Welcome to my campaign for Just.if.i  Thailand 2013! 

My name is Danielle Novack and I am 20 years old. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA where I a ttended Yeshiva University of Los Angeles High School and presently I am a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania. This summer I had the opportunity to participate in a Jewish social activism and leadership-training program in Thailand, Justifi. Justifi focuses on the prevention of a core problem faci ng Southeast Asia and the world: human trafficking. The trip’s main goal is rooted in tikkun olam, repairing the world, and I hope that I can help try to make the world a little bit better by helping alleviate the problems and suffering of others.

Thailand is a first world countr y faced with third world problems such as extreme poverty.  Poverty leads to vulnerability, and places children at risk for human trafficking. Parents often have no other choice but to sell their child into the industry because the other option would be starvation. Trafficking is a lucrative industry, repr esenting an estimated $32 billion per year in international trade and affecting the lives of approximately 27 million people, and Thai children and adolescents are the main resource of trafficking. After hearing unimaginable stories of the young girls and children in Thailand, I feel that this cannot conti nue.

I am asking you to donate to the outstanding organizations I had the privilege to work with during my time in Thailand. 100% of the money will go to the organizations’ efforts to help rescue children and to eradicate child slavery and prostitution.  Any amount you can donate will be greatly appreciated, but more importantly it can help save a child and their family from an unimaginable life.

I greatly appreciate your help and thank you for your interest.

Best,

Danielle