“We have federal agents who do bake sales on weekends at their churches in order to raise money to pay for photocopies of literature [on trafficking]—federal agents who are desperate to do anything they can,” says Collins.

Still, through the work of Tiny Stars, similar organizations and the awareness of American citizens, the fight is being fought. Two years ago, an American could go anywhere in the world and freely have sex with underage children. But through the lobbying of groups like Tiny Stars, the law was changed as part of the PROTECT Act of 2003. Now, if there is proof of an American—regardless of where he is in the world—having sex with underage children, he can be sent to prison.

“This is what can be done,” Collins says, “small steps and persistent work to raise awareness and change people’s perception can produce results. For the next few years, it’s going to look like it’s a big issue all of a sudden, because we’re exposing a lot more of it and getting more information out. But child trafficking has been a big deal for a long time. We’re speaking the unspeakable until people begin to hear it.”

Spotlight on a Volunteer

When she was a child, April Martin, 22, wanted to be a doctor or missionary when she grew up. While working on the Mercy Ship—which provides medical care to third-world nations in Africa—Martin learned about child prostitution first hand.

“I was in a taxi one night and it was just me and the driver,” says Martin. “He stopped to pick up a passenger, got out of the car and was gone for several minutes. He came back with a little girl about seven-years-old. He put her in the front next to him. As he drove away, he looked at me in the rear view mirror with this aggressive look on his face and then started fondling the little girl between her legs. I was so overwhelmed with responsibility towards her, but I felt so helpless.”