IN THAT LAST STORY, YOU SAW CHILDREN WORKING IN A BRICK YARD, BUT PRODUCTS WE USE EVERYDAY -- FROM CHOCOLATE TO CELL PHONES -- CAN HAVE SOME FORM OF SLAVERY IN THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN.
LEARNING ABOUT MODERN DAY SLAVERY HAS TO START EARLY IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
AND WHILE IT’S NOT PART OF THE CURRICULUM AT MOST SCHOOLS, UP NEXT, WE HEAR ABOUT ONE SCHOOL LEADING THE WAY.
ATLANTA..HOME OF AMERICA'S CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT... TODAY, THIS CITY IS ONE OF THE LARGER HUBS FOR SEX-TRAFFICKING … WHERE MODERN-DAY SLAVERY HAS CLAIMED THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS. IT'S A GLOBAL ISSUE... THESE TEENAGERS ARE DETERMINED TO FIGHT LOCALLY. FOUNDED IN 2011.. THIS CLUB AT THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WAS THE IDEA OF A COUPLE OF STUDENTS WHOHAD PASSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.. NOW THEY'VE STIRRED A MOVEMENT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AIS CLUB MEETING NAT SOT: THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT GOES INTO CATCHING TRAFFICKERS.. IT CAN BE DIFFIUCLT IN GEORGIA. FROM BAKED SALES TO SELLING FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE.. THESE STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS. LINDA KINKADE: WHAT DO STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT MODERN DAY SLAVERY BY SELLING THIS TYPE OF CHOCOLATE? SOT: WELL WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW THEM THAT GETTING FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE THATS BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS SO MUCH EASIER THEN THEY THINK. CHILD LABOUR, AND MODERN DAY SLAVERY ARE JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED BY THESE TEENAGERS.. EMILIA: OK THINK THATS ALL ANY QUESTIONS? THE GROUP SPEND THEIR LUNCHBREAK EVERY WEDNESDAY TO MEET...IT'S LED BY THREE STUDENTS INCLUDING KITTY MCCARTHY & EMILIA CASTILLO. LINDA KINKADE: AS YOU STARTED TO LEARN ABOUT THIS - WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST? EMILIA: IT SURPRISED ME MOST IS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HIT SO CLOSE TO HOME, LYNDA: WHEN YOU SPEAK TO PEOPLE YOUR OWN AGE, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS ISSUE? IT'S A PRETTY TOUGH ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT. KIT: IT'S EVERYWHERE. IT'S IN EVERYTHING WE DO, IN OUR PHONES, IN THE FOOD WE EAT, IN THE CLOTHES WE BUY, AND IT JUST, IT IMPACTS US DAILY, ANYTIME WE PURCHASE SOMETHING, EVERY TIME WE CONSUME SOMETHING AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW. THIS GROUP NOW THE MOST POPULAR SOCIAL CLUB IN SCHOOL NICHOLAS: I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS JUST TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE TOPIC. I SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY NOW, IT'S LIKE, I SEE THINGS, LIKE I'LL SEE A T-SHIRT FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL BE, 'OH MAYBE THAT WASN'T, MAYBE SOMEONE WAS TAKEN FROM THEIR FAMILY AND HAD TO BE FORCED TO MADE THAT, MAKE THAT SHIRT RATHER THAN IT BE MADE FAIR TRADE
LINDA KINKADE: ITS NOT JUST ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS AND RAISING FUNDS, YOU'VE ALSO LOBBY GOVERNMENT - EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS? EMILIA CASTILLO: WE TAKE A GROUP OF STUDENTS DOWN TO THE CAPITAL AND WHERE THERE ARE SPEAKERS ON THE ISSUE. WE GO EVERYONE SPLITS UP AND GOES TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND WRITES THEM LETTERS AND THINGS ABOUT WHY THIS ISSUE IS SO IMPORTANT.. AND WHY THE BILL/LAW WHATEVER IS COMING UP TO BE VOTED ON WHY WE THINK ITS IMPORTANT KEVIN GLASS: EVERY YEAR OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE AT THE STATE HOUSE IN GEORGIA THEY'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING OR LOBBYING..OUR IDEA IS TO GET EVERY CHILD, EVERY TEENAGER ENGAGED KEVIN GLASS, HEADMASTER OF THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HOPES THESE STUDENTS WILL TAKE THE LESSON LEARNED HERE AND SHARE THAT KNOWLEDGE, PASSION AND ACTIVISM AS THEY MOVE THROUGH COLLEGE AND INTO THE WORK FORCE.
Instructional Links
Atlanta School Fights Child Slavery
Website Article: Compassion International, Child Labor Facts
Includes map and infographic
Interactive Map: The Global Slavery Index
Click explore to access map. Click on country for statistics.
Lesson Plan: World Affairs Council, Human Trafficking Slavery
Video: YouTube, TED, Kevin Bales: How to Combat Modern Slavery\