Alumna News

Hali Brook ('13)

We have two boys and two girls homes in the Chiang Mai, Thailand area.
This is our whole family including 150+ children, Thai workers,
and American workers
In May 2013, I graduated from AU with a double major in Criminal Justice and Religion and a minor in Spanish. I had known for several years that I wanted to work with human trafficking and missions so when I heard about Remember Nhu (www.remembernhu.org) the organization was a perfect fit. 

We work against the sex slave trade by intervening in the lives of children who are at risk for being sold in the trade. They are welcomed into our children’s homes where their educational, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs are met--probably for the first time in their lives. Currently we have 32 homes in 9 countries and we are continually expanding as the Lord leads.

In Thailand I had the privilege of being able to live in the children’s home. I taught English to the children and Thai workers, organized activities for the kids, and assisted the house parents and American staff in whatever they needed.

Two of four sisters who live in our home
Posing for a picture
Most of our children come from homes with only one parent, drug and substance abuse, poverty, a new step-parent who doesn’t accept the children from previous marriages or in many cases a combination of few of these.  The typical age range of the children is 5-19 years old. For most children, learning English and completing high school is a huge success and a guarantee that they will be able to find viable work and not fall prey to the sex trade after completing school and leaving our home. Children are also able and encouraged to go to college if they desire. However, not all people are able to succeed in school. Some of our children come to us late in their childhood with never having consistently attending school. If they are so far behind, eventually they may not be able to pass the exams that some countries require to pass onto the next grade level. Therefore, Remember Nhu has started to open doors for vocational training. I was asked to move to Cambodia in January for three months to help open the vocational training center in Phnom Penh. I served as director of the center as well as an English and Math instructor and a Jewelry instructor. The center opened in January and we have had five girls so far come through and start to learn jewelry making, card making, and sewing. Having a trade and skill to fall back on will be a life preserver for those who can go onto college or even finish high school.  Products will soon be sold on the Remember Nhu website and the proceeds will be invested back into vocational training.

Learning for the first time how to sew on a machine
I am currently home on furlough; however, in August I will be moving to work with Remember Nhu in Bolivia. I will continue vocational training development and teaching English and Spanish. If you would like to learn more and follow my ministry you can check on my blog: http://followhali.tumblr.com/

Peace and Blessings,
Hali Brook

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