Educating Residential Program Participants on

World Day against Human Trafficking

On 5th August 2023, Staff of Good Shepherd Centre organized an event to educate the residential program participants on the dangers posed by social media platforms. This event specifically focused on raising the awareness about the risks related to human trafficking. It is about recognizing that social media platforms can serve as a breeding ground for individuals seeking to exploit others by targeting both adults and children.

A series of slides and videos with real-life examples were presented to provide insights to shed light on the deceptive tactics employed by human traffickers and scammers online. This presentation is also specifically addressing the dangers of social media that are prevalent in Singapore and also internationally. It is also about educating and creating awareness about potential risks and negative consequences associated with social media usage.

Video 1: Determination and Bravery of a Mother

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbg4hNHsc_8&list=PLmm413kb0iUdis5ntjsz9WZrv2MYR4pWn&index=21

This first video presents a heartwarming display of determination and bravery of a mother, who took it upon herself to go undercover online to expose child predators. Through her unwavering efforts, she meticulously gathered evidence, capturing the conversations and actions of these predators, leaving no room for doubt about their intentions before handing over to the authorities. Her inspiring actions have deeply moved the hearts of many mothers who have watched the video.

Our residential program participants, a mother with 3 daughters within the ages of 5 to 14yrs, shared that the video opened her eyes by revealing the disturbing reality of child predicators lurking in our society, preying on the vulnerable young individuals and as a mother, the video highlighted the importance of staying vigilant as a parent.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSW9kAb70bw&t=696s

The second video shed light on the harrowing reality of human traffickers preying on the desperation of young girls, particularly teenagers, who are in dire need of money or acceptance. These predators take advantage of these young girls’ vulnerable situations and lure them in to force them into doing things they never wanted to do.

As our teenaged residential program participants watched this eye-opening video, many initially believed that they would not fall victim to such manipulation due to their own perceived sensibility. However, upon reflecting on it, they came to a profound realization that desperation can lead to individuals making choices they would not otherwise consider. In the light of this epiphany, the teenagers vowed to prioritize their safety by consulting a trusted adult before making decisions related to job offers or advertisements. By seeking guidance from a responsible and supportive figure, they hope to protect themselves from potential exploitation and ensure their well-being in uncertain circumstances.

Source video 3.1: https://youtu.be/6jMhMVEjEQg?si=xuD6Qm7aih1Kq_qd
Source video 3.2: https://youtu.be/c4sHoDW8QU4?si=QQMDnZvObRhWknK9

In the third video, the residential program participants were left shocked and alarmed after watching. This video vividly demonstrated how easily young children can be lured out of their homes through social media. The parents in this video had conversations with their children about the dangers associated with online interactions. Yet the depicted scenarios showed how these ‘informed’ children still fall prey to these predators who targeted and manipulated them into meeting them in person.

One residential program participant, a mother in the group, who has 2 young children between the ages of 4 and 5 years old, shared that she would never allow her children to be on social media due to these circumstances. However, after much discussion and reflection, she realized that it was an impossible thing to keep her children totally away from social media as it is an integral part of our culture. What she needed to do was to prepare her children for the eventual exposure to social media when they are older.  She also agreed what is equally important is the need for vigilance and proactive measures to ensure the online safety of her children.

Video 4  for ADULTS

Source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOPz4_ryviE

This video is specifically for the adults. The video showed a young lady who appeared modern, confident, and educated sharing about her personal experience of falling victim to a love scam, resulting in a devastating loss of S$70,000. This video had a profound impact on the residents, as the video prompted them to reflect deeply on themselves as adults and the changing landscapes of scams.

One of our adult program participants, a foreign domestic worker from Indonesia shared that the video served as a wake-up call for herself as it highlighted how scammers had evolved and adapted their tactics into today’s digital age. The young lady in this video seemed to possess all the qualities associated with being cautious and discerning, yet she fell victim to the love scam.  This emphasized for the residential program participants, how even the most vigilant individuals could be vulnerable to these sophisticated scams. For some of other residential participants, they felt that the video had forced them to confront their own assumption about scams, realizing that the scammers of today are vastly different from those of the past.

2 slides: Safety Measures on Social Media

Source for Parent to Children: https://www.girlswhofight.co/post/human-trafficking-how-to-prevent-being-targeted

At the end session, 2 slides were presented on a few tips to educate the residential program participants on important safety measures to be taken when on social media. They appreciated the clear and concise information provided in the slides which allowed them to easily grasp the potential threats lurking on social media.

The residential program participants expressed their gratitude for these resources and the session. They were glad to have the knowledge and tools to navigate the vast digital landscape with greater caution and vigilance for themselves, their family and their children.

Written by:

Brenda Lee

Social Service Assistant

Good Shepherd Centre

Singapore