10 Ways You Can Help Fight the Trafficking of Children & Youth
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Do something today!
- RAISE FUNDS to support IOFA’s work.
- Donate funds! Did you know that a large portion of funds supporting the anti-trafficking movement come from private donors? Gifts of any size are always appreciated.
- Host a fundraiser – big or small! Host a cocktail party, brunch, BBQ or other event at your home. Join a host committee of an IOFA fundraising event.
- Donate your birthday or another special occasion to IOFA! Ask your friends and family to make a donation to IOFA in your name. Contact [email protected] for more information.
- VOLUNTEER your time.
- Volunteer for IOFA or another anti-trafficking organization.
- Offer your professional services to IOFA or another anti-trafficking organization.
- Consider joining a board (junior, advisory, governing board) of an anti-trafficking organization. Contact [email protected] for information on volunteering for IOFA.
- PARTICIPATE in events/activities.
- Contact IOFA at [email protected] to learn about events and activities in your area.
- RAISE AWARENESS in your social network.
- Talk to your friends and family about the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of children in your community.
- Dedicate a book club meeting to the topic of human trafficking.
- Like IOFA on Facebook or Twitter #IOFA1
- Write a letter to the editor of your local paper about human trafficking in your community.
- CONTINUE TO LEARN about the issue.
- Visit traffickingresourcecenter.org to learn more about human trafficking.
- Set up a Google alert to receive current human trafficking news.
- CONTACT your legislators.
- Tell them you support funding for the Safe Harbour Act and services for survivors of trafficking.
- Encourage them to support bills which strengthen the abilities of social service providers and law enforcement agencies to respond to the survivors and perpetrators of human trafficking.
- BE A CONSCEINTIOUS CONSUMER
- Discover your Slavery Footprint, and check out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. Encourage companies, including your own, to take steps to investigate and eliminate slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains and to publish the information for consumer awareness.
- PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS
- Encourage your local schools to partner with students and include the issue of modern day slavery in their curriculum. As a parent, educator, or school administrator, be aware of how traffickers target school-aged children.
- PURSUE A FELLOWSHIP
- If working in the anti-trafficking field interests you, but you aren’t ready to commit to anything long-term, apply for a short fellowship instead. There are many programs—anywhere from a few months to a year or longer—that will give you firsthand exposure in the fight to end human trafficking. The Not For Sale Campaign and Polaris Project both offer fellowships that allow you to play an integral role in their work.
- SAVE 888-373-7888 IN YOUR PHONE.
- This is the number of the hotline at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center sponsored by the Polaris Project. Save it on your cell phone. The line is manned 24/7, with multiple language interpreters available. Victims can also text BEFREE (233733) to be immediately connected to the NHTRC.
- Report instances or suspicions of human trafficking.