VOA标准英语2013--Teen Prostitutes Find Help Getting off the Streets

 

Teen Prostitutes Find Help Getting off the Streets

Today, these kids are like other teenagers. They play computer games, study, and have time to practice meditation¹.

But not long ago, they fought to survive on the streets, controlled by pimps who sold their services.

Alyssa is 15. She was forced into prostitution by her sister and a pimp one year ago.

"He forced me to turn tricks in the hotel room all day. I couldn't leave, I couldn't eat, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't talk to my family any more," she said.

An arrest led Alyssa to Children of the Night. 

The kids study at a private school on the group's site. They also get one-on-one counseling and together start to turn their lives around. Amber³ is 17 years-old.

"We are pretty much all the same, and we can look at each other and look up to each other and make sure that we're all doing well. We bond like a family," said Amber.

Many Americans have heard of sexual trafficking as far away as Asia. But in the United States, teenage runaways⁴ can become victims, said Los Angeles Police Department vice² officer Shaun King.

"In looking for international trafficking crimes and victims, we often forget that there are hundreds or thousands of domestic trafficking victims right here in Los Angeles, not counting other parts of the United States," said King.

A media campaign is alerting Los Angeles residents to the problem.

Recently, Children of the Night founder⁵ Lois Lee thanked community supporters who help the organization, including those who work for local businesses and movie studios.

She said volunteers and staff members have helped thousands of former prostitutes find productive work in society.

"Some of them are professionals. Some of them are teachers running inner city schools. Some of them work in public relations. Some of them work as executives in other corporations."

Lee said for many of the teens, the program is a haven⁶ where they can study, play and just be normal teenagers. 

1 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

4 runaways   

（轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They failed to find any trace of the runaways. 他们未能找到逃跑者的任何踪迹。
• Unmanageable complexity can result in massive foul-ups or spectacular budget "runaways. " 这种失控的复杂性会造成大量的故障或惊人的预算“失控”。

5 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

6 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。