Freedom Leaders Workshop–Training the Trainers

The Freedom Leaders Workshop. One of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had as a high school teacher was launching a course last year about human trafficking for my leadership class…

I was inspired at how quickly those students moved from curious learners to active abolitionists.  They came up with bold and innovated ideas that led to numerous initiatives: educating their fellow students, writing letters to activists working in the field, and talking to their school board, local church leaders, hospital administrators, and social workers.

I was so encouraged by their enthusiasm that I applied for a Lilly Endowment grant, which I received in June.  The money from the grant has given me a number of opportunities related to fighting trafficking, one of which was to work with End Crowd, Walk Free, and ECPAT—all international anti-trafficking organizations.  One of the most rewarding outcomes was being able to develop and conduct a short course–a Freedom Leaders Workshop–to train a group of adult leaders, who would in turn, train other leaders and inform interested groups.

Among their their activities during the four-day class, participants paired up and were directed to research some component of modern-day slavery that they found especially compelling.  Short articles from those research teams will be submitted from time-to-time to this news channel over the next few weeks.

By Denise Howell

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: End Crowd is pleased to post articles about the anti-trafficking work that abolitionists are doing around the globe. This teacher from a small high school in rural Indiana is a great example about how effective programs are initiated…and how they can grow to reach so many others.  Kudos to Ms. Howell and her high school students as well as her adult class of Freedom Fighters. We at End Crowd believe that together we can make a difference.  Let’s all stand united for freedom.