Innocence Lost

INNOCENCE LOST

A NEW PLAY ON CHILD TRAFFICKING

Objective

Use a social, educational play based on a true child trafficking story, for students aged 11 and up, and a Q&A session, to show students how not to be caught by dangerous traffickers.

Outline

National Children’s Theatre is developing an educational program at the community level to prevent child trafficking, by creating awareness of the dangers and risks to children and how to deal with would-be traffickers. This will be achieved through the creation of a social play based on a shocking true trafficking story, to be presented to learners aged 11 and up. It will lead into a question and answer session with the children to discuss how not to be caught in such dangerous situations.

Introduction

Human trafficking is said to be a modern-day form of slavery. It exists because people and especially children are open to being exploited, mostly through circumstances which are no fault of theirs: poverty, lack of education, loss of hope and optimism.

One of the worst forms of human trafficking is trafficking in children—it relates to the victimisation of girls and boys, primarily for forced labor and sexual exploitation. It represents the loss of childhood and no hope of achieving what every child deserves—a future. Child trafficking is a crime against humanity.

How girls are affected by trafficking

Statistics show that children account for 27% of all human trafficking victims worldwide, worse, every three child victims are girls. Tragically, both girls and boys are vulnerable to being trafficked. However, girls are disproportionally targeted and must deal with the life-long effects of gender inequality and gender-based violence.

According to advocacy groups, human trafficking is rife in South Africa. The Salvation Army, says this is because of high levels of poverty and inequality, which leave people vulnerable to exploitation.

Children are recruited from low-income areas, transported to metropolitan areas, such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Bloemfontein, and are subjected to sex trafficking and other criminal activities. Trafficking of children is a real issue in South Africa. It can be happening next door to you without your knowledge.

You can make a difference

Through the arts NCT produces socially engaging theatre, increasing awareness of human trafficking in communities, and asking you to engage in challenging issues.

YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP NCT RAISE FUNDS TO PRESENT THIS PLAY TO GRADES 6 AND 7 SCHOOL CHILDREN AND FOLLOW UP WITH AN IN DEPTH DISCUSSION ON HOW TO RECOGNISE AND AVOID TRAFFICKERS.