The overall organization, which I like to think of as an umbrella, is called Remember Nhu. This is how it is promoted in the States and other Western, developed countries to raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking and to raise money.
In the actual countries, however, there are multiple homes which are not referred to as "Remember Nhu" homes. They are each named Help Cambodia, Help Thailand, etc. (based on the country.) For instance, if you were to talk to a house mother in one of the houses and mention Remember Nhu, she wouldn't know what you're talking about. So, I picture these homes as smaller spheres underneath the umbrella. Each home has it's own personality, it's own sustainability, it's own girls (they don't typically switch girls), it's own house mothers and fathers. I'm not even sure if the girls are aware of other homes like theirs, honestly. But each home is created, funded, and maintained by RNhu.
Sorry, a little sidetracked. So, the name...
Nhu is the name of a girl who Carl and Laura (the founders of RNhu) met in Phnom Penh. Missionaries (Friends of Carl and Laurie's) had led Nhu to belief in Jesus Christ and noticed that Nhu had gone missing (she had been sold by her grandmother as a result of becoming a Christian.) Nhu had begged her grandmother to use part of the money to send her to beauty school so she could start a salon and support the family instead of working in the trade. They told Carl and Laurie about Nhu, so Carl and Laurie trekked over to talk to Nhu and work out how she could be funded to go to school and stay out of the trade. Carl and Laurie were introduced to the sheer magnitude of the issue, and decided to make a home to keep more girls out of the industry and give them an opportunity to be educated and have a sustainable career.
On a completely unrelated note....
A little about my personal (but definitely still related to LIFTED) life.
Sam, you play guitar, too?
Yes, I do!! I play piano as well. I love to sing and write music. I've been trained in classical and commercial voice performance as well as composition (only a little) That's actually how I first became acquainted with LIFTED!
Before the first LIFTED event (which was only supposed to be a one-time event)Cat asked me to play a set of my original music in a line-up of about 4 music groups/music artists. The whole group that put on the event are all close friends of mine from high school and music stuff, community, and church stuff. Carl and Laurie decided to support LIFTED as an organization of events like the first one on different campuses, at churches, retreats to raise awareness and funds. Thus, the opportunity for this internship AND the opportunity to play more of my music at future shows!
You can hear some of my songs here on my myspace.
So, that kind of nicely segues into the other question... what else will I be doing with LIFTED other than computer work?
Since LIFTED is small, I'm definitely a part of the brains of the whole thing. A lot of my hours I've already logged have been in meetings and conversations with Cat brainstorming about the future of LIFTED and how it can be improved (that's where a lot of my anthropology training and mindset is being used.) I'm helping plan the events we have this semester and am definitely helping to develop events in the further future. That's everything from what bands will be (or could be) playing, the venue, our contacts, info booth set-up... I mean, every detail of what goes into the event, I help plan! Which is awesome!!
And then on top of that there's this trip I'm on right now, visiting the RNhu homes in Cambodia and Thailand (3 all together), getting to know Carl and Laurie, getting to know the girls and how everything works. I'm definitely collected a lot about the culture and history to see how that plays into everything (especially since RNhu is a Christ-centered organization, and the culture is predominantly Buddhist)
AND there's the fact I get to play my music at some events!! I'm actually also working on an EP (a small album of 4-5 songs) hopefully out by May, and everything I'm doing with LIFTED is definitely integrated in what I'm writing.
Okay, I hoped that help clear some things up! Keep asking questions as you have them. I can't wait to share more about what I'm learning here and how I can apply anthropology to benefit the people here, RNhu, and LIFTED.
Cat, Stef, and I with the girls at Help Cambodia in Phnom Penh
Me getting my hair cut at Agape Salon by Nhu!!
Playing games with the girls at Help Cambodia
We'll be back February 6th, and I'll be updating shortly thereafter!
-Sam
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