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Breaking News: Freedom After 10 Years of Exploitation
January 2021: Two males are free from online exploitation in Thailand.
Perpetrators were exploiting two young individuals via online platforms, and nearly a decade later, both of these men are free and in our care.
A21 is grateful for the opportunity to assist them with psychological support and legal assistance. Thanks to you, freedom and restoration for survivors of all ages is possible.
Harnessing the Power of Sport to Prevent Human Trafficking
January 2021: It's A Penalty
It’s a Penalty aims to inform people on how to identify human trafficking and report suspicions.
During the 2020 Super Bowl in Miami, the campaign achieved phenomenal results. Together with our partners, we had an enormous impact on preventing exploitation and trafficking in Miami and globally.
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Over 360 million people were reached with awareness ads located on in-flight airlines, giant screens at the Miami airport, hotels and motels, Uber driver training and posted materials, cable TB spots, social media, and more
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26 survivors were identified, and 47 traffickers were arrested during the campaign
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500+ volunteers, including survivors of human trafficking, distributed thousands of awareness kits to hotels and motels throughout Miami
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163% increase in calls reporting human trafficking and exploitation in Miami (compared to the same time the previous year)
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100+ local hotels trained their staff to identify human trafficking and distributed thousands of It’s a Penalty awareness materials to their guests
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Uber trained hundreds of drivers and staff to recognize and report human trafficking, distributing 5,000 It’s a Penalty rear-view mirror tags and wristbands with reporting hotline information
We have high expectations for the 2021 campaign and we know that even more people will be reached with awareness and more survivors will be identified and rescued.
Check out It’s A Penalty for more information →
It's More Than a Job—It's the First Step Towards Independence
January 2021: Equipping survivors with the skills, resources, and confidence to support themselves financially is vital for their journey to full independence.
By obtaining employment, a survivor takes the next step in their restoration journey. Safely making money to spend or save on whatever they like–a significant step towards solidifying their independence.
We’re happy to share that during 2020, over 70 survivors in our care secured employment!
Kailey, from our North Carolina Freedom Center said, “Although COVID-19 was a very trying time for various businesses and employees around the nation, A21 aftercare staff witnessed survivors thrive during this time when it came to employment opportunities. Now more than ever, job opportunities were booming. The survivors we work with took advantage of those opportunities and secured stable employment well after the pandemic.”
We are incredibly proud of the survivors in our care—they inspire us daily.
Thank you for making freedom and independence possible.
Invest in freedom & see more survivors employed. →
Sophy's Story
September 2020: Impacting lives globally with the Freedom Catalog
Exploitation is threatening people everywhere, especially minors. But when you choose to fund prevention and awareness programs, you are empowering vulnerable children with comic books in multiple languages to stop trafficking before it starts for children like Sophy*
Sophy* is a beautiful little girl from Southeast Asia. Like many children, she had cousins and extended family she’d spend time with. But one of her cousins had other intentions for her. He took her across the border to Thailand and forced her to beg for money on the streets.
Sophy* is like many vulnerable children around the world who are taken advantage of, even by family members. But today, you can be the reason lives like Sophy* never experience trafficking in the first place. The difference between protection and slavery could be a simple message.
Today, you can choose to give toward the distribution of prevention comic books that empower children to avoid trafficking scenarios, make safe decisions, and protect others.
Give now through our Freedom Catalog →
Have you seen our Freedom Catalog?
August 2020: select a gift. make an impact. choose where to invest in freedom.
This October, we will gather globally and take action locally for our first ever Global Freedom Summit—a day of local action against human trafficking in our towns, cities, and communities. But you can make a global difference starting right now.
Give toward a freedom initiative of your choice with our new fundraising Freedom Catalog.
Whether it’s funding our hotlines to rescue more victims, expanding our awareness campaigns to equip people with life-saving information, or providing restoration programs for survivors, every dollar given means hope for the world we want to see— a world without slavery.
How will you invest in freedom? →
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Reach –
Comic books are saving vulnerable children.
Exploitation is threatening people everywhere, especially minors. But you can empower vulnerable children with comics in multiple languages to stop trafficking before it starts.
