World Cup 2010

Give Human Trafficking the Red Card

The Salvation Army, with its origins in London, England has jumped at the opportunity to share it's message of love at World Cup 2010. You can't escape World Cup fever, even if you're not a football fan. The headlines are everywhere!

What you may not see on the evening news is the work of aid organizations and ministries like the Salvation Army and others who have assembled various teams to promote awareness of their causes during this international event.

It's interesting to note that The Salvation Army has been at work in South Africa since 1883 and have been providing feeding programs, homes for babies and children with HIV/AIDS, shelters for the homeless, community development projects, worship facilities, and much more.

In recent years, as awareness of human trafficking has come to the forefront, The Salvation Army internationally has taken up this cause and has vowed to fight vigorously against it.

Human Trafficking is often an unintended consequence of major sporting events of this scale. In South Africa, Salvation Army officials there have stepped up their awareness campaign in light of the World Cup. For more than a year, they have been preparing a campaign aimed at giving "... human trafficking the red card!"

The territory has taken a two-fold approach: prevention and awareness. On the prevention front, The Salvation Army is providing holiday clubs and soccer clinics aimed at keeping youth off of the street where they may be vulnerable to traffickers. They have also made safe homes available for both women and children.

To boost awareness, The Salvation Army has been working for a year and half to educate communities about the threats and issues surrounding human trafficking. Recently, a toll-free number was also launched soliciting tips from the community about where trafficking may be occurring and acting as a hotline for victims.

In addition, we are handing out 'Red Cards' warning against trafficking, as well as advertising our message on soccer balls, vuvuzelas, and water bottles

For more information about The Salvation Army's work in South Africa, visit their website at http://www.salvationarmy.org.za.