By None, Anna DonesonBy Erin Frost
The Courier
Fri May 23, 2008
Lincoln, Ill. -
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary freshman Anna Doneson is on a mission. And that mission will take her to Cambodia within the month.
Doneson is involved with Rapha House, an organization that creates safe houses for girls involved in sex trafficking.
“We get girls from their parents, buy them from pimps, get them from brothels,” Doneson said. “We teach them life skills and we get them a job. We give them a new life and a new hope and everything.”
Doneson is currently working with several local organizations to raise money for the project.
She has hosted several fundraisers over the past month, including one Monday at Culver’s that she said had a very good turnout. Her final shot at raising money will be May 31 at Zamrazil Hair Studio, where a donation will get clients a free haircut.
“This is a fundraiser to help me get over there, and the rest will go to the girls,” she said.
Doneson plans to be in Cambodia from June 8 to June 23.
“The goal is to take a group of students over there to get a taste of what it’s like,” she said.
While in Cambodia, Doneson will be working to make Rapha House bigger and better as well as to extend its mission.
Rapha House is an organization “committed to rescuing young girls who are victims of slavery and prostitution and providing them with a safe home where they can heal and receive an education,” according to the organization’s Web site. “Rapha” is the Hebrew word for “healing.”
Its parent organization, American Rehabilitation Ministries, recently received official Non-Government Organization status from the Kingdom of Cambodia, meaning they were given the freedom to build a house in Cambodia for their rescued girls.
Rapha House had operated without government recognition since 2001.
Rapha’s girls currently live in a rented house with a Cambodian staff consisting of around-the-clock dorm mothers and security guards.
“Some of the girls who will be coming to Rapha House have experienced extreme verbal abuse,” said ARM President Joe Garman.
“The majority of them are younger than 18 and lack proper hygiene. They will suffer from an array of mental disorders, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, fear of being kidnapped again, low self-esteem, rebellious and suicidal tendencies, sexually transmitted diseases, skepticism and suspicion.
“Treating their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs will be a lengthy process and monumental task; but rescuing, rehabilitating, and redeeming these victims of prostitution is the work of God.”
People can find out more about Rapha House by visiting www.arm.org and clicking on the link for Rapha House on the left.
The Courier
Fri May 23, 2008
Lincoln, Ill. -
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary freshman Anna Doneson is on a mission. And that mission will take her to Cambodia within the month.
Doneson is involved with Rapha House, an organization that creates safe houses for girls involved in sex trafficking.
“We get girls from their parents, buy them from pimps, get them from brothels,” Doneson said. “We teach them life skills and we get them a job. We give them a new life and a new hope and everything.”
Doneson is currently working with several local organizations to raise money for the project.
She has hosted several fundraisers over the past month, including one Monday at Culver’s that she said had a very good turnout. Her final shot at raising money will be May 31 at Zamrazil Hair Studio, where a donation will get clients a free haircut.
“This is a fundraiser to help me get over there, and the rest will go to the girls,” she said.
Doneson plans to be in Cambodia from June 8 to June 23.
“The goal is to take a group of students over there to get a taste of what it’s like,” she said.
While in Cambodia, Doneson will be working to make Rapha House bigger and better as well as to extend its mission.
Rapha House is an organization “committed to rescuing young girls who are victims of slavery and prostitution and providing them with a safe home where they can heal and receive an education,” according to the organization’s Web site. “Rapha” is the Hebrew word for “healing.”
Its parent organization, American Rehabilitation Ministries, recently received official Non-Government Organization status from the Kingdom of Cambodia, meaning they were given the freedom to build a house in Cambodia for their rescued girls.
Rapha House had operated without government recognition since 2001.
Rapha’s girls currently live in a rented house with a Cambodian staff consisting of around-the-clock dorm mothers and security guards.
“Some of the girls who will be coming to Rapha House have experienced extreme verbal abuse,” said ARM President Joe Garman.
“The majority of them are younger than 18 and lack proper hygiene. They will suffer from an array of mental disorders, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, fear of being kidnapped again, low self-esteem, rebellious and suicidal tendencies, sexually transmitted diseases, skepticism and suspicion.
“Treating their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs will be a lengthy process and monumental task; but rescuing, rehabilitating, and redeeming these victims of prostitution is the work of God.”
People can find out more about Rapha House by visiting www.arm.org and clicking on the link for Rapha House on the left.
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