Rescue
We support organizations that risk their lives by going into where children are held captive. We provide support which include medical supplies, placement, food, clothing and shelter.
LRI supports rescue missions throughout the world where children are being trafficked. We help provide precious resources such as medical attention and supplies, placement in safe orphanages if needed, as well as food and clothing.
Recovery
Recovery is different for every child. Each will have their own ways of dealing with their terror and trauma. Our goal is to provide tools that will assist them with their process.
Once children are rescued, our work is just beginning. Our aim is to provide our rescued children with a safe environment to begin their recovery process from the pain, trauma and terror.
Reclaim
Reclaiming their lives is one of the highlights that we focus on. We provide programs that offer self-esteem and self-empowerment so that our children can create new stories.
From children to adults the process of reclaiming their lives after such intense abuse requires self-esteem and self-empowerment. LRI provides assistance by helping with continued education, therapies, counseling and programs.
100 for $10, 30-Day Challenge
You are invited to join us for our first 30-Day fundraising challenge. Here's the challenge: you'll have 30 days starting September 1st to get 100 of your friends, family and/or colleagues to donate $10 a month for a year or $120 one time annually. The money raised will directly benefit children who have been exploited by trafficking.
About Us
Over 367 children rescued so far!
Our global mission is to support real-time rescues for children and to provide recovery programs for survivors of all ages to help them reclaim their lives by empowering them with skills, training and education to create new possibilities.
Our Mission
To support the rescue of children and provide trafficked survivors with tools that can help them navigate in society by feeling emotionally and physically restored.
Our mission is to support the rescue of children, provide trafficked survivors with tools that can help them reclaim their lives.
Our Vision
To see all children who have been trafficked, let go of the trauma and tragedy and begin living thriving lives. We envision a world where sex trafficking no longer exists.
Our Plan
We provide support for rescue missions, provide tools for recovery, and help survivors to reclaim their lives through empowerment programs and continued education.
Changing The Reality
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Throughout the world children as young as 4 years old are being tortured and abused as sex slaves. The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14 years old. Many victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children and reports indicate that a large number of child sex trafficking survivors in the U.S. were at one time in the foster care system.
After years of being sexually abused, when too sickly, children are often sold by their captures to have their vital organs harvested without anesthesia and left to die.
Here in the U.S., child trafficking has become bigger business than gun and drug selling.
In 2018, over half (51.6%) of the criminal human trafficking cases active in the U.S. were sex trafficking cases involving only children.
How You Can Help
At Lotus Rising International we partner with professional schools that offer education in areas such as cosmetology, photography, art, bookkeeping and more. We are looking to align with schools and institutions that would like to donate scholarships to our survivors so that they may learn a trade to earn a living and to further build their self esteem and value. Please contact Maria Aparis at Maria.Aparis@yahoo.com
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT
WE SUPPORT RESCUE MISSIONS
There are warrior organizations that have teams that risk their lives to save the lives of children enslaved in brothels across the world. We have assisted with the saving of over 200 children to date. We continue to support their courageous efforts that have them literally in the line of fire with gangs and smugglers.
WE GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS
We work with programs that are designed to build self-esteem and self-worth so that our children discover that what happened in their past does not have to define their future.
We Give Scholarships
We believe that the best way to recover from trauma is to remove the feeling of isolation and an option for letting go of feeling alone is to engage with others that have been trafficked. We work with programs that are designed to build self-esteem and self-worth so that our children discover that what happened in their past does not have to define their future.
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Where Your Donations Go
Become Part of The Collective
This is where you can become a part of changing the story. Your donation has the power to create real change in the life of a woman or child who has lived a life of abuse day after day. You can change the course of their future and be a part of the team of heroes that rescues them, gives them a chance to heal, and offers them a path to a bright and beautiful future. Become the community that heals and supports these survivors of abuse.
