About

About Hope for the Sold

Hope for the Sold seeks to make sex trafficking non-existent. Our goal is to resource leaders with relevant, up-to-date, and accurate information and connections that will create a modern abolitionist movement.

Our Story

Having been raised in Kenya, Finland, and Ethiopia, Michelle gained a global outlook on life at an early age. As a kid she witnessed poverty, political instability, and social injustice alongside beautiful languages, different cultures, and unique landscapes. As she grew older she tried to pinpoint where she fit in the spectrum of helping others, and discovered during her second year of university that her passion and calling was to fight sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

In October of 2006, Michelle and her husband Jay went to Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the speakers, Gary Haugen of International Justice Mission, spoke on modern day slavery. Along with a good friend, Jenn Standish, they received tickets for a pre-screening of the movie TRADE by Lionsgate Films. After watching the film they knew theyhad to do something.

Jay, Michelle, and Jenn came home to Hamilton, Ontario, and started an awareness campaign about sex trafficking. Since then they have organized banquets, art shows, concerts, and university events to spread the word.  Jenn visited Southeast Asia and witnessed child exploitation there. The most recent project took HFTS on a 11,000 km road trip across the country to make a documentary about sex trafficking in Canada.

They don’t know where the journey will take them next, but this much they do know: they will never stop fighting against trafficking and sexual exploitation. There must be an end to forced prostitution and modern day slavery.

That’s why Hope for the Sold exists.