How can young people get involved with ending modern slavery?
The resources within this page are designed to inspire young people in how they can better understand and fight against modern slavery and exploitation. The resources can be used by young people and youth workers.
- What does modern day slavery look like around the world? Modern Slavery looks very different to the historical slavery that we are taught about in schools. Due to slavery being illegal, it has become a hidden crime in which victims are often hidden in plain sight throughout the UK.
- Many people who are victims of modern slavery are often trafficked to other countries against their will. Human Trafficking is the illegal transportation of people against to other areas or countries. Often the people being trafficked are forced to do so, or have been manipulated to think they are going to find a better life. In reality when they arrive at the destination they will be forced into slavery and exploitation.
- With an issue as horrific as modern slavery it is difficult to know how we, as Christians, should respond. BMS World Vision is a Christian charity that works with Churches in ending Modern Slavery and Exploitation.
All survivors of modern slavery have a story. Hearing and learning from these stories is a vital way we can better understand the experience of what modern slavery survivors go through.
There are lots actions you can take to help end modern slavery. See below for some easy things you can do to help end slavery and exploitation worldwide.
The Modern Slavery Helpline – Find Out What To Do If You Suspect Modern Slavery
The Charity Hope for Justice is encouraging people to Pledge Your Birthday, and raise money to help end Modern Slavery.
An area where modern slavery and exploitation is common is the farming industry. Due to this lots of the food we eat and drink may have been produced (in whole or in part) by people being exploited as slaves. Two of the biggest industries where this exploitation takes place is in Chocolate and Tea production. According to Stop the Traffik “It is estimated that over 2.1 million children in West Africa alone are employed on cocoa plantations, performing the backbreaking and hazardous job of harvesting cocoa beans.” Stop the Traffik have campaigns to help you ensure that you are not supporting exploitation when you buy tea or coffee.
Click here to learn about how to buy Slave Free Chocolate.
Click here to learn about slavery in tea production and how to buy Slave Free Tea.
Applications:
The Safe Car Wash APP:
Download the Safe Car Wash app onto your phone and use it every time you go to a hand car wash. The app will take you through the most obvious indicators of modern slavery, asking you questions to determine whether those signs are present or not. If there is a high likelihood of modern slavery in the car wash, you will be prompted to call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700. Remember, if someone is in immediate danger please call 999 and report it to the police.
Download the Safe Car Wash APP on Google Play Store.
The Modern Slavery Helpline – Find Out What To Do If You Suspect Modern Slavery.
The Stop APP: The STOP APP is the first global app available in multiple languages to report any suspicion or incident of human trafficking and modern slavery.
It’s completely anonymous, confidential and secure. Your report will be combined with others to help build the bigger picture of global human trafficking hotspots and trends. This allows for human trafficking to be disrupted and for vulnerable communities to be supported.
Download the Stop APP on the Google Play Store.
Book a Speaker:
If you would like to learn more about Modern Slavery and how we can work to end it, you can ask your youth group or church to book a speaker to give a presentation on Modern Slavery. This could be a way for your family and friends to learn more about the issue and how to tackle it.
Resources for Children’s Workers:
The Clewer Initiative has a number if resources for schools, that can be easily adapted for Youth Groups. These are a series of resources for schools, youth groups and Sunday schools. They include lesson plants for key stages 1-5. For younger ages there is the Freedom Song, that can introduce the idea of modern slavery to those 10 and under.