Elmont, NY – Over the past two years, the Martin De Porres School has developed a heightened awareness of Human Trafficking. We have come to know that globally, countless numbers are trafficked through sexual and/or labor exploitation. Estimates are that twenty–seven million men, women and children are enslaved worldwide. On a local level (New York City and Long Island), trafficking is a significant issue. At MDP, we are concerned as our students are at possible risk of being “caught up” in it. Sadly, traffickers have victimized some of our students. Our hope is that we can prevent such occurrences and raise awareness in general about this most tragic concern.
To bring this hope to reality, we have taken a first step. For the 2014-15 school year, we have been awarded a “Mission Grant” from the Daughters of Wisdom. With it, we have developed a pilot project aimed at raising awareness first, among our staff and second among our students. Specifically, we have created a series of activities, experiences and presentations in which both groups can participate. We are well into the project with positive results this far. Also, in October 2014, MDP sponsored a Morning of Reflection on Human Trafficking that was well attended. In November-December, MDP High School participated in the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. For this event, MDP collaborated with the local chapter of Zonta International, an organization of business and the professions that works to advance the status of women, to develop an “awareness-raising” curriculum about gender based violence. At MDP, we are taking small steps to educate ourselves about human trafficking as well as to make efforts to end it along with conditions that reinforce it.