Project: AK-47 Blog

My Strong Hope – A Letter From A Rescued Child Soldier

Lucas Gifford — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:28:34 +0000

Last week, we highlighted a letter from one of our rescued child soldiers in Southeast Asia. If you missed reading Mun’s letter, you can check it out HERE.

Again, let me note that the letter(s) you are reading were written by the children, then transcribed and emailed to us by our teams on the ground. You will read them exactly how they were written. They have not been edited in any way in order to preserve the sentiment and authenticity of each child’s message. Be sure to share their stories and give these forgotten children a voice by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of the page!

Written: January 16, 2012

Name: Klah

Greetings to you folks who are helping us get education. I’m studying now at 8th grade level. When I came here I was a mess and didn’t know anything. Now I’m getting an education and my character has improved too. Thank God for the staff and sponsors who help this program! Our situation is good, enough to eat and good schooling. When I finish school I hope to study medicine. This is my strong hope. My gratitude is to God, to the regional supervisor, the staff and also to all our sponsors who have come along side to help.

A Letter From A Rescued Child Soldier

Lucas Gifford — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:10:43 +0000

As we travel around to orphanages supported by Project: AK-47, we like to bring back letters written by the rescued child soldiers. This week, we’ve received several letters from homes in Southeast Asia and want to make them available to you. We hope these letters help to convey the importance of the work being done and the lives being touched.

Due to safety circumstances, we aren’t able to send correspondence via mail. The words you will read have been typed from letters that children have written and emailed to us by our teams on the ground. They are not edited in any way in order to convey the sentiment and gratitude of each child. These notes from rescued child soldiers will be posted over the next few weeks, so be sure to visit again to read more of their stories.

Written: January 2012

Name: Mun

Hello from my land to you who have helped me. My name is Mun. I was a soldier boy but now am in a children’s home and attending school. My dream is to be a truck driver and chauffeur. This is my plan and my real dream. I hope to finish my 9th grade year and as I’m not a great student I hope to move into this vocational trade for my living. I hope you can work with me towards my dream.

Everyone, Meet Unlikely Heroes

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:15:47 +0000

We at Project AK47 have made it our goal to join forces with and highlight other organizations that are making an impact globally.

So, Everyone, meet Unlikely Heroes(@UHeroes).

In America, there are over 100,000 sexually trafficked young women, yet there are fewer than 50 beds dedicated to their rescue and rehabilitation in the States. Unlikely Heroes is creating homes and rehab facilities to help these young women. They just kicked off as a non-profit in the fall of 2011. They already have a home with 10 girls in it in the Philippines and are getting ready to open another home here in the states.

I recently had a chance to attend an Unlikely Heroes fundraiser in Los Angeles and was able to hear the founder & CEO, Erica Greve, talk about her passion for seeing girl’s lives changed from tragedy to triumph. Her voice for change and the passion with which she fights for the forgotten in this horrific industry is unparalleled.

That’s why Project: AK-47 has been working alongside her and Unlikely Heroes. What they are doing is significant, incredibly important and world-changing. Take some time to watch the video below and visit the Unlikely Heroes website to see some footage of their home in the Philippines and learn more about their team.

Click here to view the embedded video.

One Boy’s Birthday Is Another Boy’s Food…For 2 Years

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:03:34 +0000

We love it when someone in the Project: AK-47 community goes above and beyond the call of duty to help others. So when the opportunity arises to tell you about their amazing acts, you better believe we are going to put them up on a pedestal and shine a big, bright light to spotlight their heroic deeds. Over the next few weeks, you can expect to meet some everyday people, like all of us, who are doing extraordinary things around the globe. Some of those things may seem unimaginably hard, and some of them may seem very simple. But every one of them has a lasting, profound effect on someone else’s life.

And what could be more awesome than that?

This is a letter we received from a friend of ours named Zac. He’s 6-years-old and is already making a big difference in his little world. His actions provided food every day, for almost 2 years, to another child who otherwise would have gone hungry. Zac’s gift was equivalent to giving a child one years worth of education. Zac is a phenomenal little boy who is changing the world beyond the borders of his country. It’s people like him that should inspire action in all of us.

Way to go, Zac!

Myanmar(Burma), U.S. Ties Restored

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:52:24 +0000

January has been a positive month for Myanmar(Burma). As you may remember, Sec. Of State Hillary Clinton visited the country in mid-December. There has been much reform over the last year and Sec. Clinton’s visit was to assess the authenticity of said reform. Since that visit the Myanmar governing powers have been busy.

