DATE: May 10, 2023
CONTACT: Christine Commerce, Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org; Cell: 321-750-4996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE … FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCSAHT Announces Human Trafficking Teen Video Contest Winners
Holmdel, NJ — Students around the United States had a chance to display their talent, earn cash prizes and educate teens about human trafficking in a video contest, “What Would You Do?”
U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking sponsored the contest to raise awareness, educate and empower students on how to identify and prevent human trafficking.
Arielle Borges, a senior at Holmdel High School whose film won first place, said before making the film she had not been made aware of the crime, but this has taught her about human trafficking.
“Inspired by the US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, I made this film for the purpose of raising awareness, educating, and empowering people on how to identify and help prevent human trafficking,” Borges said. “I am using the film as a vehicle to raise awareness of this horrific crime, forcing individuals into human slavery and or sex slaves.”
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children saw a 98 percent increase in online exploitation in 2020 and estimates 800,000 youth are trafficked every year. USCAHT hopes to prevent these children from falling prey to predators and plans to have other teens empower and educate other youth by delivering that message themselves.
Oshkosh High School in Wisconsin won second place in the video contest. Oshkosh is an area where trafficking is more prevalent than most people realize, said Angela Brown, a film and English teacher at the high school, where she said many people in their community know someone who has been impacted by trafficking including some of her students. She said her students didn’t realize how prevalent it was until they started working on the film project.
“This was a diverse group of students socially and this really brought them together,” Brown said. “The other students are now asking questions.”
Videos showed ways students could take action and included the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888. es
A panel of judges reviewed video submissions to vote on the winners. USCSAHT awarded the following schools cash prizes, which included $1,000 for first prize, $750 for second prize, and $500 for third prize:
- Holmdel High School in Holmdel, NJ won first place for its video “Traffic.”
- Oshkosh High School in Oshkosh, WI won second place for “A Deal with Romeo.”
- Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington D.C. placed third for its “After Hours” video.
- Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest IL and Saint Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio earned Honorable Mention Awards
USCSAHT Executive Director Katie Boller Gosewisch said the youth who took part in this contest wowed us with their creative and thoughtful approach to the crime of human trafficking and this project.
“They amazed us with their sensitivity, care, and concern for those who have been affected by this crime,” Boller Gosewisch said. “We are so grateful to those who participated!”
For more information, contact Christine Commerce at Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org or call 321-750-4996.
U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking is a collaborative, faith-based national network that offers education, supports access to survivor services, and engages in advocacy to eradicate human trafficking.
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