Freedom61
20 October 2016
I'm almost halfway through with my internship at Freedom61! Although it's safe to say it won't be the end of my work with them forever. In my months of being here I have served in all three areas of ministry, and I thought I'd share a little about each area below.
Cafe -
Here in Riga, the city I live, Freedom61 runs a cafe/soup kitchen three times a week in a district known for street prostitution. Here anywhere from four to fifteen women a night come in for tea, coffee, soup, and warmth. They're very open to us as we have earned their trust and they tell us about the different struggles they go through. We listen and invite them to stay as long as they like, and when girls decide they want to lead a different life, we talk to them about our transitional centre and welcome them to it.
Transitional centre -
In the countryside we have a transitional centre on a lifestyle block. Privately funded, we are free to run Bible studies and keep God a part of everyday life. The centre is also like none other in Latvia as we focus exclusively on women and their specific needs while teaching them life skills and providing professional counselling. I take a trip out every other week to support staff and keep the women company.
Men's outreach -
The Old Town of Riga is a very popular destination for stag does / bachelor parties. Men from all over the UK and Europe come for the cheap beer and cheap women. On Friday nights, a group of us men and women walk around and meet these groups to spread awareness of human trafficking and the truth behind prostitution. Some don't want to know and leave, but a surprising number of people are genuinely interested because they didn't know and we are happy to introduce them to the other great nightlife activities Riga has to offer.
