Fighting by Educating
Part of being a smart traveler is researching organizations that practice sustainable tourism. By doing a little research on the web I was able to find organizations that are fighting to stop human trafficking and also support the local economies using fair trade practices. Fair trade practices, in basic terms, are practices which allow developing communities to have fair wages while promoting cultural and economic growth.
One Organization that supports the cause, while also promoting these practices through smaller endeavors, is ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking). They have emerged as the leader in preventing trafficking of children through tourism. Following their lead many major travel agencies have joined the cause and are now taking steps to help catch traffickers in the act. Some of those organizations include Travelocity (Sabre), Delta Airlines, Hilton worldwide, and many others.
An approach some organizations are taking to stop trafficking educating the at risk children. An associated group of ECPAT, which practices this approach, is the YPP or Youth Partnership project. Along with educating these children they are follow the 5 corner stones of fair trade.
Fair Working Conditions: The YPP offers support for the youth who have been affected by human trafficking in southern Asia. They help these kids through counseling and educational classes.
Fair Prices: The children helped can start building and working towards self-sustainability. The hope is that these children can go on to live meaningful and successful lives.
Integration Into the Local Economy and Regional Development: The goal of the YPP is to help these children psychologically to be able to handle every day living. They help these children learn to become valuable members of society.
Fair Trade Partnerships Between All Actors in Tourism: Travel companies support and are looking for children who are being trafficked. These children are then helped by organizations such as the YPP.
Sustainable Resource Use and Environmental Justice: Every day the YPP and other similar organizations spread the word about human trafficking. The more aware people are the harder it will be for traffickers to get away with this crime.
It is important to know these organizations exist and also know how they are trying to help. Most of these groups are non-profit and accept donations to help the children. So, if you are planning on traveling to a place well known for trafficking, please be aware of these groups and help them in any way you can.
Part of being a smart traveler is researching organizations that practice sustainable tourism. By doing a little research on the web I was able to find organizations that are fighting to stop human trafficking and also support the local economies using fair trade practices. Fair trade practices, in basic terms, are practices which allow developing communities to have fair wages while promoting cultural and economic growth.
One Organization that supports the cause, while also promoting these practices through smaller endeavors, is ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking). They have emerged as the leader in preventing trafficking of children through tourism. Following their lead many major travel agencies have joined the cause and are now taking steps to help catch traffickers in the act. Some of those organizations include Travelocity (Sabre), Delta Airlines, Hilton worldwide, and many others.
An approach some organizations are taking to stop trafficking educating the at risk children. An associated group of ECPAT, which practices this approach, is the YPP or Youth Partnership project. Along with educating these children they are follow the 5 corner stones of fair trade.
Fair Working Conditions: The YPP offers support for the youth who have been affected by human trafficking in southern Asia. They help these kids through counseling and educational classes.
Fair Prices: The children helped can start building and working towards self-sustainability. The hope is that these children can go on to live meaningful and successful lives.
Integration Into the Local Economy and Regional Development: The goal of the YPP is to help these children psychologically to be able to handle every day living. They help these children learn to become valuable members of society.
Fair Trade Partnerships Between All Actors in Tourism: Travel companies support and are looking for children who are being trafficked. These children are then helped by organizations such as the YPP.
Sustainable Resource Use and Environmental Justice: Every day the YPP and other similar organizations spread the word about human trafficking. The more aware people are the harder it will be for traffickers to get away with this crime.
It is important to know these organizations exist and also know how they are trying to help. Most of these groups are non-profit and accept donations to help the children. So, if you are planning on traveling to a place well known for trafficking, please be aware of these groups and help them in any way you can.