Youth4Abolition human trafficking awareness event: two high schools, two school systems, two states, one cause

Youth4Abolition (Y4A) student chapter members from Olympic High School in Charlotte, N.C. and Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, S.C. banded together to host the first annual ‘Pancakes for Freedom’ breakfast fundraiser at Good Shepherd Church in support of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  Over 50 Youth4Abolition students from both schools focused on teamwork to carry out the fundraiser, which included preparing and serving breakfast, presenting the latest research on domestic minor sex trafficking and hosting a panel discussion of community experts on the issue.

“Globally, human trafficking, which includes sex, labor and organ trafficking, generates more profit than Nike, Starbucks and Google combined, over $150 billion annually,” quoted one student, a statistic from the International Labour Organization. “Sex trafficking in the United States is a large part of that profit,” she said.

Youth4Abolition is a non-profit organization that hosts a network of clubs and chapters featuring a peer-to-peer led curriculum taught by trained student volunteer leaders in high schools, churches and community groups. Using the facts and tools to share knowledge helps students spread awareness and prevent domestic minor sex trafficking in their communities. Many of the event attendees were families and teens who showed their support in addressing the issue, including the Olympic High School men’s basketball team.

“Anyone can become a victim. Once someone my age is educated, they should spread the word to help prevent it from happening to kids in the future,” said Y4A Chapter President at Nation Ford High School.

Funds raised from the event support OEW Hope House, the first nationally-accredited safe house in the country for girls ages 12 to 21, recovering from sex trafficking.  Youth4Abolition and OEW Hope House are programs of On Eagles Wings Ministries, a 501c3 non-profit anti-human trafficking organization founded in 2007 and based in Charlotte, N.C.

To illustrate the impact of efforts made, students from these high schools have worked with Youth4Abolition Social Media Director to produce a series of original YouTube videos titled, ‘This isn’t My Story but it Could Be’ telling the stories of real-life minor sex-trafficking survivors. The latest released video tells Lena’s story.

Youth4Abolition’s unique, peer-to-peer led curriculum will be hosting volunteer training this April for high school and college students. New chapters can be launched once volunteers have completed training.

Connect with Youth4Aboltion on Facebook, Instagram or online at www.youth4abolition.com.