Sr. Jean Schafer, SDS Awarded Sr. Margaret Nacke, CSJ Bakhita Award For Outstanding Service in the Work to End Human Trafficking
October 28, 2020
ST. LOUIS: On October 27, 2020 during the annual board meeting of U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT), Sr. Jean Schafer, SDS was awarded the Sr. Margaret Nacke, CSJ Bakhita Award for her outstanding service in the work to end human trafficking. The award was presented by Sr. Anne Victory, HM, Board President of USCSAHT and Jennifer Reyes Lay, Executive Director of USCSAHT. Members of Sr. Jean’s community, the Sisters of the Divine Savior, joined in the virtual presentation and celebration in her honor including provincial leader Sr. Beverly Heitke, SDS.
Sr. Jean Schafer, SDS has dedicated the past 17 years of her life to the work to end human trafficking and support survivors of human trafficking. Part of her legacy includes the creation and publication of the Stop Trafficking! Newsletter, a monthly publication that educates people about the crime of human trafficking in its many forms and advocates for changes that address the needs of victims and the elimination of modern-day slavery across the world. While engaging in this work, Jean also co-founded and co-directed Hope House, a home for women coming out of situations of enslavement in California. When Jean launched the Stop Trafficking! Newsletter, few people knew about the scourge of human trafficking. Her diligent and thoroughly researched work has served to significantly increase public awareness and provide a forum for advocacy and action to eradicate modern slavery. Sr. Jean Schafer has served as a member of the board of directors of USCSAHT since it was incorporated in 2015 and was part of the planning team prior to that. She is currently the Chair of the Survivor Services Working Group of USCSAHT.
Sr. Jean is the second recipient of the Sr. Margaret Nacke, CSJ Bakhita Award. The first recipient was Sr. Margaret Nacke, CSJ, co-founder of USCSAHT, in whose honor the award is named. Those who receive this award exemplify vision, courage, dedication, and creativity in addressing the complexities surrounding the issue of human trafficking. They work in collaboration with others to raise awareness, address the needs of survivors, and engage in advocacy. Sr. Jean Schafer, SDS as recipient of this award, embodies the hope that each of us can be instruments to bring about the eradication of the evil of human trafficking.
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