These comic books illustrate the warning signs of human trafficking so that children and their parents are equipped to avoid trafficking situations.
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Rescue –
We answer calls in 200 languages.
Often, victims of trafficking are deceived with the promise of a job or a better life in another country. They may not speak the language of the country they’ve been trafficked into. Can you imagine how scary that would be?
Our national hotlines in Greece, Bulgaria, and South Africa have received many calls from victims trafficked from another country. But through the use of translation services, we’ve been able to understand calls for help and intervene effectively to bring lives to safety. Imagine the relief you would feel after you mustered enough courage to make a call, and then someone assists you in your language.
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Rescue –
Vocational training can prevent a survivor from being re-trafficked.
We’ve seen educational and vocational training help survivors journey from the deepest of trauma, to a fulfilling life and a bright future. Survivors like Julie*.
Julie was doing everything she could to provide for her children, but she struggled financially without a high school education. She developed a friendship with a man who she trusted and he offered to help her out—until one day he started forcing her to sleep with men for money, under the threat of physical abuse.
One night, Julie bravely escaped while her trafficker was asleep and called for help. She was connected with A21, and our team was able to help Julie complete her education and set herself up for a job to lead her to independence and caring for her children.
When you give today, you can choose to directly provide educational and vocational training to more survivors like Julie. It can be the difference between slavery and the restoration of a bright future.
Give Now →
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6 Month Review
June 2020: During the months of January to June, we've seen...
95 victims identified.
51 new survivors in our care.
1,339 frontline professionals trained.
2,136 hotline calls linked to trafficking.
We are so encouraged by these numbers, but we want you to meet one of the faces behind them. Meet Leslie*. Her life was changed because of your support.
Leslie's Story:
Leslie was looking for love and a stable life for her children. As a mother of two, Leslie worked extremely hard balancing two jobs and she loved her children more than anything. One day, she met a handsome man who made her feel loved and eventually promised her a better life and a steady job so she could save to support her family. Leslie wanted to give her children the best chance at life possible–so she decided to move and temporarily leave her kids with their father.
When she got there, they were living in hotels and one day, Leslie's boyfriend asked her if she would sleep with someone to pay for next week's rent.
She wasn't comfortable but didn't want to compromise her relationship or her family's future.
After doing this a few times, her boyfriend started bringing other women around to do the same thing. She felt hurt, betrayed, and devastated–so she decided to leave.
After several attempts to leave and years of physical and sexual abouse, Leslie was finally uncovered by law enforcement and assisted to safety from her trafficker.
This is when Leslie's journey to restoration began.
She started working with A21, receiving trauma counseling and psychological services, and was eventually reunited with her children. It's the support of people like you that empowers survivors like Leslie to hope in freedom, wholeness, and a promising future.
Give to help more survivors like Leslie →
The Simple Gifts that Make the Biggest Difference
April 2020: Amazon wish list providing Gift Baskets for survivors
Last year, through Amazon Wish List, our aftercare team provided Easter baskets for our survivors and their children because of the generosity of supporters like you. This year, we want to provide you an amazing opportunity again. With the current pandemic, our team is inviting you to provide COVID-19 Care Packages for our survivors and their families.
When you purchase an item from the A21 Amazon Wish List, the items are sent directly to our U.S. aftercare team in Charlotte, North Carolina where they will personally deliver the items to survivors.It's your support that reminds our survivors that people care about them, that there is hope in the midst of a crisis, and that they are stronger than any challenge they are currently facing.
Want to send a gift? →
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What will you do with the freedom you have?
MARCH 2020: FREEDOM STARTS WITH YOU
As an abolitionist, you are what makes our work possible. For over 12 years now, we’ve seen the power that can lie in the actions of everyday people who dare to believe that slavery can be abolished. Our story has always been about the story of one–and how the one became many.
We’ve only just scratched the surface of the impact we, as a global community of abolitionists, can have when we all come together.
There are still millions affected by this global crisis–but when you give today, your action has the power to change the lives of human trafficking victims like Emilia, June, Dalila, and Paul, all around the world.
Learn more about their stories & join us in the fight against modern-day slavery →
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