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Top Story: Join us on July 30, 2021 for A21's Global Broadcast
On July 30, 2021, join us for a global event that will unpack the complexities of human trafficking, common recruitment methods traffickers use today, and what you can do to stop exploitation in your local community.
When you understand how trafficking happens and how to respond, you too can stop one of the most horrific injustices the world has ever seen. Join thousands of abolitionists on July 30 for the World Day Against Human Trafficking by registering for the A21 Global Broadcast.
What topics will be covered during the broadcast? We’re so glad you asked.
In this one hour training, you’ll learn:
- The complexities of human trafficking and A21’s solution to end it
- Most common recruitment methods used by human traffickers today
- How recruitment happens through our newest film
- How to identify trafficking situations and respond appropriately
- What you can do to fight for freedom and make a difference right where you are
Register before July 26 to get early access to the broadcast →
How one couple’s awareness was the difference between exploitation & freedom—Read Gia’s Story:
Halfway through third grade, Gia* was taken out of school to help support her family.
Growing up in an underprivileged home in Cambodia, her family struggled to generate enough income to eat. In Gia’s teenage years, she felt more pressure to support the family financially.
One day, a woman approached her with pictures of big houses, nice cars, and happy families. The woman offered a solution—marry abroad to have a better life and provide for her family.
Gia accepted. But when she arrived abroad, she was locked in a room and stripped of her legal documents. What she thought was a promising future was something very different.
Desperate to help, Gia accepted and packed her bags. But when she arrived abroad, she was locked in a room and stripped of her legal documents. Abused since day one and forced into sexual exploitation, Gia lost hope of ever seeing her family again.
Until one day, a couple noticed she was trapped. The couple was aware of human trafficking and helped Gia escape through an open window. Gia braved the dangerous journey across the border back to Cambodia without legal documents. Upon her return, she was referred to A21’s aftercare program.
Today, Gia is safe, free, and taking steps towards restoration—regaining her strength through counseling, life skills training, and vocational support to restore a life of independence. We’re proud of Gia’s accomplishments and grateful to be part of her journey to freedom.
The couple’s awareness was the difference between exploitation or freedom for Gia.
Will you give today to help us spread awareness and prevention everywhere, forever?
Announcing A21 Latin America
We’re so excited to officially announce our newest location—A21 Latin America!
Human trafficking happens in every country. When deciding where to expand our work, we look for opportunities where our model will have the most impact in the fight against slavery.
We ask ourselves three questions:
- Is there a problem?
- Is there an opportunity?
- Do we have the right person to lead it?
Having the right people in place is essential to creating a sustainable model for impact. And later this month, you’ll meet the manager of A21 Latin America and learn her story.
Our vision for Latin America is to empower our local partners with programs and resources to advance freedom farther and faster than ever before–to expand the work far beyond us.
Our U.S. Aftercare is Growing!
FEBRUARY 2021: We’re excited to announce that A21 received funding to open a second Freedom Center in the United States!
As we begin planning for this new venture, we look forward to the new avenues of care this center will provide for survivors in our aftercare programs. The center will be based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is expected to open later this year.
The Freedom Center is at the core of A21’s Restore Strategy–it's an independent, community-based model of aftercare.
From holistic healthcare and one-on-one support to job training and life skills, your support gives survivors of human trafficking a fresh start and a hopeful future. Providing a sense of home, a safe place to heal, rediscover hope, and take steps toward restoration and independence.
How a Photo Can Spread Awareness
FEBRUARY 2021: END IT MOVEMENT
Action starts with awareness so mark your calendar and get ready to join us on END IT day—February 25, 2021.
A21 is a proud partner of the END IT Movement, which focuses its energy toward making the world aware of the fact that not only does slavery still exist, but that it’s more prevalent now than at any other time in history.
By using your voice and your social media platform, you can share the reality of human trafficking and invite your community to be part of the solution.
Raising awareness starts by clicking here →
#BREAKINGNEWS: A Pregnant Woman is Free From Sexual Exploitation in Greece
FEBRUARY 2021: With the help of a client, a pregnant woman escaped exploitation in Greece and is now free.
After years of sexual abuse in her home country, this young woman accepted what she thought was a ticket to a new life abroad. Targeted by a trafficking ring, who capitalized on her vulnerability, she was locked up and forced into prostitution. A21 is assisting with medical care for her and her baby, psychological support, and additional basic needs as she regains her strength and restores her future.
Because of your support, this woman gave birth in safety and is on a journey to freedom. We can't thank you enough.
Invest in freedom & see more survivors set free. →
What Graduation From A21 Means To a Survivor
FEBRUARY 2021: Graduating from A21’s program is a significant step in a survivor’s restoration journey.
A survivor's graduation from A21's program is a significant time in their restoration journey. Throughout their time with A21, survivors and A21 caseworkers are collectively working together to understand various vulnerabilities, both existing and future, as outlined in the International Justice Mission’s Assessment of Survivor Outcomes:
- Safety
- Legal Protection
- Mental Wellbeing
- Economic Empowerment and Education
- Social Support
- Physical Wellbeing
These categories have been studied and identified as making survivors highly vulnerable to revictimization if they aren't addressed. Therefore, our Aftercare team develops effective plans on how to overcome these vulnerabilities.
Once survivors feel they have outworked their goals in all of these areas and developed solid plans for potential vulnerabilities in the future, they’re ready for graduation. It’s a positive moment for survivors as they journey towards independence, meaning they no longer need A21's programs and they’re truly thriving on their own! (This is our goal for every survivor in our care.)
To make the accomplishment of graduation extremely special, survivors choose their favorite meal to share alongside their caseworker and other A21 staff that was important to their restoration journey. At the celebration, A21 presents the survivor with a letter that has their initials monogrammed at the top and outlines their accomplishments during their time with A21. This letter highlights what they’ve accomplished and how much they’ve overcome since joining our program.
The commencement celebration not only makes graduation a positive moment in a survivor's life, where they can be celebrated but it also helps them see they’re in control of their future and success. This instills a sense of empowerment in them as they leave A21's care and move into the next stage of life.
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