A Kiwi couple needs public help in a quest to take part in a 'This Is Your Life Change' bootcamp which would help their dream of putting a stop to the forced sex trade industry. In 2013 Xavier Hartstonge and partner Jesse North created the not-for-profit organisation SweatsHope with the vision of halting the forced sex trade industry in areas such as Kolkata, in India. Hartstonge has now made the final 50 of the 'This Is Your Life’ competition, which has had more than 3,500 entries from around the world. You can help Xavier and Jesse’s cause by voting for Xavier to get a spot in the boot camp here Six people will be selected to receive an all-expenses paid trip to a 200 acre remote Fijian Island, where they will spend two weeks working with a business coach, life coach and personal trainer, to work on their vision to change the world in an incredible way. The organisers hope to turn it into a reality TV show. Hartstonge, who is currently based in Australia, says being part of the bootcamp would open a number of doors for SweatsHope. “Spending two weeks isolated on an island, paired with a Life Change Catalyst, Personal Trainer and Business Mentor would allow us to grow personally and as an organisation. The experience, advice and support would be priceless not to mention the positive publicity our campaign would receive.” He says we all know the sex trade is happening, yet we choose to close our eyes. “It’s just not good enough anymore - 11,000 women stand in line daily willing to sell their body in order to support their family, they are stuck in a downward cycle of poverty and unless we get in there and support they have no other option. “It’s about empowerment, showing these women they do have the choice and no longer have to do this. We need to show support, give them the helping hand they need. It’s modern day slavery and should no longer be tolerated.” Hartstonge says public support is incredibly crucial for the organisation to make it further in the competition. “Without it we cannot be successful. The final six are chosen based on a vote system - the semi-finalists with the highest number of votes cam be confident in a place on the island.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 16th April 2015 - 2:28pm