by the student hosts. "Boys are enslaved as forced laborers, and girls are exploited as domestic servants, beggars and prostitutes."

The event was held in Mahler Auditorium of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. Speakers included Doris Aldrich, the founder and president of Women to the World, Miss UGA Liza Pitts and Sidi Mahamadi, a man who began a school for victims in Burkina Faso.

Proceeds from the benefit will help fund the school. Both Women to the World and Mahamadi believe education is important in preventing sex slavery and in helping those who have been victimized.

"They are trying to help me by sending computers for me," said Mahamadi. "Anything that can be useful for the school they send to me because I have 145 students, 85 girls and 60 boys."

About 1.8 million children are being abused through prostitution, pornography and sex tourism at any given moment, according to Kelli Hammock, a junior from Savannah and Assistant Account Director for the project.

Dance groups such as the Georgia Dymes and Bulldawg da Raaj performed along with Gallier, a local band.

The audience clapped along as the band played. "We're extremely extremely honored to play at such a benefit," said singer Mark Milby during the performance. "That last song was appropriately about hope."

A raffle was held, and prizes and gift certificates worth more than $1,000 were given away.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with this," said Pat Parks, a Clemson graduate who won a football autographed by Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.

"But the night has really been a success," Parks, who serves on the Board of Directors for Women to the World, said. "It was beyond our wildest dreams."

"I was aware of this issue but not nearly to the extent to which I am now," said Milby. "I think that goes for all of us in the band. This has been great."

"We change the world through small miracles," said Pitts in her speech. "I think that each one of you here tonight is a small miracle, and I think that each dollar raised tonight is a small miracle."