Rollins resident works to combat child trafficking
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ROLLINS — While the pine trees and Flathead Lake near Rollins are different than the jungle near Koh Kong, Cambodia, Rachel Riggio is at home either place.
She first got interested in Cambodia when a good friend went to the country and “fell in love with the people.” Then Rachel heard about human trafficking and sex slavery in Cambodia, which “made me completely and physically sick.”
“It’s the most disturbing thing I can think of,” she said, and she felt she could dedicate her life to the cause.
That prompted Rachel to start the Red Road Foundation, with its overall goal of working to bring basic resources to children in need around the world. She named the foundation after a Native American belief in the “good red road,” which a person walks in reverence, being aware of his or her pathway and how he or she affects other people.
Rachel focused on Koh Kong, Cambodia, located on the southern border, right under Thailand. It used to be a hot spot for human trafficking, but now the emphasis has turned more to eco lodging with a giant jungle preserve nearby.
In Cambodia people rescued from the sex slave trade live in temporary housing, but there aren’t services available to them.
“They are taken out of the most horrible situations imaginable,” Rachel said.
The Red Road Foundation has purchased three acres of land in the village, and they plan to begin constructing a house for 15 children who have been taken out of the sex slave trade. Building will start in November of 2013, when Rachel returns to Cambodia to shepherd the project.
The house will have house parents to give the kids a family setting. Rachel has spent the last five years as a youth counselor in group homes with orphaned children so she can provide some counseling, as well as bringing in other experts.
“We’ll be taking the kids and bringing them into our home. They’ll be shown love and taught love as well as music and spirituality,” Rachel said.
The foundation also plans a school for 40 kids in the village.
“It’s a little village, and there are no schools for hours in any direction,” Rachel explained.
The other acres will be farmed. They hope to grow moringa, a plant native to India, which has healing properties. Hiring local people who want to earn money, the foundation will teach people to make tea and balms to be sold locally and in the United States.
Interestingly enough, the soil on the foundation’s farm is red, and both Rachel and her brother Garrett are redheads.
Rachel has formed The Red Road Foundation as executive and operating director with Garrett as the foundation’s program and fundraising director, Andrew Squires as communications director, Kaleigh Kiliszewski, administrative director, and Alex Schwartz, finance director.
A fundraiser for the Red Road Foundation was held at the McCrumb Barn on Finley Point on June 30, and they plan another in Santa Barbara, Calif. Rachel was excited about the number of people who attended to listen Dark Horse, Haladay Quist and Company, members of the Kenny James Miller band and the Smokehouse Blues Band.
To donate, go to theredroadfoundation.com
