i would like to apply to your universty to get an opportunity of scholarship .thanks for your cooperation

3) What are some of the impacts that your work is having?

The impact of my work includes increased awareness and interest in the issue of trafficking (almost 5,000 unique visits and 10,000 page views a month), 5 survivors of human trafficking enrolled in school via the Second Chance educational scholarship program in collaboration with the Visayan Forum in the Philippines, and a soon to launch new website, hip-hop album and documentary that will raise funds to support the Second Chance scholarship and pursue additional anti-trafficking initiatives.

4) Are you working to influence policy or government?

The HTP currently does not directly pursue initiatives to influence government or policy; however, by providing relevant trafficking information to researchers, NGO workers, government officials and the general public via the HTP website, the HTP works to both increase awareness and make the pertinent issues surrounding trafficking more salient to relevant stakeholders. A more direct approach to influencing policy, for example online letter writing campaigns to relevant government officials starting in the U.S. to address topics such as weak legislation or best practices, are being planned in the future.

Thank you for your questions Dana, please let me know if you have anything more to ask!

Justin

Hello Dana,

Thank you for your interest in my work!

Here are my answers:

1) You mentioned that the program is currently supporting 5 students. Is there any way that you can increase the number of students that you support?

*In regards to the Second Chance educational scholarships program, yes my goal is definitely to increase the number of students supported by the scholarship in the future. I would also look to expand the scholarship to different countries which would require partnering with additional organizations beyond Visayan Forum. The primary reason the number has been capped at 5 for the time being is a) a limited budget, b) wanting to ensure that any potential obstacles of the model are addressed before scaling up and c) wanting to ensure that scholars have access to funds that allow them to finish school and not just attend for a year.

2) Beyond increasing awareness of the issue, how is your work influencing efforts to end human trafficking?

*Beyond increasing awareness, the Human Trafficking Project combats modern day slavery by a) providing a searchable database of trafficking-related media articles that can be used to identify trends and issues in the field such as best practices, innovation, corruption, etc., b) providing an online resource that connects organizations around the world that need help to people around the world that want to help but don't know where to look, c) supporting survivors through the Second Chance educational scholarships program and acting to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation, d) supporting artists and giving exposure to creative, meaningful, trafficking-related projects that otherwise may not receive the exposure they deserve and e) in the future pursuing additional collaborative opportunities that address the need for employment and financial stability.

Hello Justin,
I'm really interested in the work that you are doing. The way in which you are making an important topic more easily accessible through art and multi-media is great. Congratulations on your Fullbright scholarship! I'm particularly interested in your partnership with the Visayan Forum in which you are helping trafficking survivors attend school. You mentioned that the program is currently supporting 5 students. Is there any way that you can increase the number of students that you support? Beyond increasing awareness of the issue, how is your work influencing efforts to end human trafficking? What are some of the impacts that your work is having? Are you working to influence policy or government?
Thank you for your response.
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemakers