Providing Employment and Support to Human Trafficking Survivors

People are trafficked from 127 countries and are exploited in 137 countries according to the United Nations.
 
However, you’re probably looking at that statistic and going “but…is there anything I can do really?” As an independent small business owner, it’s safe to assume that you’re not a trained therapist. And even if you are, it is still a complex problem lacking an easy solution.
 
The good news is that you can also offer men, women, and children who have been victims of human trafficking in the past a second chance.
 
On today’s episode I spoke to a hospice nurse, who started her own company after seeing what severe poverty really looks like in countries like Honduras, Haiti, Kenya and Ethiopia.
 
 But the real source of motivation for Amber Runyon, Eleventh Candle’s founder, was watching young children be sold like cattle in the marketplace, amongst broad daylight.
 
If you want your business to be a supportive environment for people who have lived in similar conditions, there’s a lot you can learn from her. And if you want to support her work, donate to her charity or buy one of her candles.
 
What this episode covers:

• Who is Amber Runyon?
• Amber’s greatest passion: teaching little girls to dream and reinvesting in broken women and what exactly that means…
• How Amber’s bond with a little girl named Mulu changed her life
• Amber’s advice on fair treatment of cultural differences: “it’s important to remember that the American way isn’t always the best way. I find that it’s about listening more than actually doing”
• Why she believes love above all else is something that can transcend all cultures
• Creating a welcoming environment for victims of human trafficking and abuse: how Amber does that….” it’s about making them realize that they don’t have to be something”
•  How the women who work at Eleventh Candle find solace in helping others with common struggles in other countries
• How giving the team a sense of community makes a difference
• Changes in team members: mostly related to allowing them to leave Eleventh Candle and find other sources of employment in the “regular” workforce, and give back to their community
• The tie in between Amber’s two organizations: Legacy and Eleventh Candle: not for profit vs for profit
• Why the way we often view what not-for-profits vs for profits are supposed to be doing is problematic, according to Amber
• How companies becoming socially aware has changed things: “they want to support a specific demographic of people…”
• The purpose of Amber’s for-profit and not-for profit companies: “providing a purpose and a safe place”
• Amber’s experiences collaborating with other, local for profits
• Creating a supportive environment and why to Amber it is about everyone having an equal say in how we can do better
• How Eleventh Candle helps their employees work towards self-improvement outside of work, via professional counselling and celebrating just showing up for work in the first place! If you fail it is okay…
• How Amber’s company keeps lines of communication open, despite the fact that they face challenges on the Ethiopia end with not quite knowing what they’re saying (because language barriers…)
• How Amber earned the respect of both the not-for profit and for profit sector
• Amber’s belief that people want to do good but don’t always know how to do good, and how she thinks having a simple solution like buying a candle can make a huge difference
• The purpose of the pouring parties…? Giving the women who work at Eleventh Candle transferrable skills, more specifically working in a retail environment
• Amber’s favourite part of her work, the relationships that she has formed and why that is awesome to her!
• The Eleventh Candle policy on photography: never about depicting children or women in a state of desperation or sadness. And how they make sure that they only work with people who understand what they’re trying to do from a mission statement standpoint
• The photographers’ roles in things? They’re part of the company…
• The three words that describe Eleventh Candle: authentic, progressive, and justice…
• The full-time store that Eleventh Candle is in the process of opening up

 
About Amber Runyon, the founder:
 
Amber is a Hospice Nurse who became a social entrepreneur. She founded Legacy and Eleventh Candle Co. out of the desire to bring hope to women both in the United States and in Ethiopia who’ve been vulnerable to human trafficking, abuse, exploitation, and addiction.
 
Amber focuses on providing therapeutic work setting that allows all women a fair chance and opportunity to grow.

About Eleventh Candle:
 
Eleventh Candle Co is a social enterprise local to Columbus, Ohio, that employs women who are survivors of human trafficking, exploitation, addiction and abuse to hand-make our 100% soy wax candles/melts and high-quality room sprays.

About Legacy:
 
Legacy provides coaching, counselling and employment opportunities for the women in their program.
 
Where you can find more about Amber’s work online:

Check out the Eleventh Candle website: www.eleventhcandleco.com
 
FYI:
 
As a special thank you for tuning in to the Eleventh Candle episode of my podcast, the company’s community manager wanted me to share with you a free shipping code for People Behind the Business listeners.
 
And the shipping code is… “Rosemary”.
 
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