After over 60 years of armed conflict, the Karen National Union and the Myanmar government have agreed to work towards a ceasefire and are currently negotiating the terms while intermittent fighting continues. The agreement allows each faction to patrol and house a liaison office in the other’s respective territory. We, at Project AK-47, hope for the best and are still watching for these changes to take affect in the northern areas of Myanmar.

On January 13th, the government released over 1,000 political prisoners they collected and have held over the last few decades. Because of this and the other reforms Myanmar has made, the U.S has restored full ties with them. This is a major step in the country reopening international trade with the U.S. and could potentially allow for much more support for Non-Government Organizations in Myanmar.

Project: AK-47′s founder, Marcus Young will be traveling to meet with key leaders throughout Myanmar over the next few weeks, as well. This will be an important time as he will be able to assess more accurately what the “temperature” of the country is as it regards our organization and the country at large.

For more details and further reading of everything that’s happened in Myanmar(Burma) in January check out these articles:

New York Times: U.S. Restores Full Ties To Myanmar…

Karen News: Karen and Burma Government Agree To More Talks

The Irrawaddy: KNU, Government Reach Historic Agreement

Cader – Letter From A Rescued Child Soldier

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:17:44 +0000

This weeks blog is a letter from one of the children we work with in the Philippines. We thought it would make a great blog. Cader is just one example of the type of children that we are working with around the world.

Name: Cader

Gender: Male

Age: 15 Years Status: Demobilized but at risk

Country: Philippines

If I had not known about your education program, I would not have had the chance to continue my studies. I’m so happy! My life has many hardships, my father works hard with our small business and so I was made to go on duty in our local army for the family. But now that I get to go to school, I don’t have to go on duty anymore unless a larger war comes and everybody is called to fight. Life is really difficult here, especially when we are at war. When we go to fight we always fear that our bodies will be lying dead in the jungle instead of safe at home. Thank you so much for your help, though you haven’t met us, you still help children like us.

12 Ways To Be A Hero In 2012(cont’d)

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:40:37 +0000

Last week we showed you 6 ways to engage with Project: AK-47 and become a hero to former child soldiers. You can see those HERE. We’re back this week with 6 more things you can do to join the rescue.

7. Send Us Your Stories

Have you done something to help Project: AK-47? Did someone ask you about your Project: AK-47 Dog Tags and you told them all about us? Did you come up with a creative way to raise money for Project: AK-47? We want to tell your story! Send those stories, big or small to me so I can feature you! Send stories to: lucas@projectak47.com

8. Follow us on Twitter

You can follow us on Twitter HERE and get involved in the conversation.

9. Get creative!

We are all about you being you and telling your stories on behalf of child soldiers around the world. Whether you are a Master Cupcakery To End Slavery(if this doesn’t exist, it needs to) or a group of 4 kids working hard to raise awareness in Manhattan(you know who you are), you are heroes. If you are writing songs to spread the voice of social justice or making movies about those in dyer situations, you are heros. The ideas are endless, find your idea and make it happen!

10. Get involved with our Causes.

Check out our Cause.com page to see what projects we are working on and how you can give and promote to help them be accomplished.

11. Wear Child Story Bracelet -

This bracelet tells the TRUE story of one of our rescued child soldiers. It’s cool and a great conversation starter. You can get your bracelet HERE.

12. Show & Tell our Youtube Videos

We have some amazing videos on Youtube. One of which was a notable short film in the Cannes Film Festival last year. Watch them and share them with your friends. They are a great way to introduce people to Project: AK-47 and help them get familiar with our initiatives. You can watch a couple of our videos below and find more HERE.

Click here to view the embedded video.

12 Ways To Be A Hero In 2012

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:11:26 +0000

In celebration of 2012, we are featuring 12 ways you can be a hero to child soldiers this year. Six this week, and six next week. Keep an eye on our Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ throughout the week, as well. Happy 2012!

1. Financially Support a Rescued Child Soldier -

Join our monthly giving campaign. For only $7, you can feed a former child soldier for an entire month. For $47/month you can feed, clothe, educate, shelter, and protect a child soldier. Give HERE.

