[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO GIVEN KACHEPA FOR BEING NAMED ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP 
                          TEN YOUTH VOLUNTEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 2005

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend Given Kachepa, a 
Grapevine High School senior, for being named one of America's top ten 
youth volunteers by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. He was 
selected from a field of over 20,000 youth volunteers from across the 
country.
  Given is an advocate for victims of human trafficking. An orphan at 
age 9 in his native Zambia, he was recruited two years later to sing in 
a boy's choir on an overseas tour. He was promised a salary and 
education, and that the money raised from the tour would be used to 
build schools in Zambia. None of these promises, however, were met.
  For over a year and a half, Given and his fellow choir members 
performed six or seven times a day, sometimes with little food. After 
being saved by U.S. immigration authorities, Given used his own 
experience to help with the widespread human trafficking problem. He 
has educated the public through the media, and spoken about human 
trafficking at conferences, along with local and national law 
enforcement agencies.
  I am proud to recognize Given for this high honor; he is well 
deserving of the award. The future of America is in good hands with 
leaders like him.

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