The Prevention Project

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

The Prevention Project is an educational program designed to teach students about the subject of human trafficking. Beginning in the summer of 2012, 31 students at The Center for Humanities at Hermitage High School completed a summer project about human trafficking. During the first semester, the students heard from a variety of speakers including FBI agents, victims of human trafficking, members of the Richmond Justice Initiative, and other educators on the topic. The purpose was twofold: first, to teach students about human trafficking, the factors that contribute to modern day slavery, and methods to end this growing problem. Second, students were tasked to create their own methods of advocacy, which resulted in a successful movie night and panel discussion, visiting three middle schools to share what they had learned about prevention, and lastly, visiting the Virginia General Assembly on January 11, 2013 to meet elected officials about pending legislation. As a result, students learned vital information about a growing international crime in a variety of ways and presented information, awareness, and prevention methods to other students, the community at large, and the Virginia General Assembly.