Future Unchained x Innocence in Danger Workshop – A Summary
By Kat Lukin
This past summer, from July 20th – August 10th, 2023, Future Unchained partnered with Innocence in Danger for an all-intensive virtual workshop. Future Unchained, an anti-human trafficking awareness group led by youth based in Toronto, and Innocence in Danger, a global NGO founded by Homayra Sellier in 1999 focused on protecting minors from all forms of abuse, worked together to provide participants under 23 with an introduction to child protection and human trafficking activism.
Innocence in Danger Founder and President Homayra Sellier, Future Unchained Toronto and International President Ada Wang, and Future Unchained Europe Chapter Founder and President Phoebo Bo successfully presented an international group of students with complicated and emotionally stressful material. The excellent pairing covered topics relevant to human trafficking, such as various forms of abuse and their potential outcomes, CPTSD & PTSD, vulnerability factors, and what to expect in child protection.
To complement the workshop’s quizzes, weekly reflections, and ACAMS training, Homayra and Ada selected several fiction and non-fiction films to view and reflect on in a group setting. The course included influential films such as The Twelve Thousand, I Am Jane Doe, and Little Tickles. In one particular meeting, Homayra described the multifaceted values of art. Due to the nature of such devastating content, she touched on the healing aspects of artistic expression and the educational values of the film, adding that participants may be inclined to rewatch the movie with their parents.
“I think the films we watched were very effective at demonstrating some of the stuff we learned from the other sessions. It’s a lot more concrete to watch the tactics that traffickers might use rather than speaking about it in theoretical terms.”
Anecdote of 2023 Summer Workshop Attendee
Although many of the materials instructors and participants face can be deemed “triggering,” it is essential to remember the responsibilities of organizations like Future Unchained and Innocence in Danger. Unlike the exploitative qualities of websites like Backpage or the ever-so-controversial world of True Crime, the Future Unchained Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness workshop facilitated conversation and proficiency in child protection. Ada Wang, President of Future Unchained, also included personal interviews with anonymous survivors of human trafficking, thus providing additional insight to participants regarding the potential aftermath of enduring such severe trauma.
“This documentary [I Am Jane Doe] confronts the prevalent issue of child exploitation in the digital age. It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about technology’s role in enabling such atrocities. The internet, revolutionizing communication and connectivity, has also become a tool for predators to exploit vulnerable individuals. The documentary reminds us of the urgent need for stronger regulations and policies to hold online platforms accountable for their role in perpetuating human trafficking.”
Anecdote of 2023 Summer Workshop Attendee
After completing two online training courses, a case study on Backpage’s trafficking controversies, and numerous film viewings, participants were instructed to complete and present an individual project. On the final day, everyone had something new to share and learn!
Selected Students Work
Based on this year’s fantastic participants, newly certified in anti-human trafficking awareness, steps forward include more resources targeted towards parents to educate them on the nuances of child abuse and human trafficking. We plan to continue our journey in anti-trafficking workshops and our formal partnership with Innocence in Danger. In the near future, we will host another session with Homayra Sellier and officially start our Ambassador Program with Innocence in Danger.
We look forward to seeing you at our next workshop. 🙂