Suphalee and her sister help raise awareness on dangers of human trafficking.

Suphalee, 16, is in her year 7 in high school. She lives in Heardokkeo village in Atsaphone district. Atsaphone is at the central part of Savannakhet province where World Vision operates an Anti-Human Trafficking Project. Around 107 Atsaphone villagers including 38 women are now working in Thailand. Most of the families fear that many of the number fell into the world of modern-day slavery and end up into exploitative working conditions.

Prior to the anti-trafficking activities conducted by World Vision in their village, Suphalee never had the idea about the possibilities and dangers of trafficking. “If someone comes and encourage me to work in another country with a good salary, I don’t think I will refuse it,” she said. “But now that I have the knowledge, I will no longer be swayed by empty promises,” she continued.

Suphalee understands why many families take their chances. She reasoned, “Considering the amount they will earn if they go, no one will ever think of the dangers anymore. For them, it is an opportunity.” She acknowledges that they have not been informed about the risks of trafficking. She also pointed that the lack of education of the people made them vulnerable to the scheming fronts of brokers.

Suphalee and her elder sister are active World Vision volunteers for two years. She confessed that, “I was afraid my sister will also become a victim, so I encouraged her to join the project.” She said aside from helping her community know about the perils of human trafficking, she and her sister also learned a lot skills from World Vision anti-trafficking activities like design, communication and life skills.

She hopes that the anti-human trafficking project of World Vision will also reach other villages. Suphalee recognizes the importance of informing the community to protect their children and themselves, too should they decide to work in foreign countries. “They must at least know what documents to prepare and the contact numbers of police and other people who can help them should they get into trouble,” she said.

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