HER STORY ⟡ The Aruna Project
Today, we're meeting Sarah Prudhomme with the Aruna Project!
Tell us about you and your background!
I am the director of the Cincinnati Aruna Run on behalf of the Aruna Project. My professional background is in public relations and stepping into this role with Aruna allowed me to marry my PR skill set with my passions for running/walking and serving others.
Tell us about The Aruna Project and how it got started!
The Aruna Project is an international human rights non-profit dedicated to creating lifelong freedom for victims of human trafficking through employment marked by holistic care. After women are freed and employed in our Freedom Business, they are provided a living wage, transitional housing, retirement savings, healthcare, and counseling so that they can begin the healing process and start building a foundation for their future. As Artisans, they develop soft goods manufacturing skills to produce a beautiful line of athleisure accessories that are sold in our online store and select US retailers, with the proceeds funding the holistic care each Artisan receives.
The catalyst for this freedom process is our network of Aruna Runs held in communities across the country. Race participants run or walk for a trafficked woman by name who we are working to free through our Training Centers situated in the heart of brothel systems. The impact is powerful as
100% of participant registration fees and donations go to the effort of creating lifelong freedom. In addition, the freed women employed by our Freedom Business produce the giveaway items for each race. These race giveaways are the first bags the women work on when they step into our Freedom Business.
Our largest race, the Cincinnati Aruna Run gathers 1200+ people from the tri-state area each year to run/walk in 10K, 5K, and 1-Mile races, all to help raise awareness and funds to bring freedom to trafficked women. In the past eight years, the run has raised $690,000 for the cause. With each passing year, the Cincinnati Aruna Run continues to grow in its reach to a diverse audience as well as its impact to bring and sustain freedom.
The Aruna Project was founded in 2014 by Ryan and April Berg after a visit to India revealed the harsh realities of human trafficking and the magnitude of the problem there. After embedding in the area for several months to uncover the factors that contribute to trafficking, Ryan and April were determined to create a business that could provide women with lifelong freedom through employment marked by holistic care.
What do you love about directing the Cincinnati Aruna Run?
I love bringing people together over the shared value of human dignity and inspiring them to join the fight to end human trafficking in a direct and tangible way. Each year the run raises $100,000 through registration fees and donations. 100% of this money helps create lifelong freedom for trafficked women by helping fund operations at our Training Centers and the holistic care our current Artisans receive as part of their employment in our Freedom Business. It is an honor and a blessing to play a small part in helping to give new futures to the brave women Aruna serves.
What advice would you give yourself from 5 years ago OR your past self just starting out?
I started out in the corporate PR world with big ambitions to climb the corporate ladder. My advice to my younger self would be to focus instead on pursuing opportunities that allow me to serve, love, and positively impact the lives of others. For it is through my work with Aruna that I have found purpose, balance, and contentment.
What does BEAUTY mean to you?
This quote about beauty hangs on the wall in my family room and sums up what beauty means to me:
“She was beautiful, but not like those girls in magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. She is beautiful.” ― F Scott Fitzgerald
Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by the co-founders of Aruna, Ryan and April Berg. After witnessing the horrors of human trafficking first-hand in India, they decided they had to do something to help these women. That is when the Aruna Project was born. Starting and managing a non-profit organization is not easy. There have been countless roadblocks, setbacks, and heartbreaks along the way. But Ryan and April have remained steadfast in their commitment to and belief in the cause. Because of them, I firmly believe that it only takes one person to make a difference in the lives of others.
What would you like our Beauty Boost members to know?
They can support the cause by running, shopping, donating, and sharing for her freedom!
Run - Participate in the Cincinnati Aruna Run on Labor Day, 9/2, in-person or virtually. 100% of registration fee and donations goes to the cause. They can see all the run details and register at https://bit.ly/2024CincinnatiArunaRun. We also have a network of 5K runs put on by volunteer race hosts in cities across the country. See the full calendar at https://arunaproject.com/pages/events.
Shop - Purchase products handmade by freed women employed in our freedom business. See the collection here: https://arunaproject.com/collections/all.
Share - Follow and share @ArunaProject on Facebook and Instagram to inspire others to join the fight to end human trafficking.
How can our community connect with you/ find you?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arunaproject/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arunaproject/
Website: https://arunaproject.com/
Email: info@arunaproject.com
Other: sprudhomme@arunaproject.com
Special Offers for TBB Community?
Get $5 off Cincinnati Aruna Run registration fee with promo code TBBCINCY5. Good on any sub-event, in-person or virtual. Register at https://bit.ly/2024CincinnatiArunaRun.
