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Abbreviation | AIM |
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Formation | 1989 (US), 2006 (Cambodia) |
Type | NGO |
Purpose | Combating sex trafficking in Cambodia |
Headquarters | Roseville, California |
Founders | Don and Bridget Brewster |
CEO | Clayton Butler |
Board Chair | Ken Petersen |
Website | aimfree |
Agape International Missions (AIM) is a non-denominational NGO combating sex trafficking in Cambodia. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Headquartered in California, AIM works to rescue victims of sex trafficking and provide rescued victims with housing, education, health, employment, rehabilitation, and community care. [5] [6]
In 2014, AIM launched a SWAT team, authorized by the Cambodian government, to investigate and raid illegal brothels in conjunction with the Cambodian National Police's Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. [7] [8] [9] AIM also rescues girls and women sex trafficked to China. [7]
AIM received GuideStar USA, Inc.'s gold seal of transparency in 2019. [10] Charity Navigator gave AIM the highest rating of 4 out of 4 stars and a score of 100 out of 100 for accountability & transparency. [11]
AIM was founded in 1989 by Bridget and Don Brewster, a former pastor in California, and began operations in Cambodia in 2006. [12] The organization opened its first shelter and restoration center for former child sex slaves in the village of Svay Pak, Cambodia. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
In 2022, it was reported that AIM has assisted the Cambodian government in its controversial crack-down on surrogacy in Cambodia. [18] This followed the Cambodian government's ban on commercial surrogacy prompted by the organization's concerns that women were exploited by the industry. [19] [20] [21]