PROJECT #223
Project #223 | Online Safety Training & Trafficking Prevention
Our Partnership with HUG Project
Accessibility to technology comes with the dangers and risks of online exploitation. In many cases, online exploitation can lead to trauma, abuse, and human trafficking. Because of Covid-19, there was a sharp increase in the online exploitation of children in Thailand due to more children using the internet while staying at home. In 2020, Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children received over 300,000 tips just through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database.
One Day’s Wages partnered with the HUG Project to prevent human trafficking and sexual abuse of children in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were three parts to this project. First, HUG’s child advocacy center offered a safe space for children to learn, grow, and have fun after school. In this program, staff cycled through weekly topics such as English, science, safety, art, and movie nights. Second, the project provided educational sessions in schools and the community to discuss the importance of online safety. HUG and TICAC (HUG’s law enforcement partner) covered topics such as safe/unsafe touch, online safety, and who to contact when a child is in trouble. Finally, HUG hung posters in schools and distributed them around at-risk communities so there is always a number or contact available to those who may need it. This is a tangible reminder to children, students, and families that someone is always there for them.
Our Collective Impact
Students Educated in the 1st Training Session
Students Educated in the 2nd Training Session
Total People Impacted
Meet Nan
Nan* already had a difficult home life. After her biological father left the family, her mother remarried and started a new family with her new husband. When her new stepfather attempted to rape Nan, she left home. Unable to return home, she found herself struggling to survive on the streets at the age of 13. This led to her exploitation by a trafficker. Nan’s offender not only abused her sexually, but also live-streamed the abuse over the internet. Hundreds of online spectators participated in this advertised “pay-per-view” event. HUG’s law enforcement partners conducted an investigation which enabled them to identify and locate Nan. Initially, she was afraid to talk with the police, but after building trust, HUG pulled together a team of professionals (including a social worker, investigator, counselor, and prosecutor) to guide Nan through an extremely difficult legal process. HUG team members provided for both her physical and emotional needs. In the end, because of her courage to testify, Nan’s perpetrator pled guilty to human trafficking. Today she is back in school and living in a secure location. With support from the team at HUG, Nan is working toward healing and a bright future.
*pseudonym used
Thank you for making this possible!
Our movement is grassroots, to us that not only means the work on the ground is led by local leaders with the support of the community, but it also means that we raise the funds for our projects through everyday donors just like you. In addition to all the donors that gave $25, $100, or $250 and the campaigners that ran a race or donated their birthday to raise funds, we also want to thank our generous business, school, and faith sponsors who believed in our work and joined the movement.
If you want to support future projects like this you can make a donation to our human trafficking fund.
One Day's Wages is a grassroots movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty
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