MISSION
To combat child sex exploitation and trafficking especially in Southeast Asian countries, by rescuing at-risk and affected children, educating and empowering communities to be catalysts for change; and
To improve the lives of at-risk and affected children by providing shelter, medical and behavioral health care, educational assistance, and vocational training that will enable survivors to reintegrate into mainstream society as productive citizens.
HISTORY
Father Martino Nguyen is a Catholic priest ordained in 2004. As a first year college student in 1995, he began carrying out his childhood dream of helping homeless children in Chicago. His love and dedication led him to many countries, living and working with many impoverished youths on his annual vacations.
During his work with impoverished Cambodian children in 1999, young Martino encountered an appalling tragedy, children being forced into sex exploitation / trafficking. These vile images pervaded young Martino's life, inspiring him to rally a group of friends to combat this inhumanity. These dedicated individuals convened in 2000 and created One Body Village.
OBV's name stemmed from a vision of hope to create a safe haven where rescued children may live, grow, and love one another in unity as "one body." Because of its continued success in fighting and raising awareness in human sex exploitation / trafficking and its global support from people with similar vision, OBV was officially incorporated and was nationally recognized as a Non-Profit Organization (501c3) in November 2008.