Khurshida Begum is an authentic, powerful speaker with
a unique and compelling story. What Ms. Begum has overcome in her personal life
will inspire the audience, motivating them to make a difference by fighting
human trafficking and many other social injustices.
Ms. Begum educates and challenges individuals and
organizations to recognize human trafficking and its negative effect on every community
and every country, including the United States. Her goal is to make people
aware of this inhumane crime so they can recognize the key indicators and
properly take action. Ms. Begum’s mission is to urge people to understand this
complex issue and to keep our vulnerable people protected from being exploited.
After 15 years as a successful professional business woman, Ms. Begum decided her passion was to be a social entrepreneur. She founded ASHHO, which means to “come” in her native Bengali language, indicating that all should join the movement because ALL people matter. ASHHO provides comprehensive training to educate and empower communities on human trafficking. The training includes guidance on identifying victims and on helping survivors by connecting them with crucial services and resources.
Ms. Begum teaches by sharing her personal experience of
being a trafficking survivor from Bangladesh. What she learned through her experience,
and the strategies she used to overcome her situation, are instructive—both for
survivors and those tasked with identifying or assisting them.
As a speaker, Khurshida captivates and inspires
audiences with her contagious energy, empathy and sense of humor. She engages
with her audience, relating her often difficult but ultimately triumphant story
for the purpose of changing old thoughts and behaviors into individual
accountability for humanity. Her story and her delivery style are sure to leave
a lasting impact and spur her audience to action.
Recognized for being fearless and honest, Ms. Begum has
taught trafficking education all over the country. Her passion is to empower
all people especially our youth and vulnerable communities. She has been a
keynote speaker and presenter at many conferences, colleges, K-12 schools,
churches, corporations and organizations.
Originally from Bangladesh, Khurshida is married, has a
12-year-old son, Rasun, and lives in Washington State. She enjoys volunteering,
motorcycling, stiletto shopping, and spending time with her friends and family.
http://ashho.net/
http://ashho.net/