82-year-old "Abolitionist" Shares her Simple Way to Free Child Slaves in Nepal

Aimee Herd : Jul 10, 2008
Dan Harris – ABC News

"It's very difficult to think that in the 21st century, this [slavery] is a practice. But, it's happening all over the world, and a lot of people don't know about it." –Olga Murray

(Katmandu, Nepal)—You are never too young—or in this case, too old—to make a difference in other people's lives. Olga Murray (82) is a prime example of this. (Photo: ABC News)

Featured as part of an in-depth investigation by ABC News into modern-day slavery (of mostly children), Olga's story reveals her remarkably simple solution to the child-slave problem in Nepal.

The retired lawyer and California resident, who now spends half her time in Nepal, found early on that the parents of girls sold into servitude were usually doing so because they could not afford to support the rest of their family. But when offered another way out of their dilemma, they would take it.

Olga's organization, the Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation, tells the parents that if they will keep their daughter instead of selling her into slavery, they will give that family a piglet or a baby goat—which can later be sold for a profit. In addition, the organization offers to pay for the girl's education, a cost of about $50 per year.

Surprisingly, this simple resolution has helped to virtually wipe out child slavery in the few areas where it's been tried.

To read the ABC News report, follow the source link provided.