Clothes sale proceeds to help in the fight against slavery
MORE than £1,000 was raised at a charity clothes sale, which will be used to tackle the problem of slavery in India.
Charity Abolitionist Guernsey works with good causes that are operating in the country.
There are around 40m. people in slavery around the world and more than a quarter of these are in India.
Professor Kevin Bales, from the charity, said it was keen to give people the chance to escape that life.
‘These people have been in slavery not just for years, but for generations,’ he said.
‘The group we work with uses primary schools like a Trojan horse.’
The village they are looking to help is in northern India. It has a population of 140 people, of whom half are under 18.
The work will start with a small primary school being set up, to which it is hoped the slave holder will not object.
As part of the school, lunches will be offered, which makes the prospect attractive to slave owners because it means they can provide less food.
The people serving the food are working with the charity and are former slaves themselves. This means they know how to approach the people in bondage and discuss how their lives could change.
‘They can help them see the benefits,’ Mr Bales said.
His wife, Jenette Bales, said one of the big problems was that often people in bondage did not have basic documents like birth certificates. This meant they were not eligible for benefits that might help, such as land grants.
The Fashion for Freedom swap and sale event was held at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday. All the clothes were donated to the cause. The event started with a chance for people to swap their clothes and then the sale was opened to the public.
Among the people shopping was Alexandra Wilson, who picked up a pink blazer and a green top.
‘I think it’s good that the money raised is going to charity,’ she said.
Mrs Bales said they were very grateful to the church for letting them use the space.
In total, £1,042 was raised.
