Abstract
Human trafficking, considered the slavery of modern times, is an issue that impacts every nation in the world. This crime’s invisibility and capacity to affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, gender, education level, or socio-economic background, has allowed it to propagate into a multi-billion dollar industry. Many communities around the world remain oblivious to the issue and vulnerable to traffickers who profit from unsuspecting victims. To contribute to the awareness of the issue, this project educated high school students in the counties of Solano and Yolo, California, on the nature of human trafficking and the factors that make up this crime. Using a PowerPoint presentation, interactive activities, and a resource guide, 250 students in four high schools across two counties were exposed to the realities of human trafficking. Data collected from the student surveys determined that 169 students strongly agreed that this human trafficking presentation was interesting, insightful, and engaging. Altogether, 223 students strongly agreed that the presenter was prepared and knowledgeable on the subject, and 215 students strongly agreed that the presenter appropriately covered the recruiting methods used to traffic victims. Moreover, 184 students strongly agreed that the presentation adequately taught them how to report human trafficking if suspected, and 229 students strongly agreed that the presenter had clearly identified the different types and variations of human trafficking crimes. This project was an effective learning tool for over 200 students in Northern California, where the researcher provided students with a brief introduction to a complicated issue. This project was worthwhile because youth populations around the world rarely receive formal training and education on human trafficking and thus remain unaware of its capacity to affect them and their communities. This type of education should continue to be presented to high school students throughout the country in order to increase community awareness on the topic. Communities must also continue to spread awareness and expand upon current human trafficking trainings. This should include the development of specialized curriculums in schools for students to further study the issue.