Rescue: Sponsor One
Rescue: Sponsor a Mission
Your donation will directly sponsor a rescue to get a child out of danger and on the road to recovery. These missions are carried out 100% all volunteer group of individuals who rescue children from the inhumanity of child sex slavery and human trafficking.
Your donation will directly sponsor a rescue to get a child out of danger and on the road to recovery.
Recovery: Sponsor A Child
To truly bring a future and life back to the rescued child, there is more work that needs to be done. Recovery is a very individual process and no child should fall through the cracks. It is our mission to provide tools and programs that facilitate healing and support each individual recovery.
Reclaim: Fund A Program
When each survivor is ready to thrive and reclaim their life and purpose, we want to fully empower them on that journey! Your donation will provide a scholarship for survivors to join a program that will lift them up with community and support so that they do not feel lost and alone with no hope for their future.
Meet The Team
Maria Aparis
Founder/CEO
"The second I learned that children as young as four years old were being forced into sex slavery, a force stirred inside of me and I knew that my soul would not rest until I did everything that I possibly could to end this inhumanity. I absolutely will not stop until every child that has been enslaved is set free, has recovered and has reclaimed her sovereignty."
Joe Evans
Founder/CFO
“I was not aware that the human trafficking business was larger than guns and drugs put together. I was going through my life and not taking responsibility for this injustice. I realized if it’s to be it’s up to me.”
Autumn Graca
Founder/COO
"Once I saw how one person can immediately change a child’s reality, I became obsessed with creating the opportunity for our children to live in a world of possibility, unlimited potential and freedom."
Sara Cole
Communications Manager/Public Relations
Board of Directors
"The child is both a hope and promise for all of mankind."
- Maria Montessori
Sara Bohmholdt
"My passion to get involved in this cause started years ago. I was inspired by a presentation I saw during a tech conference from another organization fighting against human sex trafficking. My eyes were opened, my heart was broken, I just knew that I had to volunteer and help in any way that I could. I was astounded at the pervasiveness of this horrific industry, the magnitude of children and adults involved and the revenue it was generating world wide. This wasn't an underground business, it was happening under our noses, in plain sight. I started to share my voice, create awareness of the issues but it wasn't enough. I knew that I needed to do more, there was a calling deep inside of me. By chance I was introduced to the work that Lotus Rising International (LRI) was doing and I knew I had to join their cause and work with this organization - this was the mission I had been waiting for. I am honored to be working alongside some of the most passionate warriors that I have ever met, together, with your help, we will put a stop to human sex trafficking."
Darin Heames
"This is one of those dark realities that is difficult to face. It is hard to imagine that something like this even can exist in our world today…especially at this kind of level. But once you acknowledge it…see it…accept that it is happening, then you have to make a choice. Will you be a silent bystander and allow it to continue? Or will you rise up…and take a stand?"
Benet Heames
"Human trafficking is a global issue that must be addressed. Working with Lotus Rising provides an opportunity to step into this problem and provide resources for organizations domestically and internationally working to solve this crisis. Los Angeles (my home) has been identified as a major hub of human trafficking - we must educate our population on how to see signs of abuse and the protocols to take when necessary. I am grateful to contribute my time and energy to this organization."
Sujon Datta
"Everyday I hope to inspire, guide, and empower people to open their hearts to live in their highest potential. However, there are individuals who are walking this planet who don’t have any ability or resources to escape gruesome misfortunes. There are citizens who are mistreated with such cruel acts as they are imprisoned by monstrous and barbarous individuals. Sex trafficking is a severe problem that is ruining millions of innocent lives. These beautiful souls are enslaved and subjected to inhumane and torturous treatment - all to make dirty money. There are children and young women who have been so broken inside and out that they lose all hope, desire, and faith in humanity. It seemingly feels impossible.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Tens of millions of lives have lost this basic human right. Lotus Rising International is offering a selfless act of love to help bring healing, dignity, hope, and full recovery to those who need it the most. We must empower these tormented, enslaved and abused human beings. Let’s give these children and women their lives back. Let’s do what’s necessary. Let’s do impossible."