2017 has been a tough year -- from hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires, to political news. If you've been watching and wanting to make a difference, but you live a busy life or you're just not sure how to get involved, this episode is for you. Sarah Davison-Tracy runs Seeds of Exchange, an organization that uses storytelling to make tangible change. Sarah gives advice for getting involved in service -- with small, doable steps. In this episode, she talks about helping the Lighthouse Foundation, which rescues Nepalese girls from a life of sex slavery. Bonus at the end: Hannah Badi, one of the first girls to be rescued from this life, tells her story. 

Highlights: 

- To live a life of meaning and purpose requires three components: destiny/superpower, tribe, and offering. Sarah defines each one. 

- Without a tribe, service is unsustainable. We burn out. Grow a tribe or turn to your existing one to continue offering service (and to continue creating something new, which is hard). 

- Raju Sundas began the Lighthouse Foundation because he watched a TV documentary about the Badi people, who live in a village 20 hours from his city of Kathmandu. At the time, nine years ago, he had no money himself, but he was moved by the plight of the villagers and felt he had to do something about it. The Lighthouse Foundation now houses, clothes, and educated more than 700 children. 

Resources mentioned in the episode: 

Seeds of Exchange

Lighthouse Foundation Nepal

Video of Hannah's story

Read about Hannah in an excerpt from Sarah Davison-Tracy's forthcoming book: Live Ablaze | And Light Up the World. (Click on the bonus content button for the .pdf)

Transcript of Hannah Badi's speech about being rescued and her ambition to become prime minister of Nepal: 

Hannah Badi Tells Her Story

The following is a transcript of a short speech Hannah Badi gave at a Seeds of Exchange storytelling event in Denver in September, 2017. Raju Sundas, the founder of Lighthouse Foundation Nepal, translated for Hannah – until the very end of her talk, when she switched to English. To listen to her talk, go to the end of this One More Shot episode, following the credits.

Hannah: [00:39:00] Speaks in Nepalese. 

Raju: [00:39:04] When I was nine years old I met Uncle Raju at my village. 

Hannah: [00:39:24] Speaks.

Raju: [00:39:33] Being part of the Badi community. I have seen what is happening in Hannah’s village. And I myself went through that experience. 

Hannah: [00:39:44] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:39:52] If nine years ago if I was not rescued from that village I wouldn't be able to speak today.

Hannah: [00:40:00] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:40:45 All my friends, those who used to play with me, were being sold in brothels. I have seen everything with my own eyes.

Hannah: [00:40:57] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:41:12] [In Badi villages], they celebrate the girls. Because they don't celebrate girls as girls but they celebrate as income source, of money. 

Hannah: [00:41:20] Speaks.

Raju: [00:41:37] Mothers teach their daughters how to entertain or how to attract a man. 

Hannah: [00:41:42] Speaks.

Raju: [00:41:55] Badi people, you know, is one of the people groups that are being treated as a lowest of the society. [In Nepal’s caste system, Badi people are the lowest caste – the “untouchables.”] 

Hannah: [00:42:06] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:42:14] In our society the dog has value. Dogs can go from one house to another house. But Badi people cannot go from one house to another house. They are “untouchable.” 

Hannah: [00:42:28] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:42:32] So since our lifestyle was like that, education was just a dream. No one can study. 

Hannah: [00:42:41] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:42:46] When they were nine to 10 years old, that is the time they had to start the business [of enforced prostitution]. 

Hannah: [00:42:54] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:43:24] They are treated this way in public places like police stations, bus stations, hospitals, anywhere. They are being ostracized by people. The moment the people know that they are Badi people, they are open to being abused.

Hannah: [00:43:46] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:43:48] No matter what type of caste, the moment people know they are Badi people, they are seen as sexual toys. Anyone can do anything to them, all kinds of things. 

Hannah: [00:43:57] Speaks.

Raju: [00:44:01] I thought that I would end up in a brothel. Or I would have to sell my body. I was thinking like that. 

Hannah: [00:44:08] Speaks.

Raju: [00:44:10] My sister was sold in front of my own eyes. My friends were sold in front of my own eyes. 

Hannah: [00:44:17] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:44:22] Nobody heard our voices. We were the voiceless people. 

Hannah: [00:44:26] Speaks.

Raju: [00:44:33] When I [Raju] went and spoke and told them that I was there to help them, it was difficult for them to believe a man. They didn’t trust me.

Hannah: [00:44:42] Speaks.

Raju: [00:44:45] When I went in her village for the first time, she performed a dance. 

Hannah: [00:44:50] Speaks.

Raju: [00:45:03] When I met Uncle Raju, I felt that the future of my life was in his hands. I can trust someone like that. 

Hannah: [00:45:14] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:45:17] I brought Hannah and 31 other girls to Kathmandu.

Hannah: [00:45:19] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:45:22] She started to go to school. 

Hannah: [00:45:24] Speaks.

Raju: [00:45:28] I had a great struggle in the school as well, being Badi. 

Hannah: [00:45:32] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:45:39] Ever time they encounter problems in school, we always encouraged them, that their time will come. You will rise. 

Hannah: [00:45:47] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:46:00] When I came to Lighthouse, I found the authentic love. There is no fake, no selfishness. And people from other parts of the country also shared love, you know. 

Hannah: [00:46:16] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:46:23] I came to know my value.

Hannah: [00:46:27] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:46:32] I have completed my college degree [note: college is high school in Nepal]. 

Hannah: [00:46:35] Speaks. 

Raju: [00:46:38] So soon I'm going to study political science in university. 

Hannah: [00:46:43] Because I want to be a prime minister of Nepal. 

Raju: [00:46:46] That's amazing (cheers from audience). 

Hannah: [00:46:52] I want to change my nation and I want to change the caste system, and I want to support Badi people.  I want to be a strong woman of Jesus Christ. And I am so happy I'm here. And thank you for everyone here. So thank you for your love. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your prayer. And thank you for you make me strong. And thank you for helping us, Uncle [Raju]. He's my great father and great mother.. And thank you so much for everything and please help us.

Raju: [00:47:37] Thank you. No need to translate now! (Cheers from audience.)