I came into the movie, ‘Sound of Freedom’, knowing it was going to be a hard watch.
And it was. I cried multiple times. I was forced to deal with the reality of children dealing with evil things no human on this world should have to face (Even so, if you haven’t watched it yet.. I STILL BELIEVE IT’S WORTH SEEING)
Once the movie got to the end credits, I was waiting, READY to receive specific instructions on how I could help support the cause.
I remember the lead actor appearing on the screen looking solemn and serious. He thanked us for the movie and spoke on the reality of how real children are still in bondage every day.
I nodded in understanding, waiting for the next details.
He finally shares, “Join us in the fight by sharing the movie with everyone you know.” (looose paraphrase) And the screen fades.
I felt instantly confused. That’s it? Where were the organizations we could donate to? Or the Numbers we could call? How could I actually make change in my actual life?
I left the theater feeling disappointed and heavily burdened. I was burning with an inner desire to do something, ANYTHING to help support.
I felt like I had all of these hard pent up emotions with nowhere to put it.
Therefore, I decided to put my emotions to good use and research. Now, as a way to empower myself and anyone else seeking to create change, here are 14 more practical steps I found we can take to support the fight against ending child trafficking.
1)Donate to an Organization
After leaving the movie theater, the first thing I couldn’t wait to find were organizations that I could donate to.
A couple I found were:
- Sharehoped ~ “a non-profit, non-governmental, Christian organization that exists to prevent sex trafficking and restore and bring justice to women and children who have been victimized through sex trafficking.” (Source: Wikipedia )
- Love146 ~ a U.S.-based 501 non-profit international anti-child trafficking organization that “journeys alongside children impacted by trafficking today and prevents the trafficking of children tomorrow.” (Source: Love146 Mission Page )
- Child of the Night ~ “a privately funded non-profit organization established in 1979 with the specific purpose to provide intervention in the lives of children who are sexually exploited and vulnerable to or involved in prostitution and pornography.”
- Our Rescue (O.U.R.) ~ is a nonprofit United States-based anti-sex trafficking organization. It has conducted multiple sting operations, some outside the United States, and donated technological and monetary resources to law-enforcement agencies that combat sex trafficking. (Source: Wikipedia)
- Remember Nhu ~ a nonprofit committed to ending child sex slavery through prevention.
Don’t feel pressured to donate to all. Go to their website, read over the different missions statements, and then give to the one(s) whose visions resonated with you the most.
2)Pledge Your Birthday
Ever come across a Facebook in which someone invited you to donate to a selected organization for their birthday? Well now you can. This is a great,beginner-friendly method to fundraise for a cause you care about. Instead of asking your close friends and family to purchase gifts for your birthday, you can ask them to sow into your desired organization. Don’t think you can raise a lot? Never underestimate the power of a little by little. A $15 here, another $10 there. Next thing you know you raised $100.
Here’s all the steps you need to get started! Check it out!
3)Share your personal (non spoiler) review of the film and invite others to go see it!
Don’t underestimate the influence your voice could carry in your personal circles. An Influencer isn’t just a person on Instagram or TikTok that has 1+ million views. An influencer is anyone whose own personal experiences and recommendation encourages someone to do something they didn’t originally plan to do.
Have you ever encouraged someone to start a habit, read a book, watch a movie based on your own experience? Then Guess what? You’re an influencer (even more than that, You’re a leader)
This was the very text I received that pushed me to go watch it:
As you can see, it doesn’t take a lot and it doesn’t require a lot of fancy words.
So share on, influencers! (Then after your share, be sure to follow up with a post on 15 practical ways that can take action after they go see it) 😉
4)Share PREMADE Awareness Graphics on your social media
Want to post on your social media but don’t have any graphic design skills? No worries, Love146 has a free social media kit, with PREMADE graphics for anyone to share on their social media! You can spread awareness in under 10 minutes. Get them here!
5)Become an ambassador at SharedHope
Have some extra time on your hands to volunteer for a national organization? Then apply to become an ambassador at SharedHope!
As an SharedHope ambassador, some of your responsibilities will include:
- sharing tools for preventing child sex trafficking using provided presentations and films.
- Speaking to civic clubs, churches, schools and universities, or any group that requests awareness information.
- Hosting meetings with friends and family to help them understand how to protect juveniles from predators.
- Hosting a resource table at community events, fairs, clubs wherever there is an open door to bring educational materials to an audience.
- Using Shared Hope’s Legislative Action tools to help bring awareness to your state lawmakers.
- Teaching your community how to recognize the signs of trafficking and how to effectively respond.
- Responding to requests for a presentation to bring prevention education.”
Sounds interesting? Apply here.
