What was my project about?
My project was about Child Sex Trafficking and why is it a issue. Which for us and as it should for many it should be a big issue because this issue gets ignored and pushed away to side as if it was irrelevant. Our action to help this issue was by selling candy bags and raising money to donate to an organization (MISSSEY) which is in oakland. We chose to sell candy bags specifically because we know a lot of student at our school likes candy and we took advantage of it by adding a note to each candy bag talking about child sex trafficking and why is it important to get our message spread.
What does being an Upstander mean to you now?
Before this project I thought being an Upstander was to speak up for what’s right. Which speaking up for what right is also part of this project but that not the only thing we can do to be Upstanders. As I know now you can be an Upstander in many different ways. What I mean by that is for example, as a group we chose to sell canding bags and post on our instagram which woke up people to get our message through.
Learned about yourself as a Student/Person/Upstander in this project?
So Before this project started I knew that Child Sex Trafficking was an issue in Oakland but I wasn’t aware how often it happens. So I learned that as a young teenager in Oakland when I walk on the street I don’t/won’t feel safe due to knowing that I can also be one of these children that are being sex trafficking in an instant. So as an upstander I also learned that us as young kids by doing the littlest things and spreading the word can start to make a change. So young people like me can start to feel comfortable in the own community.
Next Steps as an upstander for this issue or another issue
So I’m hoping for our next steps as an upstander is to go to Noah which is our after school teacher and get one of his friends email that works at MISSSEY so we can give them there money because we have not yet heard of them. By emailing them we can give them there money. Beside this I want to continue using the instagram and keep posting.
Advice to other Bystanders, Student looking to create a change
My advice to them is to not give up and keeping making a change. It’s not easy to spread the word because not everyone going to listen but it will take time to get your word out there. By not giving up slowly things will start to change and start to get attention.
Hi Yasmine, I think your concern for the human trafficking problem in the U.S. is a very significant issue that really needs help. I think you have a really great idea on how to raise money for the MISSSEY foundation, but do you think it is enough money? Will you get enough profit from selling candy because if you have to buy all that candy then you are losing a significant amount of money. For example if you spent 3 dollars on each bag you were selling for 5 dollars that would only be a 2 dollar profit. Maybe you could make a huge batch of cookies because the production cost of that is much less and you could sell them for the same amount to make a much bigger profit. I wish you the best in this idea, I think that it is a really great cause to support!