Long is Not For Sale

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May 21, 2021

Long is Not For Sale

WRITTEN BY - Not For Sale

Long was born in 2004. His father died when he was young and his mother remarried. His stepfather was a violent man, often beating Long and his mother and smashing furniture. Long ran away from home and lived on the streets for several years.

When NFS Vietnam partners Blue Dragon staff met him, he was distrustful of everyone, with behavioural difficulties caused by his traumatic experiences. Blue Dragon staff continued to demonstrate care and affection to Long and gradually he learned to trust them. As a result he was able to move into one of our shelters. Not For Sale and Blue Dragon helped Long return to school, giving him career preparation workshops and enrolling him in youth development activities.

“Since moving into this Shelter, I have changed a lot. I am happier, I can communicate with people and have more similar age friends. Not like before, when I had to spend most of the time after school, to pick up rubbish from the streets and sell it to support my mother and younger sister. Now I can join more activities and learn more new skills. I love living here.”
– Former street kid living at the Not For Sale shelter in Vietnam
In time, Long developed relationships with other children at the Blue Dragon shelter. Covid-19 interrupted Long’s schooling, forcing him to stay home and study. However, supported by his education team of social workers and teachers – this resilient little boy persevered and completed his first year of school with good results. Diligent and hard-working, Long is keen to improve his English, so making use of his career mentoring, he was able to find a job in a bar near the shelter. He reports being satisfied and happy with his current life, at last able to look forward to the future with positivity.
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Long is Not For Sale

by | May 21, 2021 |

Long was born in 2004. His father died when he was young and his mother remarried. His stepfather was a violent man, often beating Long and his mother and smashing furniture. Long ran away from home and lived on the streets for several years. When NFS Vietnam partners...

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Job Description: Head of Communications and Donor Development

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Overview: Not For Sale is seeking a Director of Digital and E-Revenue to join our dynamic team. We’re looking for someone that can powerfully utilize storytelling to produce a revenue outcome. They will co-create Not For Sale’s brand identity, amplify our message, engage in collaborative messaging with our impact brands, social media audiences, and donors to create financial value.

Working closely with the founders and Chief Operating Officer, the ideal candidate desires to see strategy in action and can execute independently and effectively. Key Performance Metrics will include:

  • Donor development: increased gifting and product purchases
  • Streamlined brand messaging
  • Storytelling in partnership with impact brands
  • Growth in audience engagement via the development of marketing materials and messaging
  • Tracking and reporting on data analytics for our website, social media, e-newsletters, and donor development
  • Social media audience growth and engagement
  • Timely and inspirational Impact Reports to bring into focus how we help people around the world
  • Public relations and media placements
  • Website maintenance as a reflection of the Not For Sale brand
  1. Brand Strategy and Implementation / Communications (70%)
  • Loves communicating about incredible impact programming and is passionate about spreading Not For Sale’s mission to end modern-day slavery.
  • Conducting market research to identify new revenue opportunities for Not For Sale and our partners and projects as needed
  • Gathering and analyzing consumer behavior data (e.g. web traffic and rankings)
  • Produce, edit, and consult on copy for all Not For Sale outlets (social media, web, resources, presentations, blog posts); editing of formal external facing materials (including organizational reporting and limited grant applications and reporting)
  • Brand Messaging/Copy – Develop a library of brand messaging and presentations for reference across the company.
  • Tailor copywriting and editing based on product, medium, and audience while maintaining organizational voice, including: social media, write and maintain blog posts, include content to be linked to from various email communications media, website, client resources (fundraising and sales), impact reporting
  • Maintain brand voice, style, and strategy to execute Not For Sale brand guidelines
  • Present drafts and ideas to partners and team members
  • Edit or rewrite existing copy as necessary, and submit copy for approval by supervisor
  • Coordinate live updates for all mediums by consulting Not For Sale program leads and account managers
  • Produce copy as needed for email marketing / fundraising campaigns, social media, blog posts, and web content updates
  • Maintains and performs updates to website copy such as staff bio’s as well as working with program and content leads to ensure copy created and uploaded in a timely manner, within proper voice
  • Develops production of materials and incorporation of copy with full product and design
  • Social Media Management, including:
  • Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
  • Planning / Strategy
    • Calendar
    • Content sourcing
    • Strategy to meet KPIs with Nikki / Shawn
    • Strategy to reflect branding with Jill
    • Audience analysis
    • Competitor analysis
    • Line up with marketing calendar and integrate with other initiatives, i.e. campaigns, newsletters, blog, website, events
  • Content
    • Creation of posts, including writing, posting, boosting if needed
  • Analytics / Optimization
    • Assessing KPIs and progress
    • Optimizing strategy

(2) Business Development / Client Service (20%)

  • Developing strong relationships with Not For Sale’s impact brands
  • Brainstorming and proactively creating value for the impact brands in their partnership with Not For Sale, via storytelling and providing information about Not For Sale projects and impact
  • Ensuring trust and care for Not For Sale’s impact brands in developing marketing and communications collateral

(3) Marketing Administration (10%)