6.Film screen an event
Do you live on a college campus or know of a space (your home, an extra room at your church, library, etc) in which you could host a movie? Then consider hosting a special film screening event! This would be a great way to start conversations, spread awareness, and accompany someone to see a movie they might not normally see by themselves.
Love146 offers a free guide on their resources page that includes step by step how to plan, launch, and promote the screening in your own desired location!
7)Sign Up to Become a Weekend Warrior
We often think we have to have loads of time to make any significant impact, but you can make significant change in just 15 min a week.
ShareHoped offers a weekend warrior newsletter that will provide you with practical, simple action steps you can take each weekend to help fight against child trafficking. Have 15 min to spare each week? Sign up here.
8)Contact Your Local Governor
Ready to take your fight to the government level? Did you know you could reach out to your local governor to give specialized attention to causes you care about? That’s right. If you’re ready to let your voice be heard: reach out to your local Governor to prioritize giving supportive services for victims of child sex trafficking. This will be done through your local state’s Safe Harbor Organization.
SharedHope has provided a premade email template that you can revise and send to your local governor in under 3 min! Send it here.
9)Read Educational Books on the Issue
Sometimes the best first step we can take in fighting is educating ourselves on the facts & truths of the issues.
SharedHope offers a short, $2.00 booklet (or free with newsletter sign up) that provides a sound, biblical perspective on how to view and fight human trafficking.
- Some others are…
- Human Trafficking Around the World: Hidden in Plain Sight
- Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy
- Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, an Activist Finds Her Calling and Heals Herself
- Sold (*note: this is a fiction book but still a very good yet emotional read. I only recommend for 18+ readers as it does contain graphic writing of prostitution and sexual abuse.)
10)Share Online Safety Protocols with Friends and Family
More and more young kids are being exposed to the internet and social media at young ages. We may assume everyone has common knowledge on what to look out for when someone is being a predator online but that’s not true. If you know of any young children or teens in your life (or even older people!), you can share these basic safety protocols on how to protect themselves when engaging with people online.
11)Watch an End Child Trafficking Web-Series
While I know I already mentioned a few books you could check out on the subject, you may be more of an audio/visual learner!
- If so, I got you covered. Love146 provides a 4 part web series that covers:
- 1.CHILD TRAFFICKING MYTHS AND FACTS
- 2.RECOGNIZING RED FLAGS AND HELPING YOUTH FIND A SAFE ADULT
- 3.HOW TO HAVE SIMPLE CONVERSATIONS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
- 4.RAISING CHILDREN ALONGSIDE TECHNOLOGY
You can watch it here!
12)Know Your Bill of Rights (and share them with others)
Would you know the signs or actions to look for if a child or youth you know were being assaulted? And if you did, taking it a step forward, would you know the proper resources or support to reach out to after?
If not, I would like to introduce the Bill of Rights. It is a page created by Ecpat (a global network of civil society organizations that works to end the sexual exploitation of children) that provides you with both signs to look out for and next steps to take if you think someone you might know is being sexually exploited.
Educate yourself & then share the information forward.
13)Purchase Merch to spread awareness and start conversations!
I’ll be the first to admit.. I wasn’t sure about adding this as a step.
I mean honestly how does wearing a shirt or hat bring actual change?
However, then I thought about it. How many conversations have you started with a friend or stranger over a clothing item you saw them wear? (For me many times)
While I definitely would not let this be the ONLY step you take, I would not downplay the power of visuals and human curiosity.
(Also an additional thought I had is that if I’m purchasing from organizations that are fighting for the cause, my money is still going towards the overall goal of the organization: ending all child/human slavery.)
Therefore, here are two stores I found for you to buy from:
- 1)Angel Studios Apparel ~ This shop is from Angel Studios (The creators of ‘Sound of Freedom’)
- 2)Our Rescue Merch ~ This store supports the organization O.U.R (Operation Underground Railroad)
14)Pray for All Child (& Human ) Trafficking to End
Last but definitely not least if you’re a believer in Christ, you can never downplay the power that prayer can bring in any situation (James 5:16).
As we commit this area to prayer, I found these four helpful resources to help guide us:
- SharedHope – Offers a 30 day prayer action guide
- Join Weekly Tues Prayer – SpringUpNew
- SharedHope – Pray in Agreement over people’s specific prayer request
- Prayer Prompts
Alas, there you have it!! 14 actions steps to help you become ACTIVE in the fight against child/human slavery. You don’t have to do all but CHOOSE at least ONE. That one small step can provide the momentum you need to keep going and even encourage others to join in on the fight alongside you.
Comment down below which action step or steps (!!) you’re going to take to engage in the fight! When you’re done come back to your own comment and reply “DONE”!
If you have any other suggestions/recommend resources to support the cause put in the comments below!
Remember, no step is too small!!
