Stories

“PROTECT has given education, structure, and awareness about how to support students who are at risk and survivors of human trafficking. Our staff is more aware of the warning signs, and the Human Trafficking School Safety Protocol has provided a clear framework--with language and tools--to support a student. PROTECT has established a culture of awareness and empowerment to intervene when students are suspected of or have disclosed being survivors of human trafficking. The program has aligned perfectly with our culture of creating safe and supportive learning environments for each student, with the support of trusted adults trained in trauma-informed practices. The asynchronous, self-paced human trafficking prevention training ensured that all of our instructional and key support staff completed the training and demonstrated it via the certificates of completion. This means that every student has a teacher who can identify warning signs and risk factors, initiate the Human Trafficking School Safety Protocol, and have a trauma-informed conversation with students who disclose or are suspected of being survivors of human trafficking. As a non-classroom-based charter school, we have been able to deliver the curriculum to students who have attended the offered instruction, and we strive to continue to refine our offerings so more students can complete the curriculum.

I’m a survivor of sex trafficking. This led me to not to know anything about employment. My support from Community Against Sexual Harm referred me to the Employ + Empower (E+E) program at 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF). When I came to E+E, I didn’t know how to look for a job or go through a job interview. I gained the necessary skills to find employment through E+E. When I came in, I only knew about being trafficked. So, getting a job was hard for me because the lifestyle was what I knew.When I came in, I was totally broken, had mental health issues, and didn’t have a home. Finding a job was very, very important to me. My 3SGF case manager and I started on the long road to recovery. She supported me while I gained the necessary skills to go into an interview and know what questions to ask and what information to give and not to give. My first interview didn’t go well because I didn’t understand how to answer the questions. I contacted my case manager and told her why I most likely did not get hired for that job. We started mock interviews- which was really helpful. When I got the next interview--I didn’t tell my case manager about it. She was surprised when I called her, crying and excited to tell her I got the job. It was my first job ever. E+E takes the time to teach clients skills needed to gain employment and to understand who they are and their needs. Now, I am co-chair of the Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) for 3SGF. Being on the SAB is empowering- being a voice for survivors or survivors. I also get to go out and speak and utilize my survivor experience to help other people. It’s important to me. I was trafficked at 13. So, my voice was taken. I refuse to let that happen to others. Being on the SAB has given me drive, ambition, and the ability to support others.