Mam Somaly--from a sex slave to a highly distinguised woman.

I have just come across a text in a local magazine talking about Mrs Mam Somaly and her work. Though it is not the first time I heard her name, very little have I known about her life. She has written an autobiography called "The Road of Lost Innocence" (which I want to read so much). She has also found an organization helping girls out of sex slave in Cambodia. Actually she used to be a victim herself.. She is such an incredible woman that I cant help sharing with you.

For further information, pls go to http//:www.somaly.org

Somaly Mam

Born in the Mondulkiri province of Cambodia, Somaly Mam began her life in poverty. Twelve years later, her "grandfather" sold her into slavery. She was forced to work in a brothel, where she faced torture and sexual abuse on a daily basis. Then one night, she watched a pimp murder her close friend, and she made it her mission to escape her enslavement. After Somaly broke free from her captors, she worked as a midwife at Choup District Hospital in Cambodia. A few years later, she traveled to France and found that her most rewarding experiences occurred when she devoted herself to social work. Haunted by her experiences and determined to make a difference, Somaly returned to Cambodia and established a non-governmental organization called “Agir Pour les Femmes en Situation Précaire (AFESIP),” translated in English: “Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances.” She became co-founder of AFESIP and president of AFESIP Cambodia in the capital city of Phnom Penh.

Somaly is now one of the most prolific activists fighting sexual slavery. She has been the recipient of several awards, including the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year for 2006, CNN Hero, and recognition from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She lives in Cambodia where she continues to risk her life to rescue the victims of sexual slavery and help them realize free and fulfilling lives.

The Somaly Mam Foundation

The Somaly Mam Foundation combats the illegal trade by funding organizations that rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate these young girls. All organizations funded by the Somaly Mam Foundation are audited operationally and financially – AFESIP Cambodia is currently the primary beneficiary. The Foundation’s mission includes raising awareness through a multi-level marketing and educational campaign consisting of online interaction, celebrity voices, high-profile events, media exposure, university clubs, and a central source of educational information. The foundation’s ambitious vision of ending sexual slavery requires the support of an active community. The foundation is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization