Kate Volunteers with the A21 Campaign

In 2015 I am taking a break from my Medical studies to spend time volunteering overseas. I have been lucky enough to be offered a position as an Operational Intern in Thessaloniki, Greece with the A21 Campaign for part of the year. This will involve working with victims of human-trafficking, in an aftercare shelter for girls that have escaped or been rescued from sex slavery.

There are 27 Million people in the world today that are victims of human trafficking, and every year 120,000 woman and children are trafficked into EU countries alone with 90% of them being sold into sex slavery. The A21 Campaign works in over 9 countries across the globe and have developed a strategy to abolishing slavery, based on the 4Ps:

• Prevention: Prevent people from being trafficked.

• Protection: Protect and support survivors of human trafficking.

• Prosecution: Prosecute traffickers, and strengthen legal responses to trafficking.

• Partnership: Partner with law enforcement, service providers and community members to provide a comprehensive front against trafficking.

As an intern I will primarily be helping with protection, and my role will be based mainly in the aftercare facility in Thessaloniki, helping run a number of programmes and organising events and outings for the girls. As well as working in the shelter I will also work 2 days a week in the Thessaloniki office which will involve admin tasks, awareness raising and event planning.

I am so excited about this opportunity I have been given, but before I can go I need to raise enough money to pay for my flights, travel insurance and living costs whilst I’m interning – which altogether I’m expecting to cost me around $4600. I'm hoping that I may be able to fundraise enough for my living costs which will be $2650NZD (based on the amount the organisation suggests it will cost us to live).

I am hoping that this page and my trip will also be a way for me to raise awareness, so please contact me if you would like to know more about human trafficking or the work of the A21 Campaign. Alternatively, they have an incredible website with lots of information, survivor stories and ways you can help so check that out at www.thea21campaign.org

If you would like to give directly to the a21 campaign you are able to do that on their website also (using the above link).

I would love as many people as possible to be a part of my journey whether that means giving financially, educating yourself and others about Human trafficking, following my blog (which will hopefully exist closer to the time) or keeping me in your thoughts and prayers while I am over in Greece.

Thank you so much!!

Kate :)