Benjamin Franklin once said, “Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.” Giving this right to the people who are suffering through new-age slavery is a noble, benevolent act to do. Slavery seems like something out of our history books, but it is a very real concept in our world. Many villages in India suffer from slavery especially, and Brittany O’Connor – a principal dancer for Andrea Bocelli’s world tour and philanthropist – works hard to eradicate it.
Being an artist, dancer, and teacher, Brittany is passionate about giving opportunities to people around her. Her young and aspiring dancers are mentored to fight for what they want and achieve all their goals. It was very hard for her when she found that opportunities and attaining goals are luxuries for some people. People who are forced to work under harsh conditions, without the freedom to choose, and are usually paid peanuts for their labor.
Surprisingly, slavery is still a massive part of our world. According to the Global Slavery Index, 50 million people were enslaved worldwide. India accounts for 8 million of these people or 20% of the worldwide modern slavery. This is the most significant percentage of slavery in one country. Modern slavery involves forced labor methods like bonded labor, child labor, forced marriages, human trafficking, forced begging, and sexual slavery.
Voices 4 Freedom is a not-for-profit organization that works for people who are stuck in these impossible situations. Knowing that Brittany could help people get out of slavery and give them opportunities to live better lives, she jumped on it and started crowdfunding. With this organization, they help villages in India and accommodate the residents with better-paying jobs, educational facilities for children, and a brighter future.
Villages like Majhrati, Sarawan, Bairath, and Kadumwa have been liberated and gained freedom by educating the children, tracking down trafficked people from other states, and various schools built in the vicinity. Brittany has gone to several villages as a representative of the organization and helps women and girls of the villages feel confident and empowered.
To learn more and donate to Voices 4 Freedom, click here.
