Awareness pens for Sex-Trafficking

[Jontello]

I recently had the opportunity in working with an artist friend on a set of pens. My friend is an artist and does signs with different lettering. My Wife is the director and founder of an organization that helps rescue victims of sex-trafficking in Italy. There are said to be 50,000-100,000 victims in Italy. We were in needs of funds for a project so I decided to make these pens with my friend where all the proceeds went to the organization to help them buy some materials that they need for the women. Here is the result from this collaboration. The pens sold out on my website in 2 days. We were able to raise 350 dollars for the project.

The words we chose for the pens were:

Hope - There is hope from the women out of this slavery
Treasured - We believe these women are treasured in our eyes and God's eyes
Beloved - The women are beloved by us and God


Here are some pics of the process and final product.

My wife and I are headed back to Italy sometime this summer and one of the things I will be doing is helping the survivors of sex trafficking by teaching them a trade. I will be teaching them how to make handmade pens. We will be selling their pens in markets and hopefully get into some small pens shops in the area. We will hopefully also be selling them back here in the US. It is exciting to use something as simple as making pens to help women come out of something so horrific.

Thanks for looking

Jon

 

[thewishman]

Thank you for the work you are doing. The pens look good and conviction to actually work to help others is inspiring.

 

[campzeke]

Fantastic project for a fantastic cause! How is the lettering done? Decals or what?

 

[leehljp]

Thank you for your work. It is most certainly needed, even here in the USA.Keep up the great work!

 

[Jontello]

Thanks everyone. It is a privilege to be a part of this work. Glad I can incorporate pen turning into it.

The Words were hand painted. No stencils or decals were used.

Jon

 

[keithbyrd]

Good for you! I think this is great!
You don't have to go to Italy - Detroit-Toledo is the 4th highest sex trafficking metro area in the US There is an organization in Detroit area - Don't know about Toledo called AWOL (All Worthy of Love) that works to get people out of this too.

 

[Hubert H]

GREAT! the pens, the cause and your willingness to be part of it. God Bless!

 

[Jontello]

Keith,

Thanks for the info about the ministry in the Detroit area. It is great to see all the organizations that exist to help these women.

Jon