Rani Hong was Kidnapped and sold into slavery at the age of 7 in Southern India. Rani has an inspirational message of hope, faith and freedom. In addition to being the spokesperson for Tronie Foundation, Rani works with journalists in print, radio, and broadcast including the “Oprah Winfrey show and BBC World News “to be a voice for those enslaved. For the past 10 years, Rani has enjoyed sharing her story and working directly with over fifty survivors of human trafficking in 6 different countries. Rani has been a key contributor to the passage of anti-human trafficking laws in Washington State. Washington State is now a national leader for addressing the crime. Rani has also advised the U.S. Congress, many international governments, and have participated at the White House on the issues of human trafficking. Rani is also a United States American Embassy speaker for the Department of State domestically and abroad to lobby for human trafficking reform. In September 2009 Rani was sent by the US Government to her birth place of India to do National and International Press Conferences, reaching millions more with her message of hope.
Trong Hong is a businessman and motivational speaker who unites his skills with his passion to help exploited children and those at risk. Trong at the age of 9 was recruited to become a Child Soldier in Vietnam. He was forced to fight and to kill, in the honor of saving his Country. In 1978, at his dad’s desperation, he secretly sent his son out in the South China Sea, in order to save his son. As a 9-year-old boat refugee fleeing communism in Vietnam, Trong survived modern-day pirate raids only to be shipwrecked on a remote island for two years. He endured much of that time alone in a cave. Trong’s childhood experiences, brings a light to today’s modern day form of slavery. Child Soldiers are easily kidnapped, require little food, are often considered expendable, are able to carry and aim the newer lightweight rifles, are strong enough to pull the trigger, and heavy enough to clear mine fields with their own bodies.
Despite Trong’s worst nightmare, Trong uses his childhood experiences and emotions to speak to Schools, orphanages, non-government organizations, to government officials and to Worldwide Journalists who are promoting a ban on the use of child soldiers. Due to his own vulnerable childhood, today Trong shares his story to educate and promote Child Rights. A child’s right to be free.
Trong and Rani Hong met on a blind date and now are married and raising their own family in Western Washington. Both have shared their moving story of freedom through restoration at numerous speaking panels, trainings, churches, private events and press conferences. In 2006 The Hongs founded Tronie Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting anti- trafficking education, policy change, and restoration for trafficking survivors.
February 1st of 2008 marked the opening of the 1st Homes of Freedom Project for the Tronie Foundation in the NW, where modern day slaves can get rescued and receive healing and restoration. Shelters have been provided in the USA, Fiji, India and Cambodia. This is now a model that is currently helping to build survivor-centered Service Provider Networks in WA State and around the world.
Together they have had a global impact on over 120 countries and have reached millions of people with their message of hope.
The Hongs are honored to be recipients of many awards, including the Tom Wales Foundation Passionate Citizenship Award, City of Seattle Human Rights award, 2010 Jefferson ward, and United Nations Human Rights award.
