Brentwood: Catholic layman appointed to support victims of child trafficking

Geoff Pugh

A Catholic layman from the diocese of Brentwood and former provincial secretary for the Knights of St Columba, has been appointed as an ambassador to support work in Nepal rescuing and caring for trafficked children. Geoff Pugh will be available to talk to churches and groups and invite their financial support. He will be part of a team working to reunite 67 children, currently in the protection of a safe house, with their families. Some will go home for the first time in over eight years.

Chief Executive of the Esther Benjamins Trust, Ian Kerr, said: “Parents dream of doing the best for their children but in rural areas prospects are often very limited so trafficker’s offers of cash can be very tempting. Over the last 10 years we have rescued over 600 children many of whom were sold to traffickers often for as little as £15 along with promises of a new life and an education in India. The reality was very different and after several years many parents never expected to see their children again and some thought they were dead”.

Geoff will talk about the anti-trafficking work, a refuge for 67 children in special care, how the trust reunites families and what can be done to help. He is ideally placed to represent the trust and report back as he visits Nepal each year. Geoff has taught English to junior seminarians in a pastoral centre in the semi rural village where the Trust’s refuge and offices are based and also visits other Catholic projects nearby.

Fr Pius Perumana, Director Caritas Nepal commended Geoff in this role: “It is a pleasure for me to recommend Mr Geoffrey Pugh, who is known to me for about ten years. He has stayed with me at the Pastoral Centre in Godavari a few times teaching the minor seminarians at St. Joseph's Minor seminary English and also volunteering in many other pastoral activities. He is very committed and has been working with other NGO's and individuals who are involved in the work of social justice and human dignity. He has been a good friend and support for me in many of my works.”

For more information on the Esther Benjamins Trust go to www.ebtrust.org.uk