Two million reasons to these high school freshmen equals 2 million children throughout the world who are sexually exploited. Approximately 325,000 of those are trafficked through the United States.
When Concord Academy freshman and Newton resident Katie Simon heard someone speak about sexually exploited children over the summer, she decided to act.
Simon gathered a group of four friends together to talk about the issue and what could be done. That's when Minga was born.
"I always wanted a way to help people, but it was hard to find an organization to join," Simon said. "This was a good way. It just clicked."
The small group of five came together to form an organization of socially aware young teenagers whose cause was to raise money to spread awareness of sexually exploited children.
The group's name came about in its second meeting and means good will in a native Ecuadoran dialect.
Fitting for a group whose first event, a yard sale in October, raised nearly $8,000.
The group has since evolved from simply fundraising to raising money and awareness and now consists of 20 solid members.
The young group of mostly high school freshmen from Newton will host its biggest event yet tomorrow at the Hyde Center, when they expect about 250 people to join them for a charity dinner featuring guest speakers and entertainment.
The event is expected to raise about $10,000 that will go toward the building of a new rescue center for exploited children in the Philippines.
Simon said the experience has been "very empowering" in that she has learned that when faced with a roadblock, she works through it.
Simon's friend, Anusha Mookherjee, a Newton South High School freshman, said the experience has been a good one for her, too.
"It makes me appreciate my life so much more," said Mookherjee.
Mookherjee said the group realized that while its yard sale garnered $8,000, people didn't learn about sexual exploitation, the group's main purpose.
"People were giving money but not understanding," said Mookherjee. "The dinner will show them why they need to give money."
"There's more media attention than we notice because it's not under one name," said Simon, explaining that because the issue is so broad and general it is harder for people to concentrate on it.
But it's more than that as well, said Simon.
She contrasted the war in Iraq, an issue that affects people directly, with sexual exploitation, which does not have immediate impact of the lives of the general public.
And that's why Minga has worked tirelessly on this weekend's event since coming up with the idea in late December.
For the past three weeks, Simon and Mookherjee said they have both worked about two hours a night on the dinner gathering sponsors and donations of food and items to raffle off.
"This is an issue that affects the next generation," Mookherjee said, adding that sometimes she gets frustrated with the lack of attention the issue receives.
Simon agreed, saying the issue is political.
Many countries where children are sexually exploited, mainly in Central America and Southeast Asia, need the tourism the sordid sex trade brings, Simon said.
According to Simon, 25 percent of the people who travel to those countries to have sex with children come from the United States.
"I can give back to these kids something that they don't have, but I do," said Mookherjee of not only raising awareness but money as well.
The dinner will also serve, said Simon, as a way for kids to learn that they can make a difference, too.
"Kids can make a difference," said Simon, "They just need to hear that."
While the yard sale was a great start and the dinner is coming together well, there will always be work to be done.
Simon said after this weekend's event is finished, Minga plans to travel to various Boston schools to speak on the issue of sexual exploitation, and in June nine members will travel to Guatemala to speak with kids at rescue centers.
"We're going to learn about the issue by talking with kids," Simon said. "It will be very eye-opening."
Christopher Loh can be reached cloh@cnc.com.
