2024 marks 15 years since Nomi Network began empowering survivors of human trafficking and vulnerable women through life-changing support and economic opportunities. Though the organization is fifteen years old, the Nomi Network story began years before that in a small hut in rural Cambodia.
A Father’s Plea for Help
Diana Mao Kelly was traveling throughout rural Cambodia doing research on the impact of micro-finance for these communities. While conducting surveys in a small village, she met a single father with seven children. The family was living in desperate poverty with little food, no running water, and few opportunities to earn an income.
At the end of the visit, the father offered his six-year-old daughter for sale to Diana’s male colleague. Looking into his eyes she saw his grief and desperation to do something, anything, to try and care for his family. Hunger, poverty, and lack of opportunity drove this father to do the unthinkable.
This was a pivotal moment for Diana. She, like most people, believed trafficking was exclusively from criminal networks. Instead, she realized that trafficking and exploitation of women and girls begins in homes ravaged by poverty and lack of opportunities. Diana was determined to find a way to economically empower women to end cycles of exploitation.
Building a Network Takes a Team
Diana, and co-founders Supei Liu and Alissa Moore learned all they could about trafficking. They conducted research trips to Cambodia to listen to women and find opportunities. In their living rooms, late into the night, they worked with other volunteers to create a solution.
The founders had expertise and connections in fashion and retail, and from that, the first Nomi Network program idea was formed. Women could earn an income by making products such as bags, jewelry, ornaments and other items. Nomi Network would provide training on how to make high-quality products and connect them to markets for sale at a fair price.
Supei Liu moved to Cambodia to help get the program running. While working with the women, she discovered more was needed beyond technical training. Women needed to find their confidence and self-agency and have an opportunity to take on a new mindset. A mindset whereby they valued themselves as capable and having a voice. By listening to the women and what they needed, Supei helped create the first life skills training for the program.
The Network Grows
Through a State Department grant, Nomi Network was able to expand to India. We now have a full Workforce Development Program in India and Cambodia. Women find income solutions or employment that works for them. When the women asked for ways to prevent their daughters and nieces from enduring the same exploitation or early marriage they did, we created the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program.
In the U.S., we now serve justice-involved youth and survivors of trafficking in Dallas and adult women in Houston. We have partnered with more than 30 corporations and businesses and many community-based organizations to bring employment and training to the places with the most risks and the fewest opportunities for women.
Fifteen years later, Nomi Network remains true to its founding story. We believe every woman can reach her fullest potential despite her history, circumstances or environment. We also understand the unique challenges trafficking survivors and vulnerable women face because we listen to them. We create a network around every woman with a focus on finding concrete economic solutions and strengthening social and emotional skills.
Every Woman and Girl Needs a Network of Support
Until every little girl and woman can reach her full potential and be free from trafficking and exploitation, we remain committed to this work. Join us by giving today: here.
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