Events

What we’ve done so far:

August 2012:

• 4 students start to make plans to set up the group- Gail Commandeur (Politics and International Relations), Ian Craddock (Pol IR), Sangitha Kohs (Law) and Francesca Smith (Law).
• Group application and aims formally acccepted by University of Kent Student Union (Kent Union)- it means we officially exist!
• Termly Budget and spot booked at the university Freshers Fayre to start advertising and publicising the group for new members.
• Official support of our partner, Stop the Traffik http://www.stopthetraffik.org/

September 2012:

• Freshers Fayre, 12th September. Our first publicity event! 120 students signed up for more information.

October 2012:

• 4th October- Film Screening of ‘I am Slave’, true story about a nigerian woman trafficked  to London into domestic servitude as a house servant, working long hours, no pay, little food and abused.
• 18th October- ANTI-SLAVERY DAY. A National day around the country to raise awareness about human trafficking in local communities. On campus we ‘sold’ students from shopping trolleys to raise awareness that it happens here. Evening presentation about anti-slavery day, human trafficking cases in Kent and what we’re doing as a group to stop it,
• 25th October- GUEST SPEAKER, former Kent Police superintendent, Cliff Grieve, chair of Kent Community against Trafficking- one of our partner organisations, on the advisory forum for the All Parliamentary Group against Trafficking.
• Articles published in the university newspaper, ‘InQuire’, and ‘Justice for Youth’.

November 2012:

• 1st November- instead of arranging other guest speakers, we were invited to DO a GUEST LECTURE at Christ Church Uni campus in Broadstairs on behalf of Stop the Traffik. It was for 3rd year policing and social policy students on human trafficking in Kent and community action and awareness.
• 5th November- FUNDRAISER- Krispy Kreme sale on Campus- 8 volunteers raised over £300 profit for the group and our upcoming ‘Taxis against Trafficking campaign’ to raise awareness with taxi drivers on the signs and signals of human trafficking as they drive around our communities and can report them to the anti-trafficking police hotline if they see anything suspicious.
• 19th November- GUEST SPEAKER- Antonia Haber-  the Human Rights Political Officer for the US Embassy and Mission in the United Kingdom on what the US and the UK have been doing to combat human trafficking and on writing the US International annual Trafficking in Persons report. News article published in ‘InQuire’ about the event and interview with Antonia filmed by the university TV station- KTV.
• 28th November- Petition writing workshop with Kent Law petition writing society- STAG.

December 2012:

• 3rd December- End of Term Film screening: The Whistleblower- True story based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz) , a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up sex trafficking by UN Peacekeepers. Continueing with our US/International theme investigating human trafficking, it’s a film that reveals the darker aspect of when the protectors fail to protect.
• 5th December- Meeting with our partners Kent Community against Trafficking in Ashford

January 2013:

• Start contacting Canterbury Council and Stop the Traffik about starting the Taxi campaign.
• 25th January- New Committee – President (Gail Commandeur), Vice President (Ian Craddock), Treasurer (Michelle Siyanbola), Secretary (Alex Tiley) and Media Officer (Dipa Vaya) elected.

February 2013

• 7th February- Refreshers Fayre- Stall with all the other University societies and groups, advertising events and a chance to talk to students and to sign-up with us. 30 students signed up for more information.
• 11th February- TAKEN Film screening- popular Liam Neeson film about a man whose daughter has been kidnapped and trafficked into Paris’ sex industry who goes on a mission to rescue her.

March 2013:

• Start planning a girls only football event to raise awareness and money about human trafficking for charity Love 146- who are raising money to build to first specialist home for child victims of human trafficking.
• 13th March- 7 of us went to the Stop the Traffik Conference hosted by the University of East Anglia student group- wide range of students, government representatives, police and NGOs working together to make Norwich and the area traffick free. Amazing to see what other student groups are doing and what we might be capable of.
• 21st March – All-Girls NOT FOR SALE charity football match for Love 146 who are campaigning to build the first specialist safe-house for child victims of human trafficking in the UK. 16 players, 20 spectators, freezing day but so much fun!

April 2013:

• 2nd April – Spring term final meeting with 3 guests- Cliff Grieve ex-kent police and now chair of Kent Community against Trafficking, Elom from Medway charity Rwareness and Beth, Kent Union’s womens officer for next year!