While I was in Albany Oregon yesterday at the Northwest Fly Tyer and Fly Fishing Expo I met the creators of the Fly Fishing Collaborative.   This is an interesting and meaningful way to raise awareness and improve the lives of children and their families through fishing.

“I just can’t believe how much people in the fly fishing industry have been willing to help” said Mrs. Buchstaber one of the founders of this unique program.

For more information visit the website : http://flyfishingcollaborative.org/ and face book page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fly-Fishing-Collaborative/762050383816807.

The following is an excerpt from the website:

We exist to use our passion for fly fishing for a good and just cause. According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), human trafficking is the world’s third largest enterprise after drugs and weapons. Over 2 million children are affected annually. Studies show that children caught in sex trafficking are victimized by 100–1500 perpetrators each year. We formed the FFC so that we can use our tools in fly fishing to give children the protection and healing they need. By partnering with professional fly fishing outfitters and guides around the world, we have the incredible opportunity to join the fight for freedom and recovery for these precious children.

The Fly Fishing Collaborative is offering professionally guided fly fishing trips and selling custom-made leather fly wallets. The money raised will be given to orphanages and caregivers around the world. This will go towards creating sustainable livelihoods and economic support to rescue and prevent more children from being sold into the sex slave industry.

Every $10,000 we raise will provide a totally sustainable tilapia farm that will be built for an orphanage in order to provide them with food, income, water, and fresh produce. Additionally, this will empower their leaders to care for more children that would otherwise be sold into slavery.