During She Has A Name’s 2021 Night of Hope Gala Program we heard from Stewart Kitchen, Filippo Zago and Meg Pando. Each joins SHAN’s work in unique and meaningful ways. Read below for encouragement from them as you consider making your own investment in the anti-human trafficking movement.
As you become more involved in this fight against human trafficking, never lose sight of the issue from all sides involved. By taking an objective approach to human trafficking, and remembering that hurt people hurt people, we can truly target the real root causes, and create transformative change through compassion and education. There is no better way to create cultural change than by helping people heal.
Stewart Kitchen, Demand Reduction volunteer and John School presenter
If you would like to take the next step towards the cause, remember this is not just a mission, we are speaking about broken lives who need restoration. For those men involved, prostitution is satisfactory, agreeable and pleasing, but despite the shifting fantasies of these deprived men, for the victims that live it, it is still assault, violence, abuse, and violation. Look at the cause through the eyes of the victims, in this way you will know the needs, so that you can provide adequate and appropriate care resources. Find the part you feel you can play, according to your skills, capabilities and passions and do it with all your heart, your mind and your strength.
Filippo Zago, international Training research volunteer
To anyone who is on the fence about whether or not they feel called to invest time, energy, or resources into the fight against human trafficking, know that this community is much like a lasting lifelong friendship in that you can always take a break when needed, and pick up where you left off. When I first became involved with SHAN, I was intimidated, thinking that I’d be diving into a sea of overwhelming sorrow and hopelessness, and that I would experience second-hand trauma through volunteering. It was, in fact, the very exact opposite. It was a world of hope, encouragement, friendship, and joy. And most importantly, I didn’t feel it was a huge commitment, as I’m still a woman running two small businesses here in Columbus. During the pandemic, I’ve taken time to focus on re-building my businesses, but I always know that SHAN is family, and we will always pick up where we left off. If you begin this journey in getting involved, and later decide you need some space, you’ll always be a part of the family. Just your sincere presence in being a part of this larger picture is meaningful, and “word-of-mouth” advertising in what SHAN is doing for our city is also just as impactful as physical volunteering. All in all, SHAN isn’t here to pressure you for commitments of time and energy; SHAN is here to welcome you into this family in our fight for the freedom of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers.
Megan Pando, survivor mentor and small business fundraiser
