As far as I can remember, I have not been able to accept things as they are now. I co-founded FAIR Fund to provide a platform for youth to prevent sexual violence and exploitation in their lives and communities. At the time of our inception, I was 23 with few contacts and little experience in managing a nonprofit, but I had personally seen friends from Southeastern Europe who were victims of the mail order bride industry and even more friends who felt that they had no choice but to accept the sexual violence in their lives and not seek help. In some cases, there was no where to seek help from in many of the developing communities in Eastern Europe. But, my history of "making change" really started at a much earlier age. At age 14, I co-founded an underground newspaper at my high school to expose issues of discrimination on campus and raise awareness about teen issues. My inspiration came from both my father and Jane Goodall. Moving forward with my work with FAIR Fund, I continue to find inspiration from the youth, especially a group of young girl survivors of trafficking in Serbia. I believe in speaking up, offering your time, and sometimes being willing to sacrifice your popularity to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
I grew up in a small Texas community and at age 18, went abroad to Europe for the first time. Around the globe, I found a small Croatian coastal village. When I am there, I felt like I was home again. I find my connections through common passions with other people - whether they are Washington, D.C., Belgrade, Serbia, Nairobi, Kenya or elsewhere.
I want to see younger girls empowered to advocate their own rights and have access to protection and real opportunities to lead healthy, happy, and safe lives. If we accept and aim to reduce the statistic that one in five women in their lifetimes will experience gender-based violence, then our efforts then we have a lot of work to do. But, I believe that as agencies and grassroots leaders we should continue to educate girls about their rights and connect them to services, we should provide support and training to community leaders and advocates, and personally we should not turn away from any girl in need of care - even if that means challenging community norms.
Andrea Powell (Co-founder and Executive Director ) has extensive experience in international advocacy, women's rights, and development. Ms. Powell received her MA in European Union Law and Economics at the University of Bonn, Germany and her BAIS from Texas State University in International Relations and Geography. She provides expert testimony in U.S. human trafficking cases and has trained law enforcement officers, educators, and U.S. diplomats. She is an experienced lecturer and has spoken to over 25 university campuses about human rights and the successful engagement of young women in civic activism. Ms. Powell was also a contributing writer for the San Francisco Women Museum’s “Imagining Ourselves” book and traveling exhibit project, published in 2006. Prior to co-founding FAIR Fund, Ms. Powell worked for the World Cancer Research Fund, the Graduate Consortium in Women’s Studies at Radcliffe College at Harvard University, Pathfinder International, Greenpeace Germany, and the EcoLogic Development Fund. Ms. Powell currently serves as an advisor to the African Regional Youth Alliance in Tanzania and as a Board member for the Center for Youth Integration in Belgrade, Serbia. Ms. Powell recently received the Texas State Alumni Association's Walter Richter Humanitarian Award for her work in promoting human rights.
