As students go back to school, Love146 volunteer teams on college & university campuses are starting up again, too! Team leaders have started important discussions about supporting work to ending child trafficking, all while balancing their education. College students bring fresh perspective, effort, and funding to work ending child trafficking. However, more importantly, college is a crossroads where children are becoming adults, many are independent for the first time, some are financially unstable, and ultimately: vulnerability to exploitation remains. Understanding the reality of trafficking, recognizing the signs, and knowing how to get help is critical for a younger generation.
From Ontario all the way down to Florida, here are three of our college leaders of the 2021-22 school year. We are so proud and thankful of their work. Want to be on a volunteer team? Visit https://love146.org/get-involved/#volunteer to see if there’s a team in your area… or start one!
Name: Sandy Lee
University: University of Toronto
Year: 5th Year PhD Candidate
Club: Love146 University of Toronto
Ut146.org
Instagram @ut146
www.facebook.com/Love146UT/
How did you hear about child trafficking? Why do you think this is an issue you have to do something about?
I still remember this day quite vividly. I’ve initially heard about child trafficking in high school through Michelle Phan’s youtube channel during my spare time. When I initially watched the video, I was instantly in shock. I didn’t believe it, as a matter of fact, I didn’t want to believe it. So I closed my computer and moved on. But the moment I closed my computer, I couldn’t help but shake off the story of a girl that Michelle Phan described. The girl who was the driving force behind Love146. Then I looked around me, and when I realized that this can happen to anyone, my classmates and my friends who I considered family, I knew I had to do something about it.
Issue of child trafficking is much bigger than a social injustice issue. It’s an issue of limiting our future generations to exist to inspire, change and create the next generation. There are over 2 billion children in the world, and I can confidently say that every single child in this world has the potential to do all of those things and beyond, and that’s why they need to be advocated for, supported and loved for. Nothing less.
What strikes you about Love146?
Love146 strikes me in many ways. But most importantly Love146’s mission to lead with love and compassion on a topic that is so tough strikes me the most. In addition, Love146’s advocacy and stance for holistic survivor care speaks immense volumes to me because child/human trafficking has so many moving, complex, pieces that needs to be dealt in parallel, such as survivor care, mental and physical health, legislation, and awareness education..
Any notable events you’ve led with the club or plan to lead?
Every single one of our events have been planned with so much love and care by our team, this is an extremely difficult question for me to answer! You can find out more about each of our events at ut146.org but… if I had to pick, I’d say our annual human trafficking conference has been a huge hit every year.
Our annual human trafficking conference hosts speakers from many different fields (social work, lawyers, undercover police officers, psychiatrist, survivors of human trafficking). This is a night where we learn about human trafficking at both local and international level and of course, its a night filled with amazing catered food so thats always a plus. It’s always the most amazing and moving experience learning about the issue that I’m so passionate about from multidisciplinary fields.
How can people get involved?
You can get involved with our chapter by contacting me anytime! Or you can find us at our website, or any of our social media platforms. This year, we have expanded our chapter so it focuses both at an undergraduate and a professional/graduate school level. There are tons of opportunities and we are always looking for some awesome people to join our Love146 family!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Starting the University of Toronto Chapter 6 years ago was one of the biggest blessings in my life because I got to meet so many amazing and beautiful souls throughout this entire journey.
This chapter was not able to grow the way that it was without the awesome executive team that pulled their weight since the beginning. I will be forever thankful for all the amazing people that I was able to meet and work with, and I’m so so excited for how this group will grow even more throughout the years!
In addition, this entire journey was and still is so beautiful because I was able to get an immense amount of support from Love146 throughout it all, so please, if you are interested and compassionate about this issue, join a chapter at your university or start one! I swear, it will be one of the most fulfilling and meaningful experiences you’ll get to have!
Name: Nicole Borowski
University: University of Florida
Year: Undergraduate Sophomore
Club: Love146 Gainsville
Instagram @love146_gville
www.facebook.com/love146gville
How did you hear about child trafficking? Why do you think this is an issue you have to do something about?
The first time I sat down and learned more about child trafficking was actually from a YouTuber, Michelle Phan, who discussed Love146. Since then I researched more about trafficking, watched documentaries, and looked into being involved with the cause. I’m very passionate about this issue because I don’t think enough is being done and it is by far one of the most horrible human rights abuses ever. You hear about so many passionate and noble causes being promoted and shown in the spotlight but it seems like trafficking never gets its chance, as if that light purposely avoids showing it. That’s why I want to do something about it because it needs the exposure it requires to gain solutions and help, it needs people to be aware and educated, and it needs the world to make a conscious effort to be better and stop allowing trafficking/exploitation to occur. I also aspire to become a lawyer who practices international human rights law and this area is where I would like to specialize in.
What strikes you about Love146?
Most notable about Love146 for me is that it focuses on child trafficking specifically, and trafficking is a very broad term that includes all types of forced labour. I think children need extra support and attention when it comes to their rights and protections because they are such a vulnerable and specific population. I’m grateful Love146 gives that specific and focused attention to this group to help them through their recovery process and actively fights against trafficking for future generations.
Any notable events you’ve led with the club or plan to lead?
Since our team is brand new, we plan to have a few notable events in the coming year. Besides holding guest speaker events at meetings, fundraisers, and tabling events, we are hoping to hold a 5k walk/run in Gainesville for the community, perhaps an auction banquet at our university to raise funds, participating in legal work and community empowerment, partnering with other clubs and teams that have similar purposes, and we are also considering developing an anti-trafficking app with a coding club on-campus.
How can people get involved?
Our student team welcomes all to help us out with our events and get involved! Our university student members who would like to participate get university-granted privileges such as being a voting club member and being eligible to run for club offices. The easiest way to get in touch with us is by following our Instagram @love146_gville and/or emailing us at Love146.gville@gmail.com.
Name: Hannah Kiburz
Position: Love146 Intern
University: Yale University
Year: Senior (Class of ’22)
How did you hear about child trafficking? Why do you think this is an issue you have to do something about?
I think I first heard of human trafficking through the media or the variety of conspiracy theories that exist about trafficking. It wasn’t until I came to work at Love146 that I really engaged with the issue.
What strikes you about Love146?
Love146 is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion work and focuses not just on the communities they serve but also staff education and relationships.
