Start Freedom in Bangladesh
Last month Ali and Becky returned to the UK after spending two months in Bangladesh on a Global Action Team. They took part in the Stop the Traffik
Start Freedom Campaign and volunteered at the Duaripara project. Newsround Active caught up with them to find out more...
How did you get involved in Start Freedom?
We spent time putting together Stop the Traffik packs to give to over 160 Bangladeshi schools to raise awareness of the risks of human trafficking, how to avoid the dangers and what to do if the worst happens. We had the opportunity to deliver the lessons to one of the schools.
We were also involved in a project called 'Business Travellers Against Human Trafficking. We edited leaflets, posters and business cards to send to hotels, embassies and clubs across Dhaka. We hope that it will encourage business travellers to notice if there is trafficking going on, and to alert Stop the Traffik.
Why are people being trafficked in Bangladesh?
One of the main reasons that people are getting caught up in trafficking in Bangladesh is their lack of knowledge. Hopefully the lessons being taught in schools and community areas will help tackle that.
Did you get involved with anything else?
We taught lessons at the Duaripara project and helped out at English club there. At the moment Oasis provides education to 100 girls in Duaripara. We taught the girls six lessons on subjects like child rights, communication and decision making, drugs education and personal safety.
How will you continue making a difference now that you're back in the UK and what can Newsround Active readers do?
We can help raise awareness in our communities about Human Trafficking. Whether through telling friends and family or even going into schools to do Start Freedom lessons, it's so important that people know the facts. Buying Fair Trade products is a good way of knowing that the people who produce our food have good working conditions and pay. We need to take action in our day to day lives and pray. Prayer is the best tool we have, but faith without deeds is dead.
To find out more about praying for our work, log on to www.oasisuk.org/prayer.