Or: How to Help When You Don't Think You Have the Time, Skills, or Resources
We know many of you want to help, but are limited by circumstances like being a full-time student. There are still ways to help though! For your convenience, we have listed them from the smallest time commitment to the largest so that you can pick what works for your schedule:
Educate: Yourself first, and then others. Start with our post on the Myths of Trafficking. Then explore our other posts and those of the organizations we have introduced you to. When you know the information, you can share it with those around you!
Participate: There are events in various cities that do not require more than a day of your time, like the A21 Walk For Freedom that is hosted in various cities every year. Save the date: October 19, 2019. Fill out an interest form to find one near you. You can find others through organizations’ websites or social media. I follow several anti-trafficking pages on Facebook and regularly hear about events near me.
Volunteer: There are more anti-trafficking organizations in cities near you than you realize. A Google search of your city and “anti human trafficking organizations” will show you the options available. Check out their websites and you’ll likely find at least one that is looking for volunteers. Depending on the organization, the time commitment varies, but there is usually a weekly requirement. There are also organizations like Love146 that have volunteer teams in various cities, as well as the option of starting a new volunteer team in your city.
Intern: If you’re looking to fill your summer or take a semester off of school, there are organizations looking for interns or seasonal volunteers. In North America, A21 has offices in Costa Mesa, CA and Charlotte, NC where you can volunteer for a semester. The Dressember Foundation has internships available with college internship credit available upon request. HELP International has both volunteer and intern options available for those looking for experience working with vulnerable communities overseas, like Syrian refugees in Greece.
Start a Club: With a faculty advisor, you can start an anti-human-trafficking club at your university. You can provide education, advocacy, fundraising, or whatever is most needed for anti-trafficking work in your area. If you’d like to see an example of what a club can do, check out the BYU Anti-Human-Trafficking Club. This can continue long after you graduate!
Whatever your class schedule, there is a way that you can join the fight!
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