2. Become a fan of Project: AK-47 on Facebook.

Becoming a fan helps to expand our social awareness network and connects you with other people who are making a difference. www.facebook.com/kidorkiller

3. Send a gift to a Rescued Child Soldier -

We have an entire webpage dedicated to giving former child soldiers what they need, such as blankets, rice, and helping them start businesses. Check it out HERE.

4. Google+ Add us to your circles on Google+.

(Hint: Drag your cursor over the big red G+ button.)

Wherever you see the button below…push with all your heart!:

Look, there’s one right now at the bottom of this blog…1, 2, 3, PUSH!

5. Wear a Dog Tag.

Each dog tag has the name of a child soldier, the country they are from, and their age. I have one around my neck right now: Jhong, Male, 5-years-old, Philippines. Get yours today and wear it proudly: www.ak47tags.com

6. If you have a mouth, use it!

There are hundreds of thousands of oppressed children around the world, and most of the time, all it takes is someone willing to speak up on their behalf. TELL THEIR STORIES! Grab a tissue and read about their lives: HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE!!

You can be a hero to someone in the world right now, with very little effort. That’s 6 things to get you started on your path to heroism! Be sure to keep an eye out for next week’s blog when we’ll give you 6 more ways to be a hero.

2011 – Turning Tragedies Into Triumphs

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:10:25 +0000

It’s been an amazing year at Project: AK-47!

So many precious lives have been changed, and none of this would have been possible without your help. Since this is 2011’s last blog, I thought it would be great to recap a few of the stories that we, as a community, have helped turn from tragedies into triumphs.

This year, you have heard the story of Sarai, sold by her parents into the sex-trade for a mere $10, then rescued and raised in a safe, loving home. (Sarai’s story) We have seen 10 beautiful girls, once destined to be soldiers, register for nursing school.(Their story) And how can we forget the transformation of Edgardo, a former teenage assassin out for revenge for the murders of his aunts and mother. He was rescued and is now in the early stages of a second rescue project for kids in armed conflict. (Edgardo’s story in Project: AK-47 Magazine)

There are still hundreds of thousands of children waiting to be rescued, waiting for someone to care enough to come to their aid, waiting to have their stories rewritten. Ok Hong, whose father gave her up to the militia, is waiting for people like us to tell her story, to inspire change in the communities around us and in the world at large. (Ok Hong’s Story)

We are caught between the celebration of so many lives rescued and so many lives desperate for rescue. We are the collective voice of those in safe hands and those in the hands of danger. As 2012 approaches, let’s celebrate on behalf of those given new lives, and fuel our hearts with hope for those in need of our compassion.

Let’s tell their stories.

The pictures below are a story of hope representing children that have been sold or are at high risk of be trafficked and abused, but are now in our care. The buildings have also been used over the past decade to develop young leaders who have gone to live in some of the most difficult places in the Golden Triangle Region. These young leaders rescue and care for children in armed conflict and run schools that keep them from training as soldiers.

This is the student center where we train the staff for our homes.

Mentorship Program--many of these students are now staff in our children's home.

These 2 cottages were first used as our children's home, but now they are staff houses.

One of our children watering the flowers.

Training in agriculture--students hoeing corn.

This is the office for our foundation and regional work in the Golden Triangle.

Pineapple crop right above our children's home.

Our home for trafficked children and orphans in Northern Thailand.

It’s Christmas Time For Everyone…Even Former Child Soldiers [AUDIO PODCAST]

Lucas Gifford — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:11:49 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s Christmas time again!

The pre-Christmas craze is in full swing with long lines at the check-out counters, bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway, and visions of peppermint mocha’s dancing in our heads. Things can get a bit hectic leading up to the BIG day. In the middle of our frantic, holiday busyness, sometimes it’s hard to remember that, no matter what religious belief or celebration tradition each individual has, this is a time of year to stop and celebrate life with family and friends. But just as importantly, and especially for those who might not have families, it is a time for helping where help is needed. Whether you celebrate with a tree, manger, menorah, or a just a big meal, this time of year is filled with a spirit of joy and kindness. So in that spirit, I hope this week’s blog helps to remind you that no matter what your beliefs or circumstances are, you can have a Happy Holiday!

Listen as our founder, Marcus Young, gives us an inside peek at what Christmas looks like for former child soldiers at various Project: AK-47 orphanages around the world.

…and have a VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!

Dance, Dance, Dance

Getting ready for a show!

Christmas Meals

What kid doesn't love Christmas presents?

The anticipation is exciting, but these kids are keeping it cool.