Infinite Hope: A Night of Art and Unity by Shriya Venkataraman

Emily Dickinson once said, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” This is such an apt quote for women who have tragically been sexually exploited. For them, an inkling of hope is extremely significant to their “rebirth” and self-renewal as a human being as they leave their pasts behind them. However, many are not able to foresee a glimmer of hope in their lives after such events. They are just not able to stand up, dust themselves off, and create a future for themselves, at least not alone. This is where organizations like Her Future Coalition come in. Her Future Coalition has changed the lives of around 4000 trafficking survivors. They have provided human trafficking survivors and high-risk children with education, employment, and shelter. They have offered jewelry-design training in more than 5 locations across South Asia for survivors and vulnerable women, being a catalyst in shaping these women’s lives.

Keeping this in mind, as well as the various trials human trafficking and gender violence victims face, Our Future of Change, a student-led chapter of the Her Future Coalition organization, which is currently represented by more than 180 ambassadors from around 25 countries, will be hosting the event on July 25 at 8:00 PM EST called “Infinite Hope: A Night of Art and Unity.”. During the Art Exhibit, they will be presenting art (including visual art, poetry, performing art, and more) from around the world, which is made by ambassadors in our programs and other students. All art relates to the theme of Rebirth, and is extremely symbolic rather than graphic. Members from Her Future Coalition will also speak during the event about their mission. Discussions about art for healing and rehabilitation will occur, with input from the audience and ambassadors.

If you would like to contribute to OFOC, you can join the ambassador program. There are many committees each ambassador can be a part of, including Design, Outreach, Virtual Event Planning, and News. The nonprofit really caters to each and every interest of an ambassador, making it an ideal summer program to join and contribute to. Founded by two high school students, OFOC is unique, as it is the only youth-led, non-profit organization that caters to combating the evils of human trafficking.