Beautiful Dream Society
Mission
BDS Mission Beautiful Dream Society is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting exploitation, instilling value, and empowering vulnerable people in Lesotho by providing love, protection, and education through partnership with the church and community. Our focus is currently fighting human trafficking and helping orphans in Lesotho, Africa. 2019 Was Our 9th Year in Operation Moving Forward in 2020... In 2020, Lesotho, Africa continues to be the primary focus for Beautiful Dream Society moving forward. Although Beautiful Dream Society, along with the support of our dedicated partners, is grateful and privileged to have served trafficking victims and their children in our Oklahoma crisis shelter during 2013 through 2016, we have fully returned to our original call to help Lesotho where BDS is still the FIRST and ONLY organization dedicated to sheltering victims of human trafficking in the country at this time. We celebrate the lives of the 195 human trafficking and sexual assault victims (including 57 US women and children that have been changed through our Oklahoma operation), and we are grateful that other organizations have been raised up to take over the mandate to provide assistance for trafficking victims in Oklahoma. BDS continues to raise awareness about human trafficking in Oklahoma and at every opportunity we have all over the US and the world. Our message is that human life is valuable. Every human being deserves love, respect, and freedom from exploitation and domination.
Ruling year
2012
Principal Officer
Jennifer Crow
Main address
PO Box 32554
Oklahoma City, OK 73123 USA
Formerly known as
Beautiful Dream Oklahoma LLC
EIN
27-2574811
NTEE code
Rape Victim Services (F42)
International Human Rights (Q70)
Low-Cost Temporary Housing (includes Youth Hostels) (L40)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is not required to file an annual return with the IRS because it is a religious organization.
Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
BDS aims to end human trafficking in Lesotho.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Lesotho Shelter for Adult Female Victims of Human Sex Trafficking
BDS operates a Lesotho Government Certified, 24-hour, emergency shelter for victims of human sex trafficking and their dependent children in Maseru, Lesotho, Africa. Referrals are provided from multiple sources, such as law enforcement, healthcare agencies, and individual community members. In the home, women and their children receive shelter, food, and clothing. Trained volunteers and staff provide trauma-informed care throughout the process of helping the individual or child to accomplish his or her goals. BDS partners with the community in order to facilitate individual needs, such as medical care, mental health care, and further education and vocational opportunities. Length of stay for the women varies, and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Each resident chooses her own personal plan for safety, determines the course of actions to be taken, and is assisted as needed in creating a transition plan to resume a healthy, fulfilling life beyond their time in the BDS Hope House.
Lesotho Love House, Khotso House, Tumelo House Children's Village Program
BDS Lesotho had been operating the shelter for victims of human trafficking for two and a half years, when BDS discovered that there were orphan children who were in dire need due to other orphanages in the country being closed and over crowded. BDS answered the call to help by forming homes to ensure that children are raised to be the next generation of Basotho leaders. Three dedicated women were trained and chosen to serve as mothers to the children. Two of the women had been former victims of trafficking and had come through the BDS Crisis Care and Transition Program. The model of vulnerable women empowered to serve as nurturers and caregivers to orphaned and abused children has been effective. BDS currently supports loving family homes where nine vulnerable children are loved and cared for by three dedicated mothers.
Lesotho Human Trafficking Prevention Initiative
Instilling Value A person's value comes from their Creator. Beautiful Dream Society strives to raise awareness at every level of society that human beings have value that can never be taken away by another human being. This is portrayed through our presentations and trainings to multiple governmental organizations, schools, community groups, law enforcement, churches, and healthcare providers. In 2017 and 2018, Beautiful Dream Society of Lesotho was honored to partner with Catholic Relief Services and the International Organization of Migration which allowed BDS to raise awareness about human trafficking to 7426 students, teachers and community members in 2017 and 7126 students, teachers and community members in 2018. BDS also conducted numerous radio interviews with trafficking survivors on multiple radio stations in Lesotho in 2018 which had the potential to have reached over 100,000 people. In 2019, BDS spoke to over 4500 people face to face in the country of Lesotho while reaching up to 100,000 people in the capital city of Maseru through radio public service interviews to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Oklahoma Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Initiatives
A person's value comes from their Creator. When societies recognize this essential principle, then human exploitation decreases. By increasing education and awareness on matters of human trafficking in the state of Oklahoma, Beautiful Dream Society strives to raise awareness that human value that can never be diminished. Since 2012, BDS has spoken to thousands in schools, universities, churches, and at community and tribal events. BDS also provides customized instruction on topics such as trauma informed care and care of trauma victims using principles of validation and acceptance.
