There is a CAST presentation on Tuesday, March 13th at 8pm. Mark from Justice Ministries will be presenting on Sex Trafficking in BA 451. Admission is free. Click for More Details.
In the Spring of 2011, Amy Dewitt and Tim Olson started CAST – Carolina Against Sex Trafficking – an organization devoted to raising awareness for the tragedy that is sex trafficking in the United States and the world.
Tim:
Amy spent the summer of 2010 in India with an organization called Rahab’s Rope working in their fight against sex trafficking. She returned to USC hoping to start an organization that could raise awareness. At the same time, Midtown Fellowship, my church in Columbia, did a series emphasizing the issue of sex trafficking. God put the desire in my heart to start an organization, and I got connected with Amy. The Lord sent us some awesome people who had similar hearts for this issue and more time to dedicate to it. We handed the reins over to them and they have run with it ever since.
What has the reception been like?
We have gotten a lot of support and have honestly been amazed to meet so many people who have the same desires that we do. We have had so many people already step into leadership roles and been so incredibly helpful whether it be setting up for different events or helping to spread the word by handing out flyers. It has been great to see so much support and vision from the students at USC.
Doesn’t everyone already know about sex trafficking?
I think the answer is both yes and no. While many people know that issues such as sex slavery and prostitution may exist, it often becomes a “their problem” mentality. What a lot of people don’t know is the magnitude of this problem and how closely it hits to home. One of the main organizations we work with, the A21 Campaign, is actually starting a safe house for rescued women in Charleston. Atlanta is one of the largest cities for women trafficked in and out every year. This issue affects every one of us. That’s why we are here. We want people to realize that truth and let it affect them to the point of action.
What do you hope to accomplish?
We want to open people’s eyes to the magnitude of this issue and the urgency required in working to stop it. We hope that through our events and work, we give people the knowledge needed to get more involved themselves or at least tell others about the issue. We also hope to raise money to support organizations that are on the front lines of fighting sex trafficking including The A21 Campaign, Rahab’s Rope, and others.
How can we be involved?
This semester, we have awareness events once/month with speakers to talk about what sex trafficking really means. We would love for people to come to these and invite others. Regardless of how much someone may already know about this issue, these events are for everyone, and there is always support in numbers.
Also, we are always looking for people to join the street team. They meet more often and help organize events like our recent Valentine’s Day bake sale. This involves a more substantial time commitment but we would love to see many people get involved here.
Editors Note: Definitely stop by their event (Facebook Details) tonight at 8pm in BA 451.
