The mission/purpose statement for us at Courage to Be You, Inc. (C2BU) is to “make a difference in this world one individual at a time by equipping, encouraging and empowering them to uncover their identity and discover their destiny”. However, we realize before any individual can recognize their potential and discover their purpose, their most basic human needs must be met. But on the streets of our cities and in every country around the world, there are a multitude of vulnerable young children that are not having these needs met – far from it. These children are being exploited, abused and sold for sex.
Domestic sex trafficking. Commercial child sexual exploitation. Human trafficking of minors. Sex slave trade. These are society’s new buzzwords for an ugly, age-old problem: child prostitution. The sexual exploitation of children is among the most heinous crimes of humanity. Too many in our society believe these children have chosen this life. This is a lie. The average age of victims is 14 years old, but according to law enforcement, victims have been recovered as young as 10 years of age. In the last three years, 120 young girls have been rescued in the Sacramento area by law enforcement and only seven of these children had a safe home to return to. This is just in one city in the United States! Of these children, 85 percent were sexually abused at home by individuals they knew and trusted. This statistic plays out across the U.S. These children run to the streets believing it is safer than the homes they left behind.
They need to be rescued. They need a safe place to belong and someone to assure them that they not only have value, but also a God given purpose. They need a home, and C2BU intends to provide them one. We call these homes Courage House because it does take courage to be and do all God created you to … for all of us, not just these kids. My prayer is that my life, my purpose will used by God to make a difference in the lives of these children. My dream is that in my life-time the sexual exploitation of children will be totally and completely eradicated.