SEW FREE
Sewing Freedom into the lives of women in need of opportunity
Sew Free is designed to educate and empower rescued women by providing an education in textile arts. Equipping women with vocational knowledge, financial training, and personal development will give them an opportunity to support their families in a dignified way.
Our full spectrum, faith-based, educational sewing program will give them an escape from exploitation, the chance to succeed, and focus forward on their future.
MISSION
Do ordinary things with extraordinary love. ~Mother Teresa
Knitted together to create more options for those stitched into the cloth of injustice. We must give those once enslaved the opportunity to be sew free.
Through our textile program we equip students not just for their career, but for their life. They receive education, training, and support in the following areas:
• Sewing, Crochet, Knitting, Needlepoint, Macrame, and Weaving
• Personal and Professional Financial Budgeting
• Knowledge in Hygiene and Personal Development
• Art Mentoring and Empowerment
• Daily Devotion and Discipleship
• Faith Based Counseling and Mentorship
VISION
Vision without action is merely a dream. ~Joel Barker
As a response to the Covid 19 global pandemic, thousands of women in the red light districts of Pattaya have been displaced leaving them on the streets with no way to provide. As a result of their impoverished upbringing, the only way they were able to make an income to support their families was to sell themselves for sex. Because of the recent lockdown of the brothels, they have been left without a way to feed their children. Thanks to a brilliant idea, we started a pop-up knitting shop for these women to earn income. They are receiving an education in textile arts, learning English, and having spiritual mentoring. With your purchase, you are giving rescued and displaced women the opportunity to be free and never again have to be exploited to care for their families. They are now being provided with ethical work in a safe environment in complete freedom.
SEWING FREEDOM
Freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~Elbert Hubbard
Sew Free was knit together during a global epidemic to create more options for those stitched into the cloth of injustice. For many, life seamed hopeless, being displaced on the streets of Pattaya forced to choose between the reality of the virus or selling themselves for survival. We could not let this be their only option. We knew that it was vital to weave hope and truth within those whose lives have been cut from the unfair fabric of this fallen world. During a season that normally would be seen as the worst timing, we took the chance to tailor a new business while everything around us was unraveling. We took the opportunity to gather those who deserve a chance at a better tomorrow. We are having them create fair trade products that allow you to wear your heart for freedom on your sleeve while they knit a just living. Our purpose is to give those once enslaved the option to be sew free!
STATISTICS
You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know. ~William Wilberforce
We have seen men, women, and children exploited from the ages of 1-70. It is our aim to bring awareness and change to this region as 70% of the world’s trafficked victims reside in Asia. These stats highlight the issues of human trafficking in Thailand, the location of our program.
Thailand is the hub of global sex trafficking - UN
8,000,000 tourists travel to Pattaya every year to purchase sex. - Pattaya News
Thailand is home to some of the largest numbers of human trafficking victims in the world. - Global Citizen
In 2019, the number of human trafficking victims rescued in Thailand hit a record high. - Bangkok Post
Thailand is home to roughly 4.9 million migrants from neighboring developing countries, the majority of which end up in sexual or labor exploitation. - The Guardian
Trafficking in Thailand is a $12 billion industry. - Borden Project
As many children are forced to stay at home due to Covid 19, domestic violence within the family is increasing and children are at higher risk of online sexual exploitation. - ECPAT
Learn more about our fight for freedom through our educational project Injustice Response Training.
PARTNER
Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime. ~Chinese Proverb
From our short term to our long term volunteers, our international educators have a lasting impact on our students. Teaching hands on with our students, creating our curriculum, and mentoring are just a few things that our educational team gets to do at Sew Free in Thailand.
TEXTILE EDUCATOR
Train our students in sewing, crochet, knitting, needlepoint and macrame.
ENGLISH TEACHER
Teach our students basic and intermediate English language skills including grammar and vocabulary.
MENTOR/COUNSEL
Lead and guide our students through the trauma and abuse of their past.
SOCIAL WORK
Reach those still exploited through the sex industry and give them the opportunity for freedom.
Volunteer FAQ
For all of the questions you might have before you apply.
AMBASSADOR
Work for a cause, not for applause. ~Unknown
We are excited you are interested to be an Ambassador for Sew Free!
As an ambassador, you will represent our sweet ladies who have been rescued from sexual exploitation. They have seen darkness that most will never experience. Now, they are free from all that enslaved them and work in a safe and loving environment where they receive education, counsel, personal development, and spiritual mentorship.
Upon being selected for this role, you will be a part of a fair trade social enterprise. You will be representing our ladies and the trade they now get to choose. You will be a part of selling, marketing, and promoting the products they create. The more products you sell, the more women we can employ. The more women we employ, the more freedom we will see. The more freedom we see, the closer we get to eradicating human trafficking in our lifetime.
GIVE
It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. ~Mother Teresa
SPONSOR A STUDENT
Partner with one of our students in their courageous step toward a new life by sponsoring their education. Join our students in their pursuit of new life. When you give $25 monthly, it will help provide a student with all the classroom supplies they need to succeed.
GIVE THE GIFT OF FREEDOM
Bring freedom to those women still forced to work in the red light district to provide for their families. Our goal is to provide options and opportunity to women who have none. Through our outreach and vocational program we are able to give the gift of freedom to so many in need.
SHOP
Clothes won’t change the world, the women who wear them will. ~Anne Klein
ETHICAL SHOPPING
Every time you shop, your dollars cast a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. There is a reason discount clothing costs so little. If you’re not paying for it, then someone somewhere is. It is vital to be informed about the products you purchase for the safety of those in the garment industry.
We want to encourage you to do your research, learn, and then patron businesses that follow the guidelines of ethical practices. Support companies that follow these procedures, which do not harm people or the environment, nor exploit workers or children.
When you shop on our site, the cost of each item includes the cost of the material, packaging, shipping, and a fair living wage for the women who created it. Our ladies are provided with a salary that allows them to care for their families, receive medical treatment, and live in a safe environment away from those who once exploited them.
Your dollars make a difference and your choices create change.
CONNECT
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