Sex trafficking/sexual exploitation are growing concerns in Canada. Working with survivors and those vulnerable to trafficking, BridgeNorth witnesses the prevalence of trafficking/exploitation in youth populations firsthand. With the inescapable presence of social media, youth are more accessible and vulnerable than ever to traffickers and exploiters. Yet there remains a dearth of comprehensive prevention programming for youth. As service providers, it is increasingly vital to step in early, equipping youth with the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves safe, experience positive/ healthy relationships, build their self-esteem, and thrive. Initially funded by Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada to develop a promising prevention practice, BridgeNorth’s SAVVY Project piloted prevention programming for vulnerable youth. Co-designed with survivors of sex trafficking, it includes presentations, psychoeducational groups and one-on-one support to vulnerable youth, and education and training to parents, educators, and service providers. Through an independent, external evaluation, the SAVVY Project is demonstrating positive results and contributing to the development of promising practices in anti-trafficking prevention for youth. This presentation explores promising practices in anti-trafficking prevention for vulnerable youth by examining BridgeNorth’s SAVVY Project. It will outline the project, its activities, successes, challenges and adaptations, and the development of promising and best practices for anti-trafficking prevention. Survivor-led program design, peer mentorship, adaptability, and reduction of barriers for participants will be identified as key to successful prevention programs. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of the risk factors associated with trafficking/exploitation, and emerging best practices to contribute to its prevention.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Camille Beausejour is a Case Manager at BridgeNorth. With a background in Sociology, Camille has worked in the anti-trafficking field for five years and works with youth vulnerable to/experiencing sex trafficking/ exploitation. As a survivor of sex trafficking, Camille draws on her own lived experience to inform the work she does.
Kaitlyn Ranasinghe is the Program Manager at BridgeNorth. She completed her MA focusing on anti-trafficking efforts in Canada. She has worked in the anti-trafficking field for 8 years, supporting adults and youth impacted by sex trafficking/ exploitation, conducting research, providing education and training, and leading program development and evaluation initiatives.