  • Managing daily administrative tasks to ensure the Marketing department runs smoothly, jumping in “where needed,” the Director of Digital & E-Revenue
  • will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer o ensure quality execution of the organization’s strategy.
  • Proper organization of the team’s online drive and marketing collateral
  • Research on new platforms, tools, market analysis, etc. where needed

Qualifications:

  • Minimum 5 years experience at a marketing agency, or an in-house marketing team
  • Ability to communicate effectively and professionally
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Proven track record of relationship management
  • Experience in conducting social media or other online campaigns
  • Organized, with an ability to work independently
  • Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Skills & Dispositions:

  • You care: You are passionate about the mission of Not For Sale and aspire to create global change.
  • You listen: You are a strong listener with a desire to learn and grow.
  • You are flexible: You are able to operate at both strategic and action-oriented levels, and both independently and collaboratively in a small team.
  • You get things done: You can perform and prioritize multiple tasks in fast-changing circumstances, and are self-motivated to improve your work and create new paths within your role.
  • You are humble: You are humble and eager to be part of a team, which means wearing many hats and jumping in where needed. Flexibility and excitement are key!

Skills & Dispositions:

Compensation is commensurate with experience, and highly competitive in the non-profit sector.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to Terra Judge at [email protected]. Writing sample, portfolio, and references welcome.  

About Not For Sale: Not For Sale is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based out of San Francisco, California that works to protect people and communities around the world from human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The organization equips and empowers survivors of human trafficking and those at risk of exploitation by providing shelter, healthcare, and legal services; education, job-, and life-skills training; and partners with leading companies and organizations to create long-term employment opportunities for survivors and at-risk communities.

A Story of Generosity

Blog, Thailand, Uncategorized

Last December, a rock musician named Toon in Thailand announced that he was raising money for public healthcare, undertaking a 1,300 mile run over 55 days to gain interest in the cause. Toon asked every Thai person to give 10 baht (about a quarter) which, when pooled together, would be more than enough to meet his goal. The children of Not For Sale Thailand were inspired to help Toon reach his goal, and starting scraping together coins to donate. They realized that their collection was meager, so they decided to go to the local market and ask for donations toward Toon’s cause. Their hard work paid off and their donation of around $3 turned into over $500!  Kru Nam, Not For Sale Thailand director, was excited to see the dedication the children had, even as they themselves had little to give. Because the children had been helped by others, they felt the duty to also be in service of others. The gift of giving inspired the children to themselves be givers, to those who need help. Toon’s goal was to raise $20 million. He raised $33 million. If you’re inspired by this story like we are, help us tell another story of generosity, hope, and change by giving to Not For Sale this holiday season.  Will you inspire by joining the cycle of generosity?
Visit our Holiday Giving Campaign.

Whole Foods Just Named the Top 10 Healthy Food Trends for 2019

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Functional mushrooms? That’s so last year.

As the food industry increasingly adopts greater health and wellness trends, once wholly unknown categories are now becoming more mainstream. That means Kellogg’s now sells a probiotic cereal and Coca-Cola is potentially contemplating CBD beverages.

Whole Foods, a leading retailer in the healthy foods space, just announced the emerging trends creeping into your shopping cart. Some seem thoroughly expected (faux meat), while others sound rather novel (Pacific Rim flavors). Will these categories fare as well as predicted? In years past, Whole Foods pretty much hit the mark: In 2016, it was “coconut everything” and wellness tonics, while 2017 marked plant-based diets and sparkling water.

Read more about Square Organics here: https://www.fastcompany.com/90269435/whole-foods-just-named-the-top-10-healthy-food-trends-for-2019

A #Free2Play Thailand Experience

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The S Words

Today’s guest post was written by Dan Hartley, a member of the ALLSAINTS team. ALLSAINTS is Not For Sale’s longest-running corporate sponsor. Dan recently travelled to Thailand to experience the impact of Not For Sale and ALLSAINTS’ partnership through Not For Sale Thailand’s annual #Free2Play activities. 

Cue The Sunset

I knew the story of Dave and Not For Sale. I’d read Dave’s book and had been in awe of Kru Nam and the team in Thailand from 5,500 miles away at AllSaints Studios in East London. But having been here for just over three days, experiencing it, meeting the people behind the names and pictures, I leave Chiang Rai with a new perspective entirely. As I write this, I’m sitting in the departures lounge of Chiang Rai International Airport.

I’d taken the opportunity to visit Japan a week ago, before catching a flight to Thailand to visit the children’s village and the NFS Thailand project. As I packed my suitcase this morning I thought of packing up to leave Tokyo. Tokyo was one of my favorite trips ever, I was on a high, overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness in Japan, the food, the shopping. But it didn’t stay my favorite trip for long.

When I arrived in our hotel in Thailand, on the banks of the Mekong River, the sun was just about to set. I’d never seen a sunset like it. I didn’t realize at the time that it would go on to represent the end of a particular view of the world, in preparation for a new one.

