More about Bloom

The heart of Bloom

At the heart of Bloom is a desire to empower women who are at risk of, or have been victims of, the tragedy that is human trafficking. The buying and selling of human lives, particularly for the purpose of sexual exploitation, has become the second largest source of income for organised crime in the world today, and it is estimated that by 2010 it will become the number one crime worldwide. While the number of lives bought and sold can to some extent be quantified, the damage, suffering and loss of dignity this causes is unmeasurable.

Bloom works directly with young women who have been sold or tricked into sexual slavery in Phnom Penh, Cambodia – an area notorious for its trafficking of underage girls. Working in partnership with after-care shelters that rescue and house victims of trafficking, Bloom offers vocational training to enable them to secure gainful employment in the workforce. Without an alternative source of income by the time they leave their shelters, up to 90% of these girls can be re-trafficked within months. We aim to break that cycle.

Bloom also assists in the prevention of trafficking by working with organisations that aim to educate and assist at-risk communities. Girls from such communities are given the opportunity to learn new vocational skills at Bloom Training Centre and gain employment that effectively prevents them from being trafficked.

By focusing on skills in industries where employment is viable, Bloom aims to enable these valuable young women to discover their identities, find their place in the world, and make an income to support their new lives – empowering them while restoring their dignity and value.

Find out how you can help the cause.

Our beliefs

Bloom is supported by Gateway Baptist Church in Brisbane, Australia. We are a Christian ministry whose doors are open to anyone in need of help. Women at risk and victims of trafficking from any religion and all backgrounds are welcome to participate in our courses without prejudice, and are never pressured into accepting our beliefs as their own.

Find out more about Gateway

Our objectives

Provide a training facility that is safe and focused on meeting the specific needs of trafficked women
Empower students by teaching skills that lead to viable employment
Work alongside existing aftercare shelters that currently provide accommodation and recovery programs for rescued girls, meeting their needs holistically and meaningfully
Ensure that training leads to sustainable long term employment for graduates either in external job placements or internal business programs.

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