Raymond
Bechard
Founder and President
Raymond
Bechard is the Founder and President of Ahava Kids, a 501(c)3, Not-For-Profit
human-rights organization dedicated to rescuing and caring for young
victims of human trafficking, enslavement and exploitation in the
United States and throughout the world.
Beginning his professional career in public relations and marketing,
Raymond quickly gravitated toward human rights issues by devoting
himself full-time to addressing injustices around the world. He
began a consulting firm which supported and advised international
charities working to bring safety, opportunity and empowerment to
people in need. In his work, Mr. Bechard traveled extensively throughout
Europe, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, Mexico, and Haiti.
During his travels, he witnessed multiple cases of young people
enslaved in the world of trafficking and the transnational criminals
perpetrating these crimes.
Drawing on his diverse experience and desire to help children more
directly, Mr. Bechard began Ahava Kids in 2003. His objective was
to build a growing coalition of people and organizations across
the globe who would stand between children and whatever evil they
may face; to protect and defend young people in order to lift them
up to a better, safer life.
Specifically focusing on human trafficking, the world’s fastest
growing crime, Raymond Bechard has developed the process of Intervention,
Care and Prevention. This three-step procedure is the most effective
method of removing young people from the various dangers of trafficking
while providing them with the intensive care they need to restore
their lives and end the increasing cycle of commercial sexual abuse.
Ahava Kids now operates Safe House facilities
for young adult victims of human trafficking in the Connecticut
and Georgia. The organization also assists local, state and Federal
investigators with the care of victims involved in human trafficking
cases.
Mr. Bechard speaks extensively on the topic of human trafficking
and is the author of the book UNSPEAKABLE: The Hidden Truth Behind
the World’s Fastest Growing Crime, an expose on the international
scope of Human Trafficking and organized crime’s involvement.
He resides in Connecticut where the offices of Ahava Kids are located.
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