Third-year law student Keila Molina came to Regent University for the sole purpose of learning how to be an advocate for abused and neglected children. This summer, she put her classroom education to good use with an internship at Casa Alianza, an organization dedicated to providing shelter, rehabilitation assistance, protection services and advocacy for children in Mexico City.While she spent much of her first month in the legal offices of Casa Alianza, Molina also developed a friendship with Rosi Orozco, a Christian congresswoman for Mexico's Federal District. Orozco is a vocal advocate for anti-human trafficking legislation. Along with her husband and members of their church, Orozco has established Fundacion Camino a Casa (The Way Home Foundation) which provides housing, counseling and hope for victims of sex trafficking and exploitation.
For the second month of her time in Mexico, Molina lived with a group of girls from Camino a Casa and taught computer classes to the girls there. She also witnessed an historic event in Mexico. Along with the girls from the home, Molina attended a signing ceremony with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon. "[He] held a signing ceremony to make several changes to the Mexican Constitution in order to better protect victims of human trafficking, and the girls were special guests at this event," she wrote on her blog. "Afterward, the president personally met and greeted each of the girls and me as well! It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
By working with both and Camino a Casa, Molina experienced both sides of advocacy.
"During the month that I worked [at Casa Alianza], I was able to help the legal department by processing documentation for the children who currently live in the shelters as well as reporting to local authorities when children leave the shelter," Molina said in a July blog post. "In Mexico, children are considered to have the 'right' to live where they want to, even if this means living on the streets."
At Camino a Casa, her role was one of a teacher and friend. "Watching girls who have been rescued from horrific, traumatizing circumstances filled with God-given life and energy to dance and twirl across a stage with joyful smiles and cheers was simply astounding," she wrote.
Molina's family is originally from Mexico, but now the country holds an even bigger place in her heart. "I have been praying that God keeps allowing me to learn everything I can about Mexico's legal system and that someday I might be able to work on influencing to improve Mexico's laws in order to better protect children and their best interests," she wrote. "I know that God has a purpose for my time here and as difficult (or impossible) as it seems to ever make a difference, only He knows why He has allowed me to see and understand the needs that exist."
Read more about Molina and other Regent Law interns.
For the second month of her time in Mexico, Molina lived with a group of girls from Camino a Casa and taught computer classes to the girls there. She also witnessed an historic event in Mexico. Along with the girls from the home, Molina attended a signing ceremony with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon. "[He] held a signing ceremony to make several changes to the Mexican Constitution in order to better protect victims of human trafficking, and the girls were special guests at this event," she wrote on her blog. "Afterward, the president personally met and greeted each of the girls and me as well! It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
By working with both and Camino a Casa, Molina experienced both sides of advocacy.
"During the month that I worked [at Casa Alianza], I was able to help the legal department by processing documentation for the children who currently live in the shelters as well as reporting to local authorities when children leave the shelter," Molina said in a July blog post. "In Mexico, children are considered to have the 'right' to live where they want to, even if this means living on the streets."
At Camino a Casa, her role was one of a teacher and friend. "Watching girls who have been rescued from horrific, traumatizing circumstances filled with God-given life and energy to dance and twirl across a stage with joyful smiles and cheers was simply astounding," she wrote.
Molina's family is originally from Mexico, but now the country holds an even bigger place in her heart. "I have been praying that God keeps allowing me to learn everything I can about Mexico's legal system and that someday I might be able to work on influencing to improve Mexico's laws in order to better protect children and their best interests," she wrote. "I know that God has a purpose for my time here and as difficult (or impossible) as it seems to ever make a difference, only He knows why He has allowed me to see and understand the needs that exist."
Read more about Molina and other Regent Law interns.