Maelea’s story is horrific. But it is, sadly, not uncommon. It is also not limited to any particular country or demographic. Every country and every race and every class is affected by this epidemic. Once you know the harrowing statistics and hear the heartbreaking stories, it is impossible to forget. The desire to bring awareness to the issue weighed heavily on me after the writing, so I set out to learn as much as I could about it. I took the certification course from Polaris, the non-profit that operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline, as a starting place. I read books and watched survivor stories; I talked with people. And I developed the BE THE HOPE workshop as a way to help spread awareness.

What the Workshop is:

• Offered in-person occasionally
• Offered virtually several times a year.
• Interactive
• Educational
• Non-ticketed and completely free
• Hopeful

What the Workshop is not:

• A substitute for further research and training
• A comprehensive listing of all danger signs or ways to help
• A lecture

Key Elements / Timeline of the Workshop

Above all, the workshop is INTERACTIVE. It is structured to inspire conversation and dialogue. Generally lasting for 90 minutes, it begins with an ice breaker and a brief introduction before moving into a description of the 9 warning signs which includes a discussion about who human trafficking victims are. From there, depending on the size of the audience, groups are created and each group is given a scenario depicting possible victims of human trafficking. The objective is for workshop participants to identify whether the situation depicts a potential victim of human trafficking or not. Groups are then brought back together for a brief overview of ways to learn more and to speak to survivors using trauma informed, survivor focused methods. Finally, the workshop closes with testimonials, questions and conversation about takeaways.

The name of the workshop is significant as each letter in BE THE HOPE represents a warning sign and the phrase helps others remember that, although human trafficking is a serious and traumatizing epidemic, there is always hope to bring survivors into safety. The message is that no one walks alone and that, while the cure for human trafficking is complex and multi-faceted, each of us has a unique opportunity to shine a light into the darkness.

Check the Engagement Opportunities page to discover the next event and how you can be a part.