Agape International Missions

Agape International Missions (AIM) is a nonnonprofit, non-denominational, non-governmental organization working to rescue, restore, and reintegrate girls who are victims child sex trafficking in Cambodia.[1][2][3] It has staff in California and Southeast Asia and carries out housing, education, health, employment, rehabilitation, and community care initiatives in Cambodia.[4] The AIM Shop is a retail store that sells jewelry and other products made by survivors and supports the organization's initiatives. AIM received GuideStar USA, Inc.'s gold seal of transparency in 2019.[5] Charity Navigator gave AIM the highest rating of 4 out of 4 stars and a score of 100 out of 100 for accountability & transparency.[6]

Agape International Missions
CEO Don Brewster (left) being interviewed by filmmaker Benjamin Nolot (right) for the documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls
AbbreviationAIM
Formation1989 (USA), 2006 (Cambodia)
TypeNPO, NGO
PurposeRescue, restore and reintegrate victims of sex trafficking in Cambodia
HeadquartersRoseville, California
Location
Region served
Southeast Asia
CEO
Don and Bridget Brewster
Board Chair
Ken Petersen
Affiliations3Strands
Websiteagapewebsite.org

AIM has a SWAT team, authorized by the Cambodian government, that conducts investigations, raids brothels and indirect sex establishments (i.e. beer gardens, massage parlours, salons, karaoke bars, retail spaces, and non-commercial sites), rescues sex trafficked victims, and arrests perpetrators alongside Cambodian law enforcement.[7][8] AIM also rescues girls and women sex trafficked to China.[9]

Rescued victims are provided with support, education, employment opportunities, and more so they are well taken care of, heal from physical and psychological trauma, and do not end up in child prostitution again.[10]

AIM was founded by Bridget and Don Brewster, a former pastor of Adventure Christian Church,[11] in California in 1989 and began operations in Cambodia in 2006. The organization opened its first shelter and restoration center for former child sex slaves in the village of Svay Pak, Cambodia.[12] [13][14] [15][16]

References
  1. "Don and Bridget Brewster of Agape International Missions on combating Cambodia's child sex traffickers". South China Morning Post. July 1, 2014.
  2. "Trafficking fight honoured". Khmer Times. December 5, 2017.
  3. "Cambodia's Child Sex Industry Is Dwindling—And They Have Christians to Thank". CT. May 19, 2017.
  4. "The World's Biggest Trafficking Problem Remains in the Background". CT. May 19, 2017.
  5. "AIM". GuideStar. 2019.
  6. "Agape International Missions". Charity Navigator.
  7. "Non-profit group, which helps sex-trafficking victims, seeks tie-ups with ethical business partners in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. April 21, 2019.
  8. "Reporter's notebook: Covering brothel raids and Christian missionaries rescuing girls in Cambodia". ABC News. March 13, 2017.
  9. "Non-profit group, which helps sex-trafficking victims, seeks tie-ups with ethical business partners in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. April 21, 2019.
  10. "Inside the world of Cambodia's child sex trade, as told through the eyes of a survivor". ABC News. March 8, 2017.
  11. Jennifer K. Morita (August 7, 2008). "Girls turn camera on world: Teacher aids victims of child sex trade". The Sacramento Bee: G7.
  12. "Don and Bridget Brewster of Agape International Missions on combating Cambodia's child sex traffickers". South China Morning Post. July 1, 2014.
  13. Magagnini, Stephen (16 August 2010). "A PLACE OF SAFETY Granite Bay missionaries bring message of hope for a better life to victims of child sex trade in Cambodia (profile)". The Sacramento Bee.
  14. Locke, Cathy (21 August 2011). "Granite Bay event to focus on efforts to combat sex trafficking". McClatchy - Tribune Business News.
  15. Bramhan, Daphne (26 March 2012). "Svay Pak's glimmers of hope; Vancouver-based Ratanak International and others work to rebuild a community". Vancouver Sun.
  16. Sara Sidner (October 24, 2011). "Cambodian village has disturbing reputation for child sex slavery". CNN. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
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