Walking in Their Shoes

Jul 22, 2011 by Gretchen Seefried

Last fall was when I first heard about an organization called iEMPATHIZE. Its founder, Brad Riley, spoke at the conclusion of a Transitions Global event where two teenage girls, who’d been rescued from Cambodian brothels, shared their stories.  I remember being extremely moved by his passion, and his description of empathy as the essence of iEMPATHIZE. Sympathy is feeling badly for the suffering of others. Being passive, it allows separation to exist between the bystander and the victimized.  Being active, empathy plunges one into the suffering of others, thus compelling the empathizer to action.

Yesterday, I received an update from iEMPATHIZE. An arts and advocacy nonprofit, they are dedicated to educating and engaging people in rewriting endings for the bleak, brutal tales of children sold into sexual slavery.  By creating impactful media events they immerse diverse audiences in the realities of these children, and have found it an effective way to move people to action and raise resources to enable the rescue and rehabilitation of young victims.

Not so long ago, I was someone who would avoid movies that depicted rape, books that described sexual assault, plays that suggested incest, and news features that portrayed victims of heinous crimes like these.  It was just too hard to hear, too much to stomach, too awful to contemplate.  I didn’t want to know about these things.  But it wasn’t because I didn’t care…it was because I felt helpless to do anything to stop them.

It was during my term on the board of The Kempe Foundation, that I truly came to understand that I’m not the one who’s helpless – the children are. And the only way to foster empathy in donors, volunteers, (and people like me), is to compel them to watch, read, and listen to stories that would move them to action.

It suddenly dawned on me that child-abuse victims, rape victims, and trafficking victims are alike in their voicelessness, with no way to communicate their suffering.  iEMPATHIZE is providing a voice, and it’s a powerful one.

I hope you’re as touched as I was by this simple photograph of a child that is finally, and joyfully safe as a result of  an iEMPATHIZE program.

Maybe you’ll read a little more, learn a little more, cry a little more, and do a little more to help children who, once lost to the monstrosity of sex trafficking, can be found through the grace of empathy.  I know I will.