SPEAK UP

Coming to America, Back to Thailand

I've been in the US for a week, and my first mission of getting a long-term Thailand visa is accomplished.  I now have a one-year, non-immigrant visa which is issued to me as a person interested in investing or starting a business in Thailand.  Since I hope to incorporate Speak Up as a business or foundation in Thailand in early 2010, I meet the qualifications and am set to go.  This new visa requires me to leave the country every 90 days, which won't be a problem since I hope to be traveling to Korea and other countries for some fund-raising and PR next year, but now I won't be a on a tourist visa and will be legally working towards my Speak Up business investment in Thailand.  Great news!

I leave for Thailand tomorrow morning, and hope today to make some more good business contacts and raise some money for our work internationally.  Some people have asked me how my trip to Thailand was, and I tell them that this time in America is my trip - Thailand is now my home base.  It might take a while for it to feel completely like home, but I'm glad to be there and working towards my dream.  Today I hope to inspire some others to invest in making that dream come to life.   TROY

Trafficking Victim Returns to Uzbekistan

Last Friday I had the privilege of bringing a new friend to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport so she could fly home to Uzbekistan.  About 10 months ago, Daria (a pseudonym to protect her identity) was brought to Bangkok from Uzbekistan to work in the sex industry.  Upon her arrival, her passport and identity papers were taken from her by her pimp-mamasan, and Daria was forced to turn over most of her daily earnings to the mamasan.  After being contacted by volunteers from a local NGO, Daria left her pimp and stayed in a safe house until we were able to get her passport and ticket in order to allow her to return home.  Soon after her arrival in Tashkent she was able to contact my contacts in Bangkok to assure us that she was safe. 

While she may still face some struggles back home, Daria is pleased to be home.  So many women remain caught in coerced prostitution, but at least one more is free today.  Thanks to my friends and colleagues who helped make this all possible - you know who you are.