THE DRESSEMBER BLOG

At Dressember, we understand everyone’s journey is different, and no survivor is the same. That’s why we partner with survivor-informed organizations to provide holistic aftercare, job skills training, therapy, basic needs support, and more. From Freedom Centers in Bulgaria to residential programs in The Philippines and Uganda, Dressember resources safe housing and trauma-informed aftercare to empower survivors’ sustained liberation. Another way that we support survivors on their healing journey is by helping them get criminal record relief from the illegal activity they were forced to commit while they were being trafficked. Read on to learn about the diverse and innovative aftercare programs you can help resource when you support Dressember.

Human traffickers prey upon people’s vulnerabilities. When tragedy hit Oscar's family, he struggled to cope. Alcohol gave him some solace but led to the loss of his job in construction and, eventually, his family's home. Oscar felt ashamed and did not want to ask for help. So when someone reached out to offer him a lucrative job in construction, Oscar jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, the opportunity was a trap laid by a human trafficker.

The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in the forced displacement of millions of people. It is estimated that more than 90% of these refugees are women and children, who are particularly vulnerable to traffickers. Refugees have a heightened risk of human trafficking due to compounding vulnerabilities such as economic desperation, decreased access to social services and safe shelter, language barriers, and so much more.

Out of sight, out of mind. It can be easy not to think about the people who work so hard to produce things we buy every day when we don't see them. The reality is that in the United States, farm workers do the work that all of us depend on daily because we all need to eat, but they are too often employed for a painfully low wage.

The impact made possible through the Dressember community is dynamic and powerful, particularly in the lives of vulnerable youth. Preventing human trafficking involves addressing root causes and changing systems. We look upstream to acknowledge factors that make certain groups more susceptible to trafficking.

We understand the value of knowing exactly where your money goes when you make a donation. In the anti-trafficking movement, every dollar counts—that's why we are bringing back our Where Does My Money Go blog series. We hope this series will help you better understand how the Dressember Network supports and develops programs in advocacy, prevention, intervention, and survivor empowerment so you can rest assured that your money funds programs that dismantle human trafficking from every angle.

We empower survivors’ sustained liberation through capacity-building initiatives to build long-term stability. Holistic aftercare is a critical part of a survivor’s healing journey, and over the last year, you enabled the Dressember Network to empower survivors in a big way.

The impact made possible on the lives of survivors like Gamya and their families through the Dressember community is far-reaching. Gamya’s story offers just one example of the work we have done together in the last year for victims and survivors around the world. The Dressember Network partners with organizations worldwide that support prosecution and intervention in trafficking situations. Alongside local partners, government, and law enforcement, your support over the last tear enabled the aid of 4,269 victims and the restraint of 3,189 perpetrators of human trafficking across Kolkata and Mumbai in India, Cebu and Manila in the Philippines, and Guatemala.

Shop SOKO's ethical jewelry and use our exclusive discount code "DRESSEMBER20" for 20% off your purchase!

Did you know that when shopping at Madewell, Anthropologie, Reformation, or Marine Layer, you could be supporting independent artisans and a certified B Corp?

Since 2015, SOKO, a women-led, people-first ethical jewelry brand that connects marginalized artisans in Kenya to the global marketplace using mobile technology partners with retailers like the ones above to sell their products. SOKO connects more than 2300 independent and distributed artisans, creating an efficient and demand-responsive "virtual factory." Unlike centralized factory production, SOKO uses technology to enable the human workforce to make a meaningful impact and lasting change.

A critical way to prevent human trafficking and intervene in trafficking situations is to equip those who may encounter potential victims in their everyday jobs to spot the signs of trafficking. Those in the hospitality, transit, and travel industries have an immense opportunity to help saves lives on a regular basis. Over the last year, the Dressember Network has provided crucial training to empower these frontline workers to recognize and report potential instances of human trafficking.

*Kayla, an 11-year-old daughter of a single, working mother, experienced severe childhood trauma which led her to seek attention from men she met on social media. After Kayla drove her mother’s car to meet one such man with her little sister, the girls were placed with a relative caregiver. To ease the transition, Kayla was connected to Operation Independence, a program within the Dressember Network that provides outreach and support to vulnerable youth. With this support, Kayla has become involved with soccer, been able to set goals to improve her self-esteem and self-confidence, and now looks forward to a week-long summer camp and playing basketball.