Global Africans Against Slavery (GLAAS ) a multi-sectoral coalition of relevant stakeholders in the fight against Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (HT&MS), committed to a practical, hands on engagement in the fight against (HT&MS) is collaborating with International African School; Netherlands and Kinara Park Kids in USA for their Virtual African Storytelling Series on HT&MS for children between the Ages of 6 to 12.
The virtual storytelling event is slated for the 14th of May 2023 8pm Kenya Time and is aimed at enhancing African children’s knowledge about Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling which is one of the gravest danger In the world today,sensitizing them on its precarious nature.
Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking for the purposes of forced labour , sexual exploitation and its other concomitant hazards is the third largest crime industry in the world, behind drugs and arms trafficking and almost one third of human trafficking victims in the world are estimated to be children.
The storytelling event will be headlined by renowned African performing artists like Ken Nyamweya ‘aka’ The Storyteller , Wangs and Mila Zetu all from the East African nation of kenya , Odillia Anyachi of International African School and Noni Ervin of the Kinara Park Kids will also complete the list of narrators at the maiden edition of this noble initiative of GLAAS.
‘’Storytelling is an art, an art that entertains and inform the listeners at the same time, and we are aiming to use the monthly virtual event to instill and transfer knowledge to the younger generation. Stories do things to people, we know that things happen to people when they hear intriguing stories; talking and listening allow people to share and learn from each other. “ Queen Mother Obaapa Awindor Founder Obaapa Development Foundation and Co founder of The African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN)an executive member of GLAAS said.
“We believe that the first and most successful place to end Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling is on our own DOORSTEPS and that the sensitization of all people on the antics and ploys of traffickers to lure innocent victims to destinations where they can have the power to inhibit their freedom is of great importance and the inspiration powering this virtual storytelling session.” Mama Imahkus Njinga Okofu Ababio founder of One Africa Resort Ghana and Rweru Women Empowerment Foundation Rwanda and advisory board member of GLAAS reiterated.
“We aim to sensitize and empower the children very early in life with basic knowledge of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling as well as socio-moral rules to comply to and evade some of these challenges later in life with folk tales and true stories. This virtual event will bring children in Africa and beyond together, and help them build relationship with one another as a warm community spirit is fostered among them by the engaging and interactive session of the storytelling event.” Cookey Iwuoha the project coordinator of All Africa Media Network and the steering committee member of GLAAS affirmed.
The executives and steering committee members of GLAAS like founder of Youth Against Slavery Movement (YASM) USA; Racha Haffar. Executive director of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation( WOTCLEF ) founded in 1999 in Nigeria; Imaobong Sanusi. The founder of Teaching Artist Institute( TAI); Kim Poole. The Director of Global African SHEROES Union( GASU) and C.E.O of Financial Unity; Madam Angela Sayles. The founder Peace on Earth Foundation and Soren Kierkegaard Academic Society of Nigeria ;Prof. Phillip Ogbonna and founder of Leadership Development Foundation Ken Obiakor are some of the event facilitators.
The founder Survivors Network (Cameroun);Francisca Awah. Solomon Ndondo of Africa Rise Foundation( Zimbabwe).Andile Mqwebu of BGD Consulting (South Africa).The founder Ayana Think Tank Initiative (Rwanda);Damien Mouzon. Co founder Anika Initiative (Kenya) ;Desmond Ogubi. Founder Sierra Cares Foundation (Sierra Leone); Ibraham Bangura. The founder of Sunshyne Trail (UK) Evridiki Anagnostara. Afasi Komla Director of Engage Now Africa (Ghana) and the founder Inter-Faith Foundation (Cameroun) Annestelle Foumobod are all inclusive.
Godfrey Mpandikizi of Tanzania Anti-Human Trafficking and Legal Initiatives (TATLI). The founder of Africa Eye Foundation( Nigeria );Dr. Uddy Allen Nwachukwu. Madam Mary Oluonye and Celestine Afatsawo of Celmar Tours Ghana-USA and other working committee members of GLAAS are also part of the event facilitators and expected participants at the pilot project of GLAAS.
The GLAAS Virtual African Storytelling sessions on HT&MS is designed to articulate the problem of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in the African society and the world at large , in which the storytelling medium serves to create an open discussion platform that will enable sensitization of the kids, enhancing their self capacity in the process. To achieve this, the content of the stories will be told in such a way to captivate the African child and generate intense discussion among them as well as with the event moderator and storytellers.
