Program Overview
Nuns Healing Hearts highlights the dedicated efforts of Talitha Kum, an international network focused on combating human trafficking. Established in 2009 by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in Rome, it consists of 58 national networks operating in 97 countries worldwide. The network brings together approximately 5,500 individuals, including women, men, and collaborators, working collectively to prevent trafficking, protect vulnerable populations, and support rehabilitation.
Human Thread Foundation founder Lisa Kristine spent nearly two years documenting Talitha Kum’s work from YEAR to YEAR, traveling to countries like Italy, the Philippines, Thailand, Guatemala, the United States, and Mexico. Through her photography, she captured the experiences and resilience of those dedicated to rescuing and supporting survivors of human trafficking.
The campaign sought to put a human face on a hidden global issue. The initiative and corresponding exhibition were launched at the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City on May 10, 2019, during the XXI Plenary Assembly of the UISG. After its debut, the exhibition moved to the UISG headquarters in Rome, where it was displayed until July 10, 2019.
Nuns Healing Hearts was made possible through the support of the Galileo Foundation, the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and, most importantly, the individuals involved in Talitha Kum’s work.
Impact
The Human Thread Foundation (HTF) has made a significant impact in raising awareness about human trafficking, using photography and strategic partnerships with organizations like Talitha Kum. Here are some of the tangible outcomes of HTF’s efforts:
- Exhibition Reach: The Nuns Healing Hearts photographic exhibition has been presented at high-profile venues such as the Vatican, United Nations Headquarters in New York, the MAXXI Museum in Rome, and Tokyo. These exhibitions reached diverse audiences and included educational programs and discussions to deepen understanding of modern slavery.
- Training of Community Leaders: Funds raised through Nuns Healing Hearts supported Talitha Kum’s mission to train 600 new community leaders. These individuals work within their communities to identify trafficking risks and contribute to prevention and survivor rehabilitation.
- Direct Support for Survivors: HTF’s fundraising has helped Talitha Kum provide comprehensive care to 500 to 800 survivors of human trafficking annually. This care includes addressing social, psychological, and educational needs through various training programs and support services.
- Emergency Aid: Financial contributions also enable emergency interventions, helping at least 100 survivors each year return to safety from dangerous situations.
- Expansion of Anti-Trafficking Networks: HTF’s collaboration has supported the expansion of Talitha Kum’s network from 77 countries in 2019 to 97 in 2024, with nearly 5,500 individuals now engaged in anti-trafficking work.
The Nuns Healing Hearts exhibition is available from the Human Thread Foundation as a solo exhibition or as part of the Bound to Freedom exhibition.
Human Thread Foundation’s exhibition of Nuns Healing Hearts is not intended to imply any other relationship or association with, or endorsement or sponsorship of the Talitha Kum, the Catholic Church, or any other religious organization.
“The photographic exhibition was born from our meetings, accompanied by exchanges, prayer, reflections on how to eradicate human trafficking, and how best to act in a network… Our intense work together with photographer Lisa Kristine has produced in these photographs’ images of hope. The colors and themes of the photographs open a profound window to the sacred, to the beauty that illuminates and sustains our humanity”