Baptist Congress Carry Bags Tell the Story of Freedom

The Baptist World Centenary Congress has brought a massive flow of people from all around the world to the International Centenary Centre (ICC) in Birmingham this week; with approximately 12,700 delegates, as well as 1,000 volunteers. Even around the city centre of the Birmingham, attendants have infiltrated into the lives of the locals.

Apart form the visitors’ pass that proudly hang on the neck of these Baptist "Pilgrims", a very symbolic item to distinguish them would be the ivory-coloured shoulder bags given out by the Congress.

Though each of these carry bags may look very simple, a very touching life-changing story is embedded in it. These carry bags are all manufactured under the brand name - Freeset Bags, which is a business set up alongside with the Baptist ministry to tackle human trafficking and prostitution in the less privileged parts of the world.

According to figures from the United Nations, an estimated 700,000 to 2,000,000 people are trafficked annually across international borders for the purposes of exploitation in the form of commercial sex, domestic service or manual labour. This illegal industry generates between US$7 billion and US$12 billion US dollars annually. Most of the victims are young women and children, and most of them are trafficked into prostitution. Trafficking is especially prevalent in poor countries such as Thailand, China, Laos, Africa or former Soviet Union.

Due to extreme poverty, many teenagers or young women easily fall into the trap of human traffickers and prostitution as they urgently search for income to stay alive. They are forced to sell their bodies to earn a living or to support their families.

Baptists are involved in addressing this terrible issue, and are working closely in the frontline to help with both prevention of human trafficking and recovery of the victims. By setting up the Freeset Bags manufacturing business in the affected areas, women will be given education, vocational training and a career opportunity, which can bring a redemption of their lives from the hands of the sex traders. A new life of freedom will be opened to many victims of human trafficking.

Each Freeset Bag tells a story of one woman's journey to freedom. There are different product lines under the brand name, including Conference Bags which are to be customised to the clients’ specification, Gift Bags specially designed for corporate gifts or wine promotions as well as Carry Bags with fancy colours and styles suitable for general occasions.

All bags are made of Jute - an eco-friendly natural fibre. The manufacturing units are under the supervision of a western management team to guarantee high quality. Bags can also be made from synthetic materials such as p.p. non-woven. The bags are exported to eight countries today, including the US, UK, New Zealand among others.

To know more about this meaningful business and to read some real stories of women who found their freedom and dignity through Freeset Bags, please visit the website www.freesetbags.com.