We were lucky to catch up with Camilla Cloward recently and have shared our conversation below.

Camilla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

My passion comes from hardships, abuse, and evil. I often get asked why I am Human Trafficking Activist and a freedom fighter, and my answer is and will always be “I want to be the person I never had. I will never again be silent.” I was raised with a father who bought and abused girls for his pleasure. Growing up with a father who saw women and girls as no more than bodies and dolls, I became a victim and a doll myself. I was sexually abused many times throughout my life and by many different men. I didn’t have anyone to save me, tell me that I am more than a body, or that I deserved more. In our society women are taught to be ashamed of abuse, to keep quiet, and often that it is our fault. Instead of receiving help we often turn to things to oppress our emotions and trauma such as drugs, eating disorders, and more.
It is a misconception that sharing our stories should be a shameful experience. Sharing our stories is the way to restore our power and our voices. Staying silent is what lets our abusers, traffickers, and peditors win. I let my abusers win for far too long and I will never again give them that power.
I do not want my legacy to be one of weakness, fear, and vitimatization. No, my legacy will be one of strength, courage, and freedom. My nonprofit fights to give voices back to victims mostly of human trafficking but any type of oppression through podcasts, media, and more. My goal is to become an operator that frees victims around the world and gives them power to fight back. Whether you have been trafficked, abused, raped, oppessed, or harassed, as a women and a human you are automatically in this fight. I do not just fight for the trafficked, I fight for all victims to find their power.
I want my legacy to be one of bringing freedom to people who are being trafficked, exploited, and abused, to be one of uniting people in the fight of slavery in all forms, and I want to be remembered as making a difference.

Camilla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Giving A Voice is 501c3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to give a voice to those who are ready to share their stories of being trafficked, and silenced. We also fights to spread awareness, and eduction of human trafficking through podcasts, media, and events. We hope to grow into a larger nonprofit that can provide resources, books, more education, and more. There is many misceptions when it comes to human trafficking and exploiation. Giving A Voice strives to provide an education on the reality of human trafficking and what to look for. One of the accomplishments that I am most proud of is that we have been able to share the stories of survivors around the country and educate people through our podcast around the world. I want people to know that Giving A Voice needs you to join the fight. No matter who you are, what you do or what your passions are you belong in this fight and you can make a difference. I have seen people dance for this fight, paint for freedom, donate their time and professions, and donate funds. You have a voice, you have an outlet, and you can help led this world to freedom. One person can not do this alone, it will take all of us to grow the resilience of a slave free world.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is not to listen to people who think you are less than or underestimate your abilities. I have always been ambitious and a dreamer. I have been told my times that I couldn’t help someone, that my goals are too large or I am too young. When you have passion there is nothing that can stop you. No matter your age, gender, or trials you can leave a legency of strength. It will be hard but nothing worth it was ever easy. I have had to fight like I never have before, face truths that were hard, and most importantly believe in myself. Every meeting, or adventure you have hold your head high and know that you can do hard things. Have you ever read about someone great who didn’t face hardships? No, they fought through them and you can too. When you feel like quitting remember that everyone does and it is about getting back up that makes you different. No one great ever followed societies norms or listened to those who saw them as less. It is being different that makes a difference in a world where everyone is trying to fit in. Be different, be you and see the differences you make.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

One of the hardest things for any business but especially nonprofits is funding. Giving A Voice has been funded mostly through my finances and we also had a large donor. This summer Giving A Voice lost it’s top donor and we have not been able to do much since due to lack of funding. WE are hoping to come back in the new year stronger than ever being able to provide more for survivors. You can make a difference today with sharing survivors stories and help us set up resources by helping funding or volunteering.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cclowa20.wixsite.com/my-site
• Instagram: giving.a.voice
• Facebook: giving.a.voice
• Other: podcast: on any platform- Giving A Voice by Camilla Cloward