Where we work
Awards
Affiliations & memberships
Edmond Chamber of Commerce 2018
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 2018
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of people who received clinical mental health care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of African descent, Adults, Adolescents, Economically disadvantaged people, Victims of crime and abuse
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
BDS provides trauma-informed mental health services to residents at the Crisis Care Center. Residents may receive one-on-one counseling or attend group therapy sessions.
Number of trafficking victims reunited with their families
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Adolescents, People of African descent, Victims of crime and abuse
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Many BDS clients were trafficked while abroad, and have not been able to return to their families. After stabilizing at the Crisis Care Center, we help our residents return to their hometowns.
Number of clients who complete job skills training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Lesotho Shelter for Adult Female Victims of Human Sex Trafficking
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Lesotho Human Trafficking Prevention Initiative
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Sensitization activities were done in 5 schools, 2 police stations, 8 villages, 2 support groups, 2 clinics, trained 2 groups of police officers, 3 street outreach and one radio program
Number of beneficiaries who received direct assistance and services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
19 residential clients (10 minors and 9 adults) and 9 non-residential clients (3 minors and 6 adults).
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
BDS will achieve its mission by providing direct assistance to trafficking victims, supporting the Lesotho government's efforts to patrol the border to prevent trafficking, and raising community awareness of human trafficking and interrelated issues such as sexual assault and exploitation.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Through its on-the-ground programming in Lesotho, BDS addresses the underlying causes of human trafficking, which include a lack of economic opportunities, access to education, and resources, and practical support.
In addition to running a private school for victims 18 and under, an adult vocational training program, and a 24-hour crisis shelter for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, BDS administers trauma-informed care, providing clients with weekly individual and group therapy sessions with a psychologist, medical care as needed, and legal representation through a partnership with an all-women law firm.
BDS has also run 3 major community awareness and sensitization campaigns over the past 9 years educating the community on the prevalence and illegality of human trafficking in the country, how to recognize common tactics used by traffickers, and how victims can seek help or be advocated for by friends and family. For these campaigns, BDS held in-person presentations in schools, local police units, and community organizations that reached over 6,400 people.
During those sessions, participants often made reports of trafficking or suspected trafficking that BDS then reported to the local Child and Gender Protection Units (CGPUs). BDS works closely with the local police force to identify, shelter, and reunite trafficking survivors with their families. In addition, BDS ran radio and other multimedia components of the campaign to reach a large audience. These sensitization campaigns were supported, in part, by the International Organization on Migration, a U.N. organization.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
BDS operates its Crisis Care shelter in partnership with Lesotho’s Commissioner of Refugees under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social Development, which provide in-kind and financial contributions, respectively, and is certified by the Lesotho Department of Social Welfare.
BDS also coordinates with the Lesotho Child and Gender Protection Unit, which is tasked with prosecuting perpetrators and identifying victims. CGPU Officers refer victims in need of support to the BDS shelter, while BDS provides the CGPU with updated information on emerging developments in trafficking activity.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since its founding in 2011, the Beautiful Dream Society (BDS) Lesotho Crisis Care Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking has provided a home for a total of 93 women and children who were victims/orphans of human trafficking. BDS has served an additional 30 adult victims of labor trafficking on a non-residential basis, supplying them with food, bedding, and toiletries.
BDS's sensitization and awareness workshops have been held in schools, local police units, and community organizations and have reached over 6,400 people over the past 9 years.
BDS aims to expand its direct assistance program by establishing a shelter for male victims of trafficking. BDS is also seeking funding to increase the capacity of its job training programs to empower survivors of human trafficking and exploitation.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Beautiful Dream Society
Board of directorsas of 05/02/2022
Rev Jennifer Crow
Founder, Beautiful Dream Society
Term: 2010 - 2021
Jennifer Crow
Barn at the Woods LLC
Teresa Pinson
Owner--Pinson Well Logging
Dale Swanson
Executive Pastor--Victory Church Oklahoma City
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
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Disability
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