Vietnam Vet taking computers to former sex slaves

By GENEVIEVE BOOKWALTER
Posted: 03/08/2010 01:30:48 AM PST

FELTON -- When Jon Haro returned home after two tours of duty in the Vietnam war, he had no intention of going back to Southeast Asia.

But when fellow Twin Lakes Church members organized a mission trip to Cambodia last year -- near the Thailand border where Haro, 62, served as an Air Force sergeant -- he thought joining them might bring him some closure after rescuing downed aircraft there more than 40 years ago.

Instead, the trip to build a village church inspired Haro to return in December with laptop computers for a Southeast Asia safe house that holds nearly 100 girls rescued from sex slavery. His 28-year-old daughter and two friends will go with him.

Before leaving in December, Haro said he hopes to collect 50 donated, used computers to carry with him and deliver in person to one of four Southeast Asian safe houses run by Rapha House, a Christian organization based in Missouri. Haro, who is fluent in Thai, said carrying the computers himself will ensure they will all get to the girls. At the house he visited, Haro said 95 girls share six computers.

"I never planned on doing anything like this. I'm not a real do-gooder or anything like that," said Haro, who toured the house as part of his trip. But after that experience, "you're never the same person."

Rapha House runs secure safe houses for underage girls who have been rescued from sex slavery and human trafficking. The girls receive counseling and emotional support, and learn job
kills like sewing, cosmetology, agriculture and computer operation so they can earn an independent living. Rapha House officials asked that the safe house locations not be printed for security reasons.

Melissa Jackson, involvement administrator at Rapha House's Missouri headquarters, called Haro's gift "a huge part" in teaching the girls "everything that a normal job would require them to do."

"They need to learn how to cut and paste and all the good things," Jackson said. "They really could be a graphic artist somewhere."

According to UNICEF, 1.2 million children each year are put into slavery worldwide. According to Rapha House statistics, 80 percent of all trafficking victims are women and children.

Haro said he experienced mixed emotions returning to the region where he served decades ago.

"There was something different, and I realized I could stand up and look at everything," he said. That was not an option during the war.

Now that he's taken it all in, Haro said he hopes to come back to Santa Cruz next time with the girls' handmade bags and sell them to local churches. He would return all proceeds to the makers, he said.

In that region, "you have so many predators," Haro said. "If we help one or two little girls," the trip will be a success.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_14632525

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