Today we’d like to introduce you to Tawney Bevacqua.
Hi Tawney, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2009, with no ties to nonprofits and no understanding of modern-day slavery, I found myself on a 600-mile bicycle ride through India alongside local girls who had been impacted by human trafficking. Out of this wildly unexpected journey grew a love for this part of the world and a curiosity for environments that contrasted what was familiar to me. The trip was less about human trafficking and more about connection and progress, which I respected, but I crossed the finish line knowing the journey had just begun.
Immediately after returning, before the henna had faded off my hands and in perfect synchronicity with India’s magic, I was introduced to leading anti-slavery activists in the US and UK who were on a mission to end slavery once and for all. I’ve worked alongside them since. Currently, my time is focused on Voices4Freedom, which provides sustainable solutions for ending debt-bondage slavery in Northern India.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
*laughs* ‘smooth road’ and ‘bicycle trip in India’ is perhaps the greatest oxymoron of all time. Unfortunately, basic human rights are still a daily struggle for millions around the world. Just last year, 28 million people were estimated to be working under forced labor conditions – an eighth of whom were children. Our current programs in India are with villages trapped in debt-bondage slavery, but we find sexual slavery and forced marriage are often taking place as well. Through education and empowerment, these villages free themselves from slavery and help others to avoid the slavery trap. The solution has never been a struggle because we know what works. The struggle is getting everyone to step up: Governments, organizations, trade unions, civil societies, businesses, consumers, all of us.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a creative director which includes photography, video, design, and writing. It’s a story I’m able to tell in large part thanks to our partners in India, a team of over 40 people who stand beside these communities as they learn their rights, how to organize and access government programs. They understand the culture, traditions, bureaucracy, local dialects, and the needs of the people, which allows us to work together effectively AND respectfully. I also get to work in other departments like programs, development, and marketing. Nonprofits are great for an aspiring polymath.
Altogether, Voices4Freedom has opened 50 Schools4Freedom in Northern India, with 4 more on the way. 2,636 children have been caught up to grade level and transitioned to public school after being forced to work 12–16-hour days. 5,402 people have come to sustainable freedom, meaning they have all the tools they need to stay out of slavery forever. We’re focused on eradicating debt bondage slavery in the area where the most people are at risk. Small org, big goals.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Philanthropy, like many traditional institutions, should evolve to be more inclusive. The data tell us less than 50% of American households are donating, but that only counts monetary gifts to 501(c)3s. Gathering data on all forms of giving will show a truer picture of giving trends that will lead to a better understanding of how to do the most good. It should include concepts like mutual aid, which communities, especially communities of color, have been doing for centuries. We have seen a major boost in crowdfunding or person-to-person giving, highlighting our trust in an individual knowing exactly what they need. I hope this leads to widespread research into ideas like Basic Income, which could potentially be lifesaving for millions of people around the world.
In the meantime, nonprofits can find new ways to build trust with the public, and the public can rethink methods for evaluating their nonprofit standards. For example, I could brag about how Voices4Freedom only uses 8.5% of our donations on overhead, but that actually perpetuates the idea that the amount spent on overhead is a good metric for a charity’s trustworthiness when it’s only one piece of the pie. In business, we know that the most capable and qualified employees will produce the best product and public trust is higher in businesses than in nonprofits. So why wouldn’t you want the most capable and qualified people working on the biggest threats to society? A charity’s financial records are public information for those concerned, but overall, the focus on overhead is outdated and unhelpful. A charity’s true value, how much good it does, is much harder to measure. Widespread metrics for the effectiveness of a nonprofit don’t exist yet, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on charities, as plenty of them are doing amazing work. A small monthly donation is a great way to test the waters and see if a nonprofit proves worthy of a more significant gift. Regular monthly donations are extremely beneficial for a nonprofit’s financial planning and, most importantly, allow time for relationship building. Taking on big challenges like 50 million people in modern-day slavery can feel overwhelming, but as the great Arundhati Roy said, “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Voices4Freedom.org
- Instagram: @tawneyb
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/voices4freedom
Image Credits
Tawney Bevacqua
