The crew has been in Thailand now for a week... for some it's their first time diving into this issue, for others its a revisit to an all too familiar subject. Our first few days were spent in Pattaya which is where Thailand became a sex tourism industry during the Vietnam War when US soldiers were sent there for R&R. Images of beautiful Thai girls lining the streets, middle aged western men holding their hands, taking them to dinner, and frequenting the go-go bars that are a dime a dozen are standard sights to be seen. It is a destination for sex, with the beaches and tourist attractions as an added bonus. The men buying say it's paradise on earth, but for us it felt like the edge of the world, and we left hoping we'd never have to go back.

Then on to Kat's village, a sweet 11-year old that the crew befriended last year and who's story you will soon be familiar with as the films come to completion. Her story is a story of hope and prevention: 90% of the girls from her village are sent to cities such as Pattaya for sex work. Last year the crew was moved to begin a scholarship program with the goal of keeping the children in her village in school rather than on the streets or sent to cities. Our time with her brought us back to the heart of this project: to continue fighting for the innocence of children, as her story reminded us that prevention, and hope, is possible.

Now, we are in Chang Mai: a favorite stop for all of us. It's beautiful scenery, deep history and breath of fresh air from Pattaya has continued to press us forward to keep finding our story. Our time here has been interviewing street kids who come here to sell their bodies in order to survive. Understanding their stories gives us a greater look into this complex issue. The heroes we have met along this journey inspire us: men and women giving up their lives to serve these children in hopes of changing even one life.

This is a journey of discovery for all of us: each day the crew is working through the emotions of what it means to prevent this horrible exploitation of children, and our hope is to bring these stories home to you in a way that inspires and empowers you to continue fighting for the innocence of children.

Always searching for hope...

The Rachel's.