Helping protect women from oppression is one of the main goals of the group She Dances of Eastern.

The group is a registered student organization that helps raise awareness about women trafficking and slavery around the world.

She Dances of Eastern is a small chapter of the national organization that supports the rehabilitation for women who were once victims of human trafficking and sexually exploited.

The organization was founded by Jeremy Springer of California in 2008 after he saw a Honduran girl dancing with joy after being released from being a sex slave.

On the She Dances website, Springer said he believes every girl deserves to dance, so he created She Dances. He opened safe houses in Honduras where girls could go that had been trafficked or exploited sexually.

Eastern joined the organization when Chris Brunson, a former student of Eastern, attended an event promoting the safe

houses.

Brunson said he felt compelled by the girls’ stories and wanted to help. As a new RSO, Brunson needed to find a sponsor so they could become official. He asked Linda Sherwood, a professor of elementary education, to support the group.

With five daughters and six granddaughters, Sherwood said she had plenty of reasons to support She Dances.

The girls that are exploited are from third world countries and are shipped all over the world, even to the U.S., and they have no one to care for them when they get out, Sherwood said.

“When you hear about these young girls being sold as sex slaves, you can’t help but want to help,” Sherwood said. “What a tragedy for their lives.”

Victoria Greer, a senior elementary education major, is the new president of the chapter at Eastern.

Greer got involved last year and became the organizations president this year.

She said she also feels inspired by these girls and wants to help restore their lives so they can go out and succeed.

“These girls are taken at 11 years old and when they are released some of them are almost 10 years older,” Greer said. “So they may be 10 years older, but they’re still little girls on the inside.”

Greer has traveled to Honduras and has seen the culture and people of Honduras first hand.

Greer was not able to visit any of the safe houses, because of privacy reasons. They want to keep the girls sheltered, not exploit them, she said.

Greer said they plan on sponsoring a winter fundraising event soon.

They hope staff and students will help them continue their support of the national organization.

“Seeing the horror on these peoples faces made me so passionate about the cause,” Greer said.

Åmy Schniers can be reached

at 581-2812 or [email protected].