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Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) is the only organization in New York State specifically designed to serve girls and young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. GEMS was founded in 1999 by Rachel Lloyd, a young woman who had been sexually exploited as a teenager. GEMS has helped hundreds of young women and girls, ages 12-21, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and to develop to their full potential. GEMS provides young women with empathetic, consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change.

Mission

Girls Educational and Mentoring Services' (GEMS) mission is to empower young women, ages 12-21, who have experienced sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential. GEMS is committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of children by changing individual lives, transforming public perception, and revolutionizing the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth.

Vision

GEMS’ vision is to end the commercial exploitation and trafficking of children.

Philosophy

We believe that all young women have great beauty and worth, and the potential for future success. The voices and experiences of youth survivors are integral to the development and implementation of all GEMS’ programming.

Girls Educational & Mentoring Services

(212) 926-8089 · info@gems-girls.org · www.gems-girls.org

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About Gems

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Being around positivity, empowerment, it kind of just stuck with me to always think that of myself, that I’m worthy. So that’s what I learned.  —Alison

GEMS Awards

Gems and its founder  have received numerous awards including

•Reebok Human Rights Award (2006)

•Community Service Award from the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators (2007)

•Frederick Douglass Award from the North Star Fund (2007)

•Susan B. Anthony Award from the New York City Chapter of the National Organization for Women (2008)

•Friends of Bill Scarborough (29th Assembly District, Queens) at the “Building and Strengthening our Community Gala” (March 2008)

•Social Entrepreneurship Award from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research  (2008)

<< Press Coverage

Press Coverage

July 8, 2008, The New York Times - N.Y./Region - Helping Girls as Victims, Not Culprits by Clyde Haberman

March 16 , 2008, The New York Times - Opinion - The Pimp's Slaves by Nicholas D. Kristof              

February 19, 2008, The New York Times - Opinion - The Wrong Target by Bob Herbert             

July 13, 2008, The Washington Post - N.Y. Struggles To Aid Child Prostitutes by Robin Shulman            

July 2, 2008, The Associated Press - N.Y. Considers Help to Victims of Child Prostitution by    

Valerie Bauman            

GEMS History

GEMS, was founded in 1999 by Rachel Lloyd, a young woman who had been sexually exploited as a teenager. Ms. Lloyd came to the U.S in 1997 as a missionary to work with adult women exiting prostitution. While working with adult women in correctional facilities and on the streets, Ms. Lloyd observed the overwhelming need for services for young women at risk for sexual exploitation who were being ignored by traditional social service agencies. It became clear that specialized services were essential for this disenfranchised population.

From a one-woman kitchen table project, GEMS has grown to a nationally recognized and acclaimed organization and now is one of the largest providers of services to commercially sexually exploited and domestically trafficked youth in the US. GEMS’ vision is to end the commercial exploitation and trafficking of children. GEMS advocates at the local, state and national level to promote policies that support young women who have been commercially sexually exploited and domestically trafficked.

November, 2008, UNICEF - Child sexual exploitation in the USA: Not just a problem for  

developing nations by Elizabeth Kiem