Human Trafficking Awareness
SIHCA is beginning a mission to raise awareness on this horrible issue that is becoming much more serious and prevalent in the Interstate 75 corridor. Our local club has already helped one adult who had been trafficked from a very young age to escape her situation and she is now living a full life away from the horrors of this awful situation.
We are partnering with the Middletown (Dayton area) Soroptimist club and the Ohio Department of Transportation on this project. Middletown has created awareness stickers to distribute in rest stop restroom stalls which we're planning to help distribute along I-75 in the near future.
In January 2024, we held our first joint trafficking awareness public seminar in conjunction with the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy, local law enforcement, medical professionals and organizations, and informational booths with local law enforcement organizations and local charities supporting trafficking victims.
The agenda for the event focused on:
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Expanding awareness in your community by interacting with Law Enforcement
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Education on what human trafficking is and how to recognize the signs of exploitation of another person
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Learning health deterrents / patient awareness / warning signs
We wrapped up the first event by showing the movie "Sound of Freedom" which is focused on the rescue of a group of young girls subject to a large scale human trafficking ring. This movie was based on a true story.
We plan to continue holding this as an annual event as long as it continues to make an impact.