By C.D. DESALVO
Hays Post
Human trafficking is defined as modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor. Nearly 20 million to 30 million people in the world today are victims of human trafficking, according to DoSomething.org.
When Hays High School seniors Kaitlyn Schaben and Lisa Schoenberger started doing research for their public relations project, they discovered what a serious issue human trafficking was not just in the United States, but close to home as well.
“We both got pretty passionate about the subject after we started researching it and we realized how common it was not so much in our area but in our state and especially in Wichita,” Schoenberger said. “We thought we could make a difference.”
Kaitlyn and Lisa are involved in Hays High DECA, a class for high school juniors and seniors that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.
Their project is called “Break the Chains” and is comprised of an awareness week at Hays High School from Jan. 8 to 12 to raise awareness of the issue.
“Since we are doing a public relations project, we have to create awareness in a certain place, and we picked our high school,” Schaben said. “We have planned events that will raise awareness for the students and the staff of our school.”
On Jan. 8, a speaker from ICT SOS, an anti-trafficking organization in Wichita, will be informing the student body and staff of the facts and dangers of human trafficking. Schaben and Schoenberger will also have a fundraiser for ICT SOS in Wichita where students can purchase pieces of tape during the week that will later be used to tape either Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler or Hays High Principal Martin Straub to the gym wall during an assembly on Jan. 12. There will also be posters hanging throughout the school during the week offering statistics and facts about human trafficking.
Schaben and Schoenberger have also made a public service announcement video regarding human trafficking that is available to view on the Hays High website.
To learn more about Hays High DECA, visit their website or Facebook page.