About Five24

Five24 exists to confront exploitation by creating real alternatives.

The organization began with a simple realization: awareness alone is not enough. While many people want to help those caught in cycles of exploitation, the deeper need is for sustainable opportunity—pathways that restore dignity, stability, and hope.

Five24’s story traces back to the work of its founders in international development and relief. After moving from England to the United States in 2007, James Ferrett began working with organizations focused on vulnerable communities around the world. In 2010, he traveled to India and Nepal to visit NGOs serving street children and women at risk of trafficking and exploitation.

Those experiences revealed a common challenge. Many well-intentioned efforts focused primarily on aid and rescue, but long-term change depended on something deeper: meaningful employment and sustainable economic opportunity.

In 2015, James and Manuel Ramminger co-founded Ethical Trade Co., a small social enterprise built around ethically sourced goods produced by artisans and vulnerable communities. What began as a small market stand grew into a locally recognized business committed to ethical sourcing, fair wages, and responsible trade.

Through this work, the vision expanded.

Five24 was created to bring together awareness, education, and social enterprise under a single mission: addressing exploitation not only by raising awareness, but by building practical alternatives.

Today, Five24 works to:

Educate communities about the realities and risks of exploitation
Raise awareness about ethical consumption and responsible supply chains
Create social enterprises that generate dignified employment and opportunity
Support young people and survivors by helping build pathways toward independence and stability

At the heart of Five24’s work is a belief that dignity grows when people are given the opportunity to build their own future.

The organization also seeks to foster reconciliation and understanding between people of different beliefs, bringing together faith communities and the broader public around a shared commitment to justice, compassion, and human dignity.

Five24 believes lasting change happens when awareness leads to action—and when communities choose to build systems that value people over exploitation.

Five24 Collective