Raising Awareness
Raising Awareness
Share Your Voice!
“If you are silent about injustice, you are consenting to it”.
Knowledge is power. And the facts about the sexual exploitation of children don’t lie. Now that you’ve been introduced to the growing, global epidemic that is the sexual exploitation of children and child sex trafficking, it’s part of your job to share the knowledge and ensure that youth are kept safe from this tragedy.
For help or tips on how to share your voice, feel free to check out our awareness raising guide below.
Share Your Voice!
“If you are silent about injustice, you are consenting to it”.
Knowledge is power. And the facts about the sexual exploitation of children don’t lie. Now that you’ve been introduced to the growing, global epidemic that is the sexual exploitation of children and child sex trafficking, it’s part of your job to share the knowledge and ensure that youth are kept safe from this tragedy.
For help or tips on how to share your voice, feel free to check out our awareness raising guide below.
Step 1: Use The Right Resources
No one knows everything about a certain topic and that’s okay. Taking your points from above let’s expand on those and try to understand even more. Remember to use credible sources to fuel your thirst for knowledge.
Consider online sources such as:
Step 1: Use The Right Resources
No one knows everything about a certain topic and that’s okay. Taking your points from above let’s expand on those and try to understand even more. Remember to use credible sources to fuel your thirst for knowledge.
Consider online sources such as:
Step 2: What are the Facts
Write down some facts that you know about child sexual exploitation, if you are new to this subject use these sources to learn more!
| Fact 1 | |
| Fact 2 | |
| Fact 3 |
Step 2: What are the Facts
Write down some facts that you know about child sexual exploitation, if you are new to this subject use these sources to learn more!
| Fact 1 | |
| Fact 2 | |
| Fact 3 |
Step 3: Get Some Ideas
1. Stick It:
On small pieces of paper, write down facts that can be stuck to every locker or classroom door that highlights the issue of the sexual exploitation of children. Stick them before students arrive so that they can be surprised by the message. Include on the ‘Stick It’ information how they can get involved either by sharing OneChild contact information or your own.
2. Broadcast It:
Does your school have a television news segment? Present a news segment on the issue of the sexual exploitation of children and a call to action for fellow students who want to fight this!
3. Stream It:
There are tons of documentaries, television shows and movies that speak to this issue. Organize a movie night (you could potentially charge an entry fee) and share snacks. Afterwards everyone can speak to their thoughts and opinions on this issue and begin to work together for future events.
4. Wear It:
As a school, dress in black one day to symbolize the darkness and emptiness that children affected by this issue feel everyday. Or wear price tags or barcodes to spark conversation around the selling of children’s bodies in the sex industry. If your school has a uniform this could be a fundraising opportunity by having a paid dress-down day.
5. Write It:
Talented in poetry writing or journalism? Publish your writing in your school, local or even national newspaper. This is a great way to put forward up-to-date facts and address a large audience.
6. Hashtag It:
Create a unique hashtag that connects to the issue and share facts and stories about the sexual exploitation of children within your post. This can then be a fundraising opportunity if you pledge to raise a certain amount of money per retweet that your post receives.
7. Film It:
Create a YouTube video that sparks conversation in the comments about the sexual exploitation of children.
8. Create It:
Create art that shows your interpretation of the sexual exploitation of children. Put the masterpiece on display in your school or community and use it as a talking point to the importance of highlighting this issue.
9. Join It:
In addition to all these fantastic awareness raising ideas, you can join OneChild campaigns. Contact youth@onechild.ca to participate.
