Senhoa
Imagine a life where your body becomes a product, your life has a price and your dignity is worth less than the few clothes you're forced to wear. This is the miserable existence of human trafficking.
Senhoa Foundation is a non profit organisation driven to protect people caught up in sex slavery, by raising awareness and money for survivors, whilst providing rehabilitation and empowerment away from abuse.
"Together with our partners, we combine our knowledge and experience to create holistic prevention, rehabilitation and advocacy programs that are also culturally sensitive and respectful" (Senhoa Foundation website)
By providing education and the means to create an income, since 2010, Senhoa Foundation have been teaching women in Cambodia how to make jewellery in aiming towards financial and personal independence. As a self confessed feminist (although one who quite fiercely detests the term and would much rather be considered an 'equalist' without the bra burning stigma), finding a charity who can provide women with liberation in both physicalities and mentalities, elates me greatly.
It was almost twelve months ago when photographer Neil Shearer approached me to work on a beauty shoot he was planning. He mentioned I would be modelling some interesting jewellery pieces but it wasn't until the date of the shoot did I realise quite what it was, that I'd be wearing. As Neil began to tell both myself and Abi Pulleyn (a highly recommended Manchester based makeup artist) about the Senhoa mission, I could feel my bones tingling with connected excitement.
Every glittering embellished piece that he pulled out of the box was so enticing; shining even more brightly having being touched so greatly with soul. Each handcrafted item was made by a woman who had survived human trafficking, rape and/or domestic violence in Cambodia. Each twinkle of every gem caught in the dazzling light, was a positive message that life, was now somewhat better for the person who created it.
Designed by none other than supermodel Coco Rocha and draped in jewels on set, I couldn't help thinking about the world I live in where my opportunities are so frivolously taken for granted. There I was in my comfortable clothes from the waist down, having just eaten my delicious dinner with a face made up to the nines by a talented MUA, to work in my job that I adored. How different my life was, from the world where the necklace I was wearing had come from. How different we both could have been, had we been born in opposite places.
Coco Rocha for Senhoa wearing the $995 'Rachany' necklace:
As each snapshot triggered the flash, I channeled my thoughts to the daily struggles that these people are facing as victims of such crippling abuse. Battles, that I can't even begin to comprehend, provide an illegal underground business with $32 billion per year, whilst 1.2 million children alone are sold specifically for the sex trade worldwide.
Allowing the thought of powerlessness to dominate me, I focused on thinking how lucky I am to be free. The poses flowed, connoting restriction in all senses of the word - by the limited space of the small frame (keeping limbs close bodied and in shot) and the story of the women we were representing. Bound by the chains of the jewels, I thank Senhoa for changing their lives.
Jewellery by Senhoa, photographer: Neil Shearer, retoucher: Paula Carvalho, MUA: Abi Pulleyn, model: me (Jen Brook):
www.senhoa.org
www.neilshearerphotography.com
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