I first came to GEMS in December 2002, 16 years old, scared and lost with no place to call home. Now three years later, I’m employed as a GEMS staff member and am writing to ask your support for the organization that changed my life.  

Growing up in an abusive home plagued by violence, I was failed numerous times by the child welfare system.   I ended up on the streets at 13 years old. Unable to survive alone and provide myself with food, clothing and most importantly a home, I met a man who offered me shelter. Soon I would discover he was a pimp. I was eventually arrested and charged with prostitution and served a year in a juvenile detention center. Upon my release I was introduced to Girls Educational & Mentoring Services.

My counselors welcomed me immediately and I knew I was safe. I was not judged or ridiculed for the things that I had gone through for three years. With no support from my parents, GEMS gave me medical help and provided me with clothing, food and shelter. GEMS assisted me with obtaining important documents so that I could return to school and I was able to complete my GED. GEMS also provided me with my first job.   They became my primary source of support. As a child, I was given a second chance and an opportunity to live again.

Now my life is completely different. I have my own apartment, attend school and I’m employed at GEMS as an outreach worker. I enjoy speaking to other youth about their issues. I advocate and educate others on the issue of sexual exploitation of children and I’ve even advocated before senators and congressmen in Albany and Washington , DC .   I visit detention centers to build a relationship with my peers, train staff and now I am focusing on building community partnerships.

Through my work, I’m constantly reminded that my story of sexual exploitation is not unusual– like me, most children enter the sex industry at 13 years old . Like me, 80-90% of sexually exploited youth were sexually abused as children. There are an estimated 400,000 children just like me who are sexually exploited each year in the US . Unlike many of my peers however, I was able to escape –thanks to GEMS, and people like you who have supported our mission over the years. But hundreds of girls each year in New York need the same support and services to escape the violence and abuse of the commercial sex industry.

As the only organization in New York State specifically working with sexually exploited girls and young women, we need support from people like you to provide more education programs, more outreach, more counseling and more shelters. We need support from our community to ensure that one less child is on the streets and safe from exploitation. Please support our work at GEMS by making a personal contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more. With your help, we can fight against sexual exploitation and help girls heal from the past and move forward into safe and healthy futures.

Sincerely,

Dominique Vickers

Assistant Outreach Coordinator