Rotary District 5610 Governor, Dan Little, announces that a subcommittee was recently formed to submit a Global Grant proposal with outcomes aimed to End Human Trafficking, which is timely, as South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem, recently declared August “South Dakota Human Trafficking Awareness Month.”  Global Grants/Vocational Training Team Subcommittee Chair, Jennifer Rollins, is chairing the recently-convened taskforce that plans to meet twice a month to build a coalition with others engaged in similar efforts.  The goal is to identify a coordinated, sustainable Global Grant project that will protect vulnerable populations against human trafficking. Similar Ending Human Trafficking initiatives have already been implemented by other Rotary Districts in the upper midwest.

At the upcoming District 5610 Conference, the subcommittee plans to invite a victim of human trafficking to speak (or provide a video) to the audience in order to raise awareness of the prevalence of this crime.  Furthermore, many community members may not be aware of current state and local efforts underway to stop this crime.  The subcommittee is reaching out to a National Anti-Human Trafficking program as well as a state Task Force and individuals/organizations that have overlap with the Task Force.  The subcommittee wishes to instill an energy to facilitate a call to action similar to those already in play such as SD Resilient Communities initiative, Chains Interrupted, United Way, and Children’s Home Society to name a few.  Therefore, the subcommittee intends to update attendees on current community coordination and available steps for members to take while a Rotary specific focused Global Grant effort is under development.  

Human trafficking occurs when an adult or child is manipulated, recruited, harbored, or transported for the purpose of involuntary exploitation, commercialized sexual exploitation, slavery, illicit adoption, organ removal, or forced labor services. While the exact scope remains unknown, it is estimated that 25 million people worldwide are affected by human trafficking, of which an estimated 30 percent are children. Sadly, South Dakota ranks lowest on Shared Hope International’s report card for sex trafficking, just one form of human trafficking. 

All Rotary Clubs of District 5610 and individual Rotarians are invited to consider how they might become involved in this Global Grant process by offering shared knowledge and/or financial resources. If your Club is interested in partnering financially with the District on a Global Grant application and/or you are aware of efforts in your  community to End Human Trafficking, please email Jennifer Rollins, District 5610 Global Grant/Vocational Training Team Subcommittee Chairperson at Jennifer.Rollins.usafa@gmail.com.