January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. This year, we wanted to use this opportunity to amplify the words of the survivors we serve—to invite them to do the educating. We offered the prompt “What I need you to know is…” and invited survivors we’re walking alongside to respond with letters to the general public.
Throughout January, we’ll be publishing these letters in a blog series called “Letters from Survivors”—they are directly from survivors in the REST community—to you.
We did a little spelling/grammar editing to ensure the clarity of the message. We did not edit phrasing or content in order to keep their real, raw words.
Here are five short letters from participants at our Pathways Services Center—here is what they want you to know:
[National Human Trafficking] Awareness Month should be every month of the year. This is a national issue. Complete with connectivity through all countries. People try to sweep this issue under the rug, but with numbers growing every year, it may get harder to ignore.
Our bodies are not for sale.
*This survivor author had a REST Staff member write her note.
When I wake up in the morning I pray for nothing negative happening. The things that have happened to me have caused so much depression. I wish that people would respect themselves. Sex in Honey Buckets is not okay. The mugging must stop. If you don’t respect your body, you can’t respect yourself.
I just want peace on Earth.
[I want you to know] that when you see me in the streets doing some of the strangest things, just understand that I’m coming from a life of drug addiction, prostitution, fed up, losses, etc. Not once but twice, maybe even a 3rd while seriously trying to escape from it and back to my children, and a home called “Kianna’s”.
Please forgive the disturbance I’ve shown.
[I want you to know] that after the game, you’ll never be the same… it takes years rebuilding. You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only option. My journey is still continuing.
I’m a brave beautiful native woman.
The stronger you are, the easier it gets. The world is out there to help you. The worst I overcame was waking up in the hospital. But I’m alive and I survived. Being a survivor is what I am.
We are allowed to love and be loved!