December 2014
Thank You!
Thank you for visiting our site. If you're like most who visit, you too have children who matter to you. Whether it is your own children, grandchildren or even nieces or nephews, this issue should matter to you. A major goal in our communication is that we all have a real stake in this issue. Today, so many people still think human trafficking is isolated to other nations around the world, and falsely believe trafficking in the U.S. is primarily victims from other nations.
We were just as shocked, as you may be, to learn that in the U.S., American victims outnumber international victims 10-to-1. Data from the U.S. Department of Justice indicates there are over 8000 new victims per month in the U.S. Furthermore, the primary targets are our children and grandchildren.
Connecting with law enforcement, universities and working with volunteers we have spent thousands of hours studying the Who,What, When, Why and How of Human Trafficking in the U.S. While reviewing information from cases all over the nation, we spent time looking for trends and patterns to help us develop solutions to this very complex issue. We have discovered there is a Life Cycle of Human Trafficking which reveals "how traffickers approach, connect and deceive" victims into going willingly with them. We have also developed a revolutionary prevention program to teach youth how to recognize the kind of deception used to deceive thousands of victims a year.
From our research, we have developed systems, tools, presentations and trainings for a diverse group of stakeholders including:
- Parents
- Youth
- Professionals who work with at-risk communities
- Law Enforcement
- Agencies working with at-risk communities
- Schools and School Districts
Focus on the Goal, Not the Problem.
Since we formed in 2010, we knew we would "think and act differently" than many of the other agencies dealing with human trafficking. First, we knew the complexities of trafficking required big-picture thinking and macro strategies. Second, we knew that our work would be more focused on the goal (a slave-free world) than on the problem. Lastly, human trafficking is filled with many horror filled details of coercion and trauma, yet our aim is not to frighten but rather to empower youth, families and communities.
"The secret for change is to
focus all your energy,
not on fighting the old,
but on building the new."
Socrates
Our Next Phase Requires Your Help.
Up to this point, we have been able to operate with humble budgets and utilize volunteers in an effective manner to meet our goals. We have built a system that allows us to engage volunteers from all over the nation. But now, our next phase has hard costs we cannot underwrite without your help. Reaching parents, agencies and schools across the nation will require developing funding to cover new costs as we expand our reach. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help fund this important work. If you recognize you too have a stake in this issue, please consider making a monthly automatic donation. Every little bit helps; all we ask is for you to consider sharing what is in your heart.
Kindest Regards,
Saul Castellanos
President/CEO
Freedom Youth Project Foundation
We Need Your Help.
Your generous donation will help us continue our mission.
