Our donors always inspire us with their generosity and commitment to fighting human trafficking, but sometimes we come across a story so good we can’t help but share it!
Meet Allison Blomenkamp, a 20-year-old college student who has already been running her own business for seven years. That’s right—she started Prem-maa International with two of her best friends when she was only 13!
Prem-maa is a Nepali word that means “loved,” and the business sells ethically made products from Nepal and donates 100% of profits to Love Justice. In addition to raising money and awareness, Blomenkamp wants her business to stand as inspiration to other young women that anyone can make a difference with the resources they already have. Check out this video to hear her share about it!
A growing passion for anti-trafficking
Blomenkamp first learned about human trafficking when she was in second grade, when a family from her church shared while fundraising to move overseas and work with Love Justice.
“As a second grader, you don't really comprehend some of these big global issues, but it was an issue that my family continued to talk about,” she said.
Blomenkamp’s parents were passionate about global missions, and they encouraged conversations about world issues around the dinner table. They were intentional about teaching their children to recognize and leverage their privilege in order to help others. Regarding human trafficking, the parents stressed that God had blessed their family in that they did not have to face trafficking themselves, but instead were in a position to do something to help.
“That kind of outward mindset really inspired me from a pretty early age to want to do something,” said Blomenkamp.
When she was in sixth grade, her dad and older brother traveled to South Asia to visit the family from their church, and they came back with stories about all that Love Justice was doing to fight human trafficking there.
“That's when I really started doing my own research into anti-trafficking work and brainstorming what I wanted to do to be engaged in the work,” she said.
Launching Prem-maa
Blomenkamp wanted to do more than just raise money—she wanted to do something that would fight human trafficking on the supply end too. She started researching fair trade companies in South Asia and came across Purnaa, Beauty for Ashes (now Himalayan Freedom Co.), and Dinadi. All of these companies not only prioritize ethical practices, but also seek to employ marginalized people groups vulnerable to human trafficking.
As the idea formed to create a business selling these products, she invited two of her best friends—Holly DeJong and Kaitlyn Madsen—to join her.
“I was like, ‘Hey, I have this idea and I know I'm gonna need help. What are your thoughts?’” she said.
She pitched the idea to their parents, too, to make sure they were okay with it, sharing not only the heart behind the idea but also pitching it as an opportunity to develop valuable skills.
Then the summer after eighth grade, Blomenkamp and her dad wanted to visit these companies in person to see if they were actually doing what they said they were doing—so they traveled to Nepal, where the companies were located.
“I loved Nepal … ever since I first stepped foot in the country, there was something about it. The people and the environment really drew at me … but it was poverty in the way that I’d never seen it before,” she said.
After seeing the companies in action and being confident that they were truly as ethical as they claimed to be, Blomenkamp purchased products from them to sell through Prem-maa.
In 2017, Blomenkamp and her friends officially launched Prem-maa. Throughout high school, they sold products and shared about human trafficking on various occasions through product parties, churches, schools, rotary clubs, and Salvation Army events.
Sometimes they were invited to speak through connections they already had, but Blomenkamp said getting started involved a lot of cold calling.
“I have a big phobia of calling on the phone—still hate doing it,” she said. “It was definitely a nerve-racking experience, but I think it set me up really well in the future being bolder and communicating things that are really important to us.”
The three teenagers competed in Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship, where they won second place at the national level two years in a row and placed top ten at the global level. That opened up new speaking engagements across the nation, as well as mentorship opportunities to further their growth and development.
“There's a little bit of naiveté that comes with being younger … I wasn't as scared of as many things when I was younger,” said Blomenkamp. “I felt really called by God to start this business, and I think He gave me a lot of the confidence and boldness to do what I needed to do.”
College and beyond
When it came time for the three girls to go on to college, they left Prem-maa mostly in the care of Blomenkamp’s parents as well as another woman recruited from the community.
Blomenkamp did a summer internship with Love Justice in 2022 and is currently studying global studies with a concentration in international development and minoring in medical humanities and business of social impact. She doesn’t know exactly what she wants to do after college yet, but she hopes to be fighting the world’s greatest injustices in some capacity. (Pictured: Blomenkamp during her internship with Love Justice)
“I really do hope it [Prem-maa] continues on in my community and is taken up by a whole new generation of people who really do want to work in anti-trafficking and raise awareness,” she said.
She commented on how easy it is to get caught up in stumbling blocks of thinking that one is too young or lacks the necessary finances, education, or connections, and she encouraged people to reflect on the resources and privileges they do have.
“What I hope most for Prem-maa going forward is just the knowledge specifically for a young woman that you CAN make a difference,” she said.
John Molineux, Love Justice’s founder and CEO, shared in a video about thinking early on when Love Justice was just beginning that if he could just help to save one life from human trafficking, it would all be worth it.
“I think I've always felt the same about Prem-maa,” said Blomenkamp. “If we can fund just the rescue of one individual, all of it's gonna be worth it. And if we can inspire one person to—it doesn't even have to be starting a business—but to talk to their friends and family about human trafficking or save up their allowance to donate to Love Justice, I think that's all I can ask for. All of it is gonna be worth it.”
To date, Prem-maa has raised over $20,000 to fight human trafficking, helping to protect many people from this injustice.
We are inspired by Blomenkamp and her family—simple conversations can truly lead to great impact!
Some things you can do to make an impact:
- Have these discussions with your family, with your children, your friends and coworkers. You never know the change you could help inspire!
- If you are feeling motivated to make a difference, check out our fundraising page for ideas!
- If you have a story about how you came to donate to Love Justice, we want to hear it! Share it with us at marketing@lovejustice.ngo.
- Check out Blomenkamp's business at the button below––anything you buy helps fight human trafficking both through the suppliers and through funding our work here at Love Justice!
*All data and statistics current at the date and time of publishing. Some names and locations excluded for privacy and security purposes.
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