The “S Word”

I got to meet the legend that is Kru Nam. She was strong, kind, selfless, everything I thought she would be. She had some food with us at the hotel as we planned out the next days’ activity. We would start at the beginning, a trip to a drop in center around 45 minutes away. There we would meet Shaphiel (a former street kid, turned hero, now fighting for and caring for the next generation of kids in danger. You find this selflessness a lot here.) and Oot, a university graduate, who interned and decided this is what he wants to do full time (you see what I mean about selfless?).

The Not For Sale Thailand Team took us in to Myanmar (Burma). There I participated in what was, I’m sure, a much safer (but still intense) trip through some of the areas they work within each day. I met many inspiring people who were examples of the NFS x Krunam model working.

A Grandma – unable to cope following the drug-related death of her daughter and son-in-law (you hear this a lot too), had five grandchildren to take care of. NFS saw these kids as high risk, and took four of them into the village. The grandma hadn’t seen the kids in a year and a half, but you could tell she was happy they were doing well (there is that S word again – Selfless). It turns out one grandkid is in boarding school already, and looking to follow in the footsteps of three other NFS Thailand university graduates!

The day was an eye-opening look into what is happening on the ground every day at Not For Sale Thailand. It’s people like Shaphiel and Oot that have one of the toughest jobs, trying to educate the young kids they meet about the dangers of drugs and the right paths to follow, whilst staying aware and poised to be able to pull out any kids they see as high risk.

The “Other S Word”

Day two, still reeling from the sensory overload of Myanmar, Shaphiel and Oot, I looked forward to visiting the NFS village. I would finally meet the 50 or so kids that we had talked about on allsaints.com so often. As we took a sharp right off the main road down a dirt track, I felt a little nervous. I now realized I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

We approached the house, and little curious heads started popping up over walls and porches. When Dave wound down the window and yelled “sah wah dee khap”, they knew exactly who it was. “Phee Dave!” (“Uncle Dave!”) was yelled back, and more kids began popping up from everywhere. I don’t think I have ever seen so many smiles (a new S word for day two) in one place. Ranging in age from around 4 to 13 years old, the kids here have been rescued out of danger and brought to the village to be safe, educated, loved, and able to live a life free from exploitation.

Little cheeky guys began to point out my tattoos, and point to their muscles. Girls went shy, other kids simply beamed when you smiled at them. After lots, and I mean lots, of dancing and running around, the whole group performed a ceremony to show their appreciation to us and NFS. It was obvious they knew exactly who NFS was, and they all delicately poured perfumed water and petals onto our hands and giggled with excitement when you splashed them with it. Groups of girls then went around and delicately placed some of the remaining petals in their hair (cute, right?).

Tiger’s Eye

Day three couldn’t come quickly enough, these little superstars had put the biggest smile on my face. We arrived at the village just in time for dancing and more games. The hugs were more frequent now, as was the sound of “Phee Dan,” followed by outstretched arms into the air (this seems to be sign for, “hey, pick me up and shake me around until I giggle”). Of course I obliged every time.

In my entire visit, I didn’t see one tear, one tantrum, or one kid looking alone. Older and younger kids looked out for one another, helped with washing the dishes after eating, and brought us green tea and bottles of water when we looked extra hot from the dancing. You could also see that the games Kru Nam and the team introduced built confidence and inclusivity, whether it was a dance-off (with some pretty good moves from the oldest and the youngest amongst the kids), singing, or other group games. Later we had a tie-dye lesson, and the remainder of the day was filled with blue hands, green hands, and green soles of feet.

There was also a birthday cake for Dave to celebrate 10 years commitment from Not For Sale to the Thailand project.   Before we had to leave (a solid 12 hours after we got to the village in the morning), some of the kids gave us hand-drawn cards and pictures saying they loved us and would miss us.

A few of the kids were asked to volunteer and say a few words (there’s that confidence building again). The common theme was, “we love you,” “we miss you,” “thank you for making everyone smile,” “please don’t forget about us.” How can you not get tears in your eyes hearing that (answer: impossible!)?

Heartfelt thank you notes, more hugs now than I’ve ever had, and a tiger’s eye ring engraved with the word ‘NAM’ from Kru Nam, and it was time to go. It turns out my blue eyes were a talking point, and were being compared to a tiger.

Bright Colors

As I’ve said my goodbyes, it’s now possible to reflect on just what a huge impact this project is having. It’s not about short-term kudos, or a sound byte that you can get a headline with. It’s a slow burner, requiring years of patience, but the model is working. It is having a life-transforming impact on children right now, and I’ve met them – the past generations of people like Shaphiel and Gallow, the future generations of tiny little cheeky kids with beaming smiles and bright eyes, looking forward to the freedom to make their own futures.

I’ll conclude with an excerpt from an email I got from Dave a couple of hours after leaving Chiang Rai (the past 1,302 words could have been summed up in the next 25)

‘Nothing gives life such bright colors and deep meaning than a long-term dedication to a cause bigger than oneself’

Looks like I’ve found mine.

For more updates and stories on Not For Sale’s impact around the world, sign up for our upcoming newsletters.