OUR FOUNDER

Chai 4 Change was started by chai enthusiast Serena Varghese Gonzalez. As a first generation east Indian, drinking chai was not only a familial custom but became a personal tradition for Serena as she entered into her young adult years. Throughout college and her early 20's, Serena worked with various nonprofits, one of which struck a personal chord. 

This specific organization, rescued and rehabilitated women & children who were forced into the commercial sex slave market in one of India's infamous Red Light District's. Soon after, she discovered that the same organization was planning to open their doors in her hometown of Houston, Texas. At the time, Houston was ranked #1 for sex trafficking in the United States. 

Serena shares the moment she knew she wanted to do something to create a positive change, "When I was first introduced to what sex trafficking was, it broke my heart. To hear that victims were as young as 7 years old was just unfathomable. I came to find out these children were rescued from the country my family was from (India) AND in the city I called home, (Houston). That's what sparked something inside to make a local and global impact." 

For several years, Serena bounced around ideas for different products that could "do good" with their profits when one day after talking with some friends, the concept was birthed, "Why not use an everyday product that exemplifies authentic India to help create change for children in our own communities AND around the world? Chai. Chai was the solution," she shared.  

Chai 4 Change as a company exists to change children's lives for the better. Our vision is to provide Chai to consumers & empower them to create change in their own cities as they consume daily. It's really very simple. With every bag of chai sold, we partner with a change making organization locally and globally that helps rescue and rehabilitate child trafficking victims. 

"So go ahead + try the chai...We hope you too will partner with us."  - Serena

OUR CAUSE

HU·MAN TRAF·FICK·ING: 

the illegal movement of people, typically for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. 

Child victims of trafficking are recruited, transported, transferred, harbored or received for the purpose of exploitation. They may be forced to work in sweatshops, on construction sites or in houses as domestic servants; on the streets as child beggars, in wars as child soldiers, on farms, in traveling sales crews or in restaurants and hotels. Some are forced to work in brothels and strip clubs or for escort and massage services.

Trafficking is not just an issue that happens to people in other countries. The United States is a source and transit country, and is also considered one of the top destination points for victims of child trafficking and exploitation. (Unicef.org)

sTAND WITH US

We believe that every person should have the right to live free from exploitation, abuse and modern day slavery, especially innocent children. Together, we can provide safety & support for the victims of this horrific injustice and say "no" to child trafficking once and for all. Stand with us.