Awareness - Learn More
Red Flags to Watch For
- Signs of Physical Abuse, burn marks, bruises or cuts
- Unexplained Absences from Class
- Less Appropriately dressed than before
- Promiscuous/sensualized behavior
- Overly tired in class
- Withdrawn, depressed or distracted
- Brags about making or having lots of money
- Displays expensive clothes, accessories or shoes
- New tattoo (Tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims. Tattoos of a name, symbol of money or barcode could indicate trafficking)
- Older boyfriend, new friends with a different lifestyle
- Talks about wild parties or invites other students to attend parties
- Shows signs of gang affiliation (a preference for specific colors, display gang symbols)
Who is Vulnerable?
Anyone with…
- History of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
- Family background of prostitution
- Displacement by social or natural disaster
- Part of an undocumented, stateless, or ostracized group, including LGBTQ individuals
- Unstable or inconsistent family conditions (e.g. parental absence or neglect, substance abuse, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, foster care)
- Runaway, truant, risky sexual behavior
- Poverty or economic instability
- Previous trouble with the law
- Any child or adult who needs or wants something they don’t have is vulnerable because traffickers will step in to fill that need in order to coerce someone into “the life”.
- TRAFFICKING DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE .
Who we are...
AWARENESS
Awareness is where action and empowerment begins.
ARK2Freedom is partnering with the Central Texas DMST Roundtable to educate our community on how to recognize trafficking, how to respond to it, and how to report it.
Restoration
ARK2Freedom provides referrals for counseling and other resources for individuals who come through our training programs. We reach out to show love in our community by supplying and giving out love note purses to the vulnerable population in our area. At ARK2Freedom we know that love is at the heart of restoration. We minister at Feed My Sheep, Helping Hands, and in the prisons.
You can share love and bring restoration into the life of others,
Keys to Freedom
At ARK2Freedom, we believe that education is one of the keys to freedom. We train groups on their identity, purpose, and how to equip themselves to be free and stay free from exploitation of many forms. We will work with you to develop an individualized awareness plan based on your organization's specific needs. We also work with local youth groups to help them recognize their vulnerabilities and to help safeguard them against the schemes of traffickers. Learn more about our Prevention Curricula at the following links:
Get your Keys by Requesting a Training Today.
You Can Be The One
Five Ways to Fight Exploitations
Here are five easy ways for you to get involved in helping to prevent human trafficking:
1. Get Equipped- Take the time to learn all you can about the exploitation of human beings in America. Check out the "Get Equipped" section on this site to learn how ARK2Freedrom can help you get informed.
2, Be Proactive- Know what is going on in your community. Encourage your local schools to partner with students, and nonprofit organizations, like ARK2Freedom, to include modern slavery in their curricula. Parents, teachers and students should be aware of how traffickers target children. Read more by clicking on this TEA and Human Trafficking Link .
3. Get Involved-You can start small by posting exploitation facts on your social media page or you can like ARK2Freedom's facebook page and share our facts to your friends. If you are looking for more involvement then volunteer with a prevention organization near you. Ark2Freedom is always looking for passionate volunteers. To learn more about volunteering with ARK2Freedom click on our tab labeled "Volunteer".
4. Be an Informed Consumer- Help to build a free world by discovering your slavery footprint at Slaveryfootprint.org. Use your purchase power to change the world.
Donation
5. Give- Support an Anti- Trafficking organization with a one time donation by organizing a fundraiser and donating the proceed. You can also become a monthly supporter of the organization. If you would like to support ARK2Freedom click the link below. Thank you in advance for your support.
Do You Know Someone Who Needs Help?
Here is some important information to keep you and the victim safe.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline website, you should always have a general safety plan.
- Trust your judgment. If a situation/individual makes you uncomfortable, trust that feeling.
- Let a trusted friend or relative know if you feel like you or someone you know are in danger; if a person or situation is suspicious.
- If possible, set up safety words with someone you trust.
- One word can mean that it is safe to talk and you are alone.
- A separate word can mean you are not safe.
- It is also important to communicate what you would like done (cease communication immediately, call 9-1-1, meet somewhere to pick you up, etc.).
- Keep all important documents and identification in your possession at all times. Your partner/employer does not have the right to take or hold your documents without your permission.
- Keep important numbers on your person at all times, including the number of someone you feel safe contacting if you are in trouble.
- Make sure that you have a means of communication (cell phone or phone card), access to your bank account, and any medication that you might need with you at all times.
- If you think you might be in immediate danger or you are experiencing an emergency, contact 9-1-1 first.
- More about safety plans
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888, or text HELP or INFO to BEFREE.
National Council for Missing and Exploited Children: 1-800-THE-LOST https://report.cybertip.org/