Your hard work and determination to fight with OneChild is so important and we can’t wait to watch you succeed! If you need any support or guidance in your awareness-raising efforts never hesitate to contact us at youth@onechild.ca
Step 4: SMART Goals
Now that you’ve chosen an awareness-raising activity from either our list or come up with your own cool idea, it’s time to plan and organize yourself. You can use the SMART Goals guide below to help you collect your thoughts. You got this!
| S-pecific |
When you are organizing your event you want to be as specific as possible. Think about…
|
| M-easureable |
You want to make sure you can measure your goal so you know when you’ve reached it!Will that look like…
|
| A-ttainable |
We know you’re passionate so we want to make sure your plans can be attained. Ask yourself questions like…
|
| R-elevant |
It’s important that your activity or event is relevant to fighting the issue of sexual exploitation of children. This means what type of awareness tools will you incorporate…
|
| T-imeline |
Ensuring that you’re on schedule will help you to finish your goal! Try making a timeline of not only start and end dates but…
|
Step 4: SMART Goals
Now that you’ve chosen an awareness-raising activity from either our list or come up with your own cool idea, it’s time to plan and organize yourself. You can use the SMART Goals guide below to help you collect your thoughts. You got this!
S-pecific
When you are organizing your event you want to be as specific as possible. Think about…
- Time
- Place
- Resources needed
- Parental/Guardian help
M-easureable
You want to make sure you can measure your goal so you know when you’ve reached it! Will that look like…
- A certain amount of signatures
- A certain amount of people involved
- A certain amount of people talked to
A-ttainable
We know you’re passionate so we want to make sure your plans can be attained. Ask yourself questions like…
- Can I do this alone or will I need others to help?
- Am I giving myself enough time?
R-elevant
It’s important that your activity or event is relevant to fighting the issue of sexual exploitation of children. This means what type of awareness tools will you incorporate…
- Pamphlets?
- Movie?
- Art piece?
T-imeline
Ensuring that you’re on schedule will help you to finish your goal! Try making a timeline of not only start and end dates but…
- Half way marks
- Dates to meet with principles or parents
- Dates to purchase items
Step 5: Your Plan
With your SMART Goals in place let’s lay out your activity!
Things to Consider For Your Plan
Date:
Name(s)
Location:
Time:
Description of Activity / Event:
Step 5: Your Plan
With your SMART Goals in place let’s lay out your activity!
Things to Consider For Your Plan
Date:
Name(s)
Location:
Time:
Description of Activity / Event:
Step 6: Final Tips
Think Permission Please:
Get permission from whomever is in charge of the location you are holding your event or activity, whether that be a Principal, Teacher, parent, guardian, manager etc. Also, if anyone is there under the age of 18, then parental/guardian supervision is needed.
Think Awareness vs. Advocacy:
Awareness is having knowledge in a subject and then being able to share that with the ones around you. It’s very important and should be in all fundraising activities. Advocacy is the lobbying of government to address policy issues, but we can’t allow youth to engage in advocacy initiatives under the name of OneChild. If you’re interested in advocacy work, please email us at youth@onechild.ca and we will contact you with opportunities to participate in our next official OneChild advocacy campaign.
Think in Numbers:
Gather your friends, siblings, neighbours and get more done, faster!
Think it Over:
Ask yourself the questions; is my activity/event accessible to all? Is it sensitive and appropriate for the cause I’m fighting for? Am I able to use materials that are environmentally friendly? Just because we are fighting for awareness of the sexual exploitation of children and child sex trafficking doesn’t mean we should ignore other important issues.
Think Ahead:
Make sure you book any rooms, supplies or speakers. Also think ahead to possible weather issues and how you would react in case of rain, snow, cloud or sunshine.
Think Photos and Video:
Remember to document your activity with plenty of photos and video so that we can show you off!
Think Fun:
We at OneChild deem it mandatory that you have fun in all events and activities you do to fight child sex slavery. We cannot wait to hear about and see all the amazing things you do!
Your hard work and determination to fight with OneChild is so important and we can’t wait to watch you succeed! If you need any support or guidance in your awareness-raising efforts never hesitate to contact us at youth@onechild.ca
Step 7: Closing Survey
Please fill out the following form to help us understand how your awareness-raising event went!
Step 7: Closing Survey
Please fill out the following form to help us understand how your awareness-raising event went!
If you need help right away, call 9-1-1
To report sex trafficking and get help, visit the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline or call 1-833-900-1010.
Contact Us
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Unit D3, Suite 124,
Markham, ON
L3R 5G1
Canada
OneChild Network & Support Inc. is a registered Canadian charity: No. 831160544RR0001