Give sex trade workers a different industry to make money.
Freeset - Our Story
Can anyone see this being done in DR? Is this already being done?
Freeset - Our Story
Can anyone see this being done in DR? Is this already being done?
JD, I never said I thought there was no industry here. Your post is enlightening. I am more concerned with people with no choice, no voice--you seem to think that many working girls have choice and voice--good for you.
I am more concerned with people with no choice, no voice--you seem to think that many working girls have choice and voice--good for you.
Give sex trade workers a different industry to make money.
Freeset - Our Story
Can anyone see this being done in DR? Is this already being done?
I know of one organization that does work with commercial sex workers in several areas in the DR: Centro de Promocion y Solidaridad Humana (CEPROSH). I worked briefly with the organization in a different context, but had the opportunity to sit in on several group meetings with the CSWs. Although CEPROSH did not have a microfinance/microbusiness program at the time, many of the CSWs expressed that they felt empowered through the programs that CEPROSH had.
And, for the record, they did not fit the profile that JD describes.
What? Like it's his opinion? It's what he knows to be fact. There are many working single Mom's, Married Moms and Women with no children who are university students, dental assistants, nurses, administrative assistants, store clerks, government workers, hotel employees, you name a profession who engage in occasional sex for pay, promotion, status or whatever currency they're dealing for in the DR. (as formerly stated it could be that shiny new cell phone).
The number of deals that go down in tourist areas pales in comparison to the number of deals that go down in Dominican society every day. The notion that if foreigners went away and never came back prostitution would end in the DR couldn't be farther from reality. There is no law against a citizen trading sexual favors for money in the Dominican Republic. Not for nothing. What do you think all those 'cabanas' are for?
Interesting.
Who did not fit which profile (I described), the targeted "working" girls or the activity of the organization?
I briefly visited their web site (CEPROSH). It does not seem evident to me what approach they are taking (besides the suggestion to READ). Can you share with us what they do, or how they do it, whom with and what the results were or are?
... J-D.
Sorry, should have clarified. I mean the first "working girl" you described in the first post- giving all to tiguere, lazy and caring only about the credito for the cell phone. It did not mesh with my observations of the CSWs I briefly interacted with at CEPROSH.
As I said, I worked with CEPROSH in a different context (HIV) so I can't speak to their projects directly targeted towards CSWs. In the context of the project I was working on, they organized peer leaders (including CSWs) and trained them in safe sex practices. They focused a lot on behavior change and self-esteem, empowering them to make informed decisions.
The approach the organization took was successful because, according to the women, they were not looked down upon or scorned.
Actually, the common theme in all of the groups I sat in on was their children. Just as you say, they recognized that maybe they had made bad decisions, but they wanted to make things right for their children. In the context of the project I was on, it was along the lines of "We need to be careful with sex safe practices because if we get sick, our children will suffer."
I know that CEPROSH partners with PSI and was a local USAID recipient at one point, so they at least meet organizations standard set by the US government.
I think JD is right--that the true good work in DR must start with the kids.
However I must say that the model in India might be tweaked to be more fashion forward and fashion oriented as opposed to tote bags for business conferences or staff presents. Dominicanas are famous for fashion, beauty, etc. So a microindustry based in fashion design training might hold real appeal and a decent choice or change of "trade"--trade your fashion forwardness, not your body.
Just thoughts.
JD, I never said I thought there was no industry here. Your post is enlightening. I am more concerned with people with no choice, no voice--you seem to think that many working girls have choice and voice--good for you.
These days, not all of the women attending these classes are prostitutes. Although the center was built specifically for sex workers, women from the surrounding, impoverished, neighborhood would show up asking for education as well. Noyola says the nuns saw a chance to create solidarity between these women and the full-time sex workers. So they welcomed them into the center, with the stern warning that there was not to be any disparagement of the prostitutes.