Girls like us : fighting for a world where girls are not for sale, an activist finds her calling and heals herself

A deeply moving story by a survivor of the commercial sex industry who has devoted her career to activism and helping other young girls escape "the life" At thirteen, Rachel Lloyd found herself caught up in a world of pain and abuse, struggling to survive as a child with no responsible adults to support her. Vulnerable yet tough, she eventually ended up a victim of commercial sexual exploitation. It took time and incredible resilience, but ?nally, with the help of a local church community, she broke free of her pimp and her past. Three years later, Lloyd arrived in the United States to work with adult women in the sex industry and soon founded her own nonprofit—GEMS, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services—to meet the needs of other girls with her history. She also earned her GED and won full scholarships to college and a graduate program. Today Lloyd is executive director of GEMS in New York City and has turned it into one of the nation's most groundbreaking nonprofit organizations. In Girls Like Us, Lloyd reveals the dark, secretive world of her past in stunning cinematic detail. And, with great humanity, she lovingly shares the stories of the girls whose lives she has helped—small victories that have healed her wounds and made her whole. Revelatory, authentic, and brave, Girls Like Us is an unforgettable memoir. This Is A Deeply Moving Story By A Survivor Of The Commercial Sex Industry Who Has Devoted Her Career To Activism And Helping Other Young Girls Escape The Life. At Thirteen, British-born Rachel Lloyd Found Herself Caught Up In A World Of Pain And Abuse, Struggling To Survive As A Child With No Responsible Adults To Support Her. Vulnerable Yet Tough, She Eventually Ended Up A Victim Of Commercial Sexual Exploitation. It Took Time And Incredible Resilience, But Finally, With The Help Of A Local Church Community, She Broke Free Of Her Pimp And Her Past. Three Years Later, Lloyd Arrived In The United States To Work With Adult Women In The Sex Industry And Soon Founded Her Own Nonprofit, Gems (girls Educational And Mentoring Services) To Meet The Needs Of Other Girls With Her History And Shunned By Society. She Also Earned Her Ged And Won Full Scholarships To College And A Graduate Program. Today Lloyd Is Executive Director Of Gems In New York City And Has Turned It Into One Of The Nation's Most Groundbreaking Nonprofit Organizations. In This Work, She Reveals The Dark, Secretive World Of Her Past In Stunning Cinematic Detail. And, With Great Humanity, She Lovingly Shares The Stories Of The Girls Whose Lives She Has Helped, Small Victories That Have Healed Her Wounds And Made Her Whole. Prologue -- Learning -- Risk -- Family -- Recruitment -- Pimps -- Johns -- Victims -- Cops -- Staying -- Leaving -- Relapse -- Unlearning -- Stigma -- Healing -- Leadership -- Beginnings. Rachel Lloyd. Includes Bibliographic References. A deeply moving story by a survivor of the commercial sex industry who has devoted her career to activism and helping other young girls escape "the life" At thirteen, Rachel Lloyd found herself caught up in a world of pain and abuse, struggling to survive as a child with no responsible adults to support her. Vulnerable yet tough, she eventually ended up a victim of commercial sexual exploitation. It took time and incredible resilience, but finally, with the help of a local church community, she broke free of her pimp and her past. Three years later, Lloyd arrived in the United States to work with adult women in the sex industry and soon founded her own nonprofit GEMS, Girls Educational and Mentoring Servicesto meet the needs of other girls with her history. She also earned her GED and won full scholarships to college and a graduate program. Today Lloyd is executive director of GEMS in New York City and has turned it into one of the nation's most groundbreaking nonprofit organizations. In Girls Like Us , Lloyd reveals the dark, secretive world of her past in stunning cinematic detail. And, with great humanity, she lovingly shares the stories of the girls whose lives she has helped; small victories that have healed her wounds and made her whole. Revelatory, authentic, and brave, Girls Like Us is an unforgettable memoir. At thirteen, British-born Rachel Lloyd found herself spiraling into a life of torment and abuse. Vulnerable yet tough, she eventually ended up a victim of commercial sexual exploitation, until she broke free of the street and her pimp thanks to the help of a local church. But that was just the beginning. . . . Three years later, Rachel arrived in the United States to work with adult women in the sex industry and soon founded her own nonprofit, GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services), to meet the needs of those shunned by society. She also earned her GED and won full scholarships to college and a graduate program. Today, Lloyd is the director of GEMS in New York City, one of the nation's most groundbreaking nonprofit organizations. In stunning detail and with cinematic style, Lloyd tells her story -- a harrowing and inspirational tale of suffering, recovery, discovery, and nobility "Powerfully raw, deeply moving, and utterly authentic. Rachel Lloyd has turned a personal atrocity into triumph and is nothing less than a true hero.... Never again will you look at young girls on the street as one of 'those' women—you will only see little girls that are girls just like us." —Demi Moore, actress and activist With the power and verity of First They Killed My Father and A Long Way Gone, Rachel Lloyd’s riveting survivor story is the true tale of her hard-won escape from the commercial sex industry and her bold founding of GEMS, New York City’s Girls Education and Mentoring Service, to help countless other young girls escape "the life." Lloyd’s unflinchingly honest memoir is a powerful and unforgettable story of inhuman abuse, enduring hope, and the promise of redemption.