Survivor of trafficking leads Africans In America, Inc.’s
community awareness campaign:

June 2003—A young African female (name withheld) who survived trafficking and enslavement in New York is leading Africans In America, Inc.’s community awareness campaign. The woman was lured, and trafficked into the U.S. by a Nigerian diplomat with promises of a better life in the 1980’s. Upon arrival in the U.S. she was held in involuntary servitude and exploited for 5 years. She was forced to work for her captors at their home as a household servant without pay, abused physically and emotionally. Her captors made a visit to Nigeria, and threatened her family with arrest by Nigerian Police and with threats of others serious consequences if they ever inquire about her condition again. She is currently stranded and in need of assistance, however, she volunteered because she wants to use her experience to assist other victims.

The aim of the community awareness is not only educating the public, but also to create additional “channels” for identifying potential trafficking victims. In essence, AIA will use the community as a proxy to help identify potential victims, which will ultimately serve to scale our capacity to reach victims. Because victims may often be reluctant to reveal themselves, it is necessary to provide the public with the information necessary in order to identify potential victims, and to create awareness of resources available to the victims.

We have developed brochures, and flyers printed in English, French, and a tribal African language Arabic Wollof. These materials are being distributed in the immigrant community neighborhoods, work places, organizations, restaurants, markets, churches, mosques, other service providers’ offices, and during educational awareness sessions. The goal is to reach the trafficking victims, people who may know trafficking victims, and people who may come in contact with trafficking victims, to create awareness of resources available to the victims.