One In A Thousand Stories

Creative Response to Human Trafficking and Forced Labour

One In A Thousand Stories is Brother David O’Brien’s creative response to human trafficking and forced labour. This 20-page booklet brings together his tapestries, his words, facts and figures and the thoughtful and sometimes challenging words of others working in the area.

Brother David, a Salesian Brother, decided to create this picture book a couple of years ago after returning from a 2010 sabbatical in Sangre De Cristo in New Mexico.

“Among the wonderful things we learned was how to do needlepoint, weaving and tapestry. Also at Sangre we focussed on justice – a passion I have had most of my religious life as a Salesian Brother. So during the sabbatical I decided that when I returned to Australia I would join a group that was dealing with an issue of justice in the community. Initially, I thought of working with refugees but I guess God, through the person of Good Shepherd Sister Tania de Jong led me to ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans). One thing led to another and ‘One In A Thousand Stories’ came about,” Brother David said.

Download a copy of One in a Thousand Stories here. If you would like more information about the booklet or to use any of the images, please contact Brother David at dobrien@salesians.org.au.