The Social Work Club held an event Nov. 19 called the Red Sand Project that was created by Molly Gochman, who launched the global project in 2014. Bluffton started participating three years later in 2017. The goal of the Red Sand Project is to raise awareness of human trafficking.
Heidi Mercer photo by Nathan Heinze
Heidi Mercer, assistant professor of social work, said this is a way for students to participate and raise awareness.
“The subject is tragic, and this is a way to feel like you are doing something to support the anti-trafficking cause,” Mercer said.
During the event, Mercer and Michelle Straton, who is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, coordinator and nurse and Blanchard Valley Health System, gave a 50-minute presentation on sex and labor trafficking that covered definitions, laws, the scope of human trafficking, warning signs and ways students can join in the fight.
Once the presentation ended, students were invited to put red sand in the cracks of the sidewalk and write a hashtag above it. Mercer said the sand symbolizes the hope that victims of human trafficking don’t fall through the cracks.
Photo provided by Madison Huffman
Madison Huffman, a junior social work major, has been a part of the Social Work Club for the past two years and is currently the president. She believes the event is great at bringing awareness to human trafficking.
Huffman said this event is essential to keep others safe.
“The event is important because it brings awareness to the issue of human trafficking that is occurring right around us every day,” said Huffman. “To me, this event is extremely important to keep others safe from trafficking. Many people don’t realize how close to home it hits, and so it’s our duty to inform them of all of the issues.”
Red Sand Project has more than one million participants and has been done in all 50 states and in 70 countries. For more information to help raise awareness for the 40.3 million victims of human trafficking and to participate in the Red Sand Project, visit redsandproject.org.
