PROTECT by 3 Strands Global Foundation
Prevention Begins With Education:
Human trafficking can be difficult to recognize, particularly when exploitation begins through relationships, grooming, manipulation, or online communication. PROTECT helps give young people and the adults who support them the knowledge and practical tools to recognize vulnerabilities, understand exploitation, and know when and how to seek help.
Olive Charitable Organization is an authorized facilitator of PROTECT, a human trafficking prevention education and training program developed and managed by 3 Strands Global Foundation.
What is PROTECT?
PROTECT is a comprehensive, age-appropriate human trafficking prevention program designed for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as the adults and professionals who work with young people.
Rather than relying on fear-based messaging, PROTECT focuses on education, awareness, safety, and empowerment. Lessons are designed to help students develop skills appropriate to their age and developmental level while increasing their understanding of personal safety, healthy boundaries, exploitation, and how to identify trusted adults who can help.
The program also equips educators and other school-based professionals with training to help them recognize potential signs of human trafficking, respond appropriately to concerns or disclosures, and understand their responsibilities as mandated reporters.
More than Human Trafficking Awareness:
Effective prevention requires more than simply teaching young people a definition of human trafficking.
PROTECT helps build the knowledge and skills that can reduce vulnerability to exploitation. Depending upon the age group, education may address concepts such as personal safety, healthy relationships and boundaries, recognizing unsafe situations, identifying trusted adults, understanding exploitation, safety planning, and knowing how to ask for help.
The goal is not to frighten young people. It is to equip them.
When children and teens have the language to recognize concerning behaviors and understand that they can speak with a trusted adult, we create additional opportunities to identify problems earlier and intervene before exploitation progresses.
Education for the Adults Who Protect Them:
Young people should not carry the responsibility for preventing exploitation alone.
PROTECT uses a whole-school approach that recognizes the important role adults play in creating safe environments for children and adolescents. Educators and school professionals learn more about human trafficking, warning signs and vulnerabilities, appropriate responses, available resources, and ways to support students who may need help.
An informed adult may recognize something a young person does not yet have the ability—or the words—to explain.
Age Appropriate Education:
One of the strengths of PROTECT is that the curriculum is designed to grow with students.
Education provided to a kindergarten classroom looks very different from education provided to middle or high school students. Concepts and discussions are adapted to students’ ages and developmental needs so that prevention education can begin early without exposing younger children to information that is inappropriate for them.
PROTECT instructional materials are available across the K-12 grade levels and may be adapted by trained educators to meet the needs of their students.
Bringing PROTECT to Our Community:
Through our partnership with 3 Strands Global Foundation, Olive Charitable Organization brings PROTECT prevention education to youth and the adults who serve them in our community.
Schools, educators, youth-serving organizations, and community partners interested in bringing PROTECT education to their students or staff are encouraged to contact us. We can help determine the appropriate training or educational approach for your audience.
Knowledge Creates Opportunity for Prevention:
When young people understand safety, adults recognize warning signs, and communities know how to respond, exploitation has fewer opportunities to remain hidden.
