Become