Know the Fight
The story goes like this:
Like many other big things that start out small, Answer International began as a simple, local food outreach. From this local outreach grew a desire to help people in other countries. In 2004, our founder and his team were reaching out to the people who live in the trash dumps of San Jose, Costa Rica. As they were giving out clothes and food, and expressing love to the people, he walked up to the only nice house in that terrible slum. A sweet-looking older lady came out, and he saw two little girls standing in the doorway behind her. While the lady was talking to his team, he could not help but notice how thin the girls were and how hopeless they looked.
“No.”
“It’s the brothel. This lady is a madam, and she wants to know if you want these two girls.”
Our founder could not believe that someone would prostitute two starving children to an adult man for sexual pleasure. “I’ll take them!” he replied. His intentions were not to use them for momentary pleasure, but take them away from that wretched place permanently.
As he walked away holding two little hands in his, he told these two stone-cold, expressionless faces that they were safe and would never be hurt again. The girls were taken to the local orphanage, which was funded and supported by the team, and given the protection and love they needed.
Eight days later, our founder returned and saw a complete transformation in the two rescued girls. They ran out to meet him, hugging him, and crying with gratitude that they now had hope for their lives. That day marked the beginning of a crusade. He left the orphanage knowing exactly what he wanted to do – liberate girls and young women from the atrocities of sexual abuse and slavery. To bring them life, hope and transformation. This is how Answer International was born, from one randomly presented opportunity to a strategically planned initiative.
Common Questions About Our Work
How did Answer International begin?
Answer International was born from a conviction that rescue must be intentional, strategic, and relentless. Early rescue efforts conducted in partnership with Troy Brewer Ministries revealed the urgent and global nature of child sexual exploitation. What began with individual interventions grew into a coordinated mission focused on rescuing and restoring vulnerable children across multiple regions of the world, with a specific and growing focus here in the United States.
What motivates your work?
Every child deserves to be protected, loved, and allowed to grow up without fear of sexual exploitation. Children are not commodities. They are not collateral. They are not content to be consumed or used for sexual gain. They are human beings worthy of safety, dignity, and a future.
That conviction drives everything we do.
Rescue, for us, means more than removal from danger. It means protection, restoration, and long-term commitment — rescuing a child in every way a child can be rescued.
What is the root cause of child sexual exploitation?
Child sexual exploitation is fueled by demand.
That demand is amplified and normalized through pornography. The consumption of sexually exploitative material sustains criminal networks and drives monetized abuse.
As our founder has said,
“When you watch pornography, you are either watching a crime scene or funding one.”
Exploitation does not exist without buyers. Where demand persists, traffickers supply it.
Who do you serve?
We serve children and individuals impacted by sexual exploitation and trafficking, from infancy through adulthood.
Rescue is not age-specific, and healing is not time-limited. Exploitation does not end at a certain age, and neither does its impact. When we intervene, our commitment to restoration remains for as long as it takes.
What happens after a rescue?
Rescue is only the beginning. We support long-term restoration through safe housing, trauma-informed care, medical treatment, education, vocational training, and reintegration support. Every individual’s path to freedom looks different, and we respond accordingly.
What happens to traffickers?
Through partnership with local authorities and legal teams, we support the investigation and prosecution of traffickers whenever possible. Accountability is essential to protecting future victims and disrupting criminal networks.
Where does Answer International operate?
Our work addresses the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children across multiple regions of the world, including a specific and growing focus within the United States.
How can I help?
You can help by becoming informed, advocating for vulnerable children, and partnering financially with organizations that are actively engaged in rescue and restoration.