How Can You Help? Many organizations are working worldwide to stop human trafficking. The DREAM Project Foundation works to stop the exploitation of children in Southeast Asia by community building and education. You can help DREAM by attending The Taste of Art this Tuesday, March 26.
MAR 20-26, 2013 | WWW.CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM
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Showcasing music from the Accomplices and fine food (including a rare tasting of Yaupon Tea and Avondale Apiary honey), The Taste of Art combines Savannah’s refined style with its boundless willingness to help others. “Our entire community has jumped on this event,” says organizer Erin Wessling, who visited a DREAM House in Thailand earlier this year and was captivated by the children she met. “They’re not recognized citizens because they come from tribal families, making them very susceptible to human trafficking.” The list of donated works is a Who’s Who of the Savannah art world: Silent auction items include works by Sam Bryer, Betsy Cain, Denise Carson, Thomas Cook, Lorie Corbus, Matt Hebermehl, Katrina Schmidt-Rinke, Lane Huerta, Marcus Kenny, Susan Laney, Tobia Makover, Juliana Peloso, Will Penny, Michael Porten, Christine Sajecki, Katherine Sandoz, Cedric Smith, Heather Lindsey Stewart, Meredith Anne Sutton, Dicky Stone, Elizabeth Winnel, Ikeda Feingold and more. “We have such a supportive environment for art in Savannah, and people recognize that they can use it to help these children have a safe place to live and go to school,” says Wessling. “With even a modicum of education, who knows who these kids could become?” All proceeds benefit the DREAM foundation. cs the taste of art 6-10 p.m. tuesday, mar. 26 leoci’s trattoria, 606 Abercorn St. tickets: $45 each/$80 a pair advance; $50 at the door info: taste_of_art.eventbrite.com
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with threats to their family members. In 2011, Georgia legislators were praised for “turning up the heat” on human trafficking by passing a new law that penalizes traffickers with longer prison sentences and protects underage victims. But advocates who want to eradicate human trafficking know that the Dept. of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and other law enforcement entities depend on information collected by everyday people — including hotel employees and guests that may observe telltale behavior. “A lot of the time, these girls don’t have access to a phone, even if they realize there is help out there,” says Keller. “By educating others to call in what they see, it increases their chance of rescue.” Before St. Patrick’s Day, SWAHT volunteers helped made the rounds to hotel managers with the soaps as well brochures on how to identify victims. Identifiers may include: • Not being able to speak on their own behalf • Lack of a passport or I.D. • Not being allowed to handle their own money • Bruises or other signs of physical abuse If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the National Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 (it looks odd, but the spacing makes it easy to remember.) Once a call is made, efforts are made to contact local law enforcement, create a rescue opportunity and find a safe house. The hotline is supervised by the Polaris Project based in Washington, D.C. Keller laments that it will be hard to track the effects of SWAHT’s St. Patrick’s Day efforts but counts Flores’ appearance in Savannah as invaluable. “It was very informative, and a lot of people there were hearing about this for the first time,” she says. “We were able to openly discuss the issues going on in our own city, and wrapping the soaps allowed us to come together as a community to raise awareness and more tangibly aid in potential rescue.” For someone trapped in a situation without any means of escape, a tiny bar of soap can holds so much hope, Keller adds. “It’s an outlet to reach out to these young women who otherwise have no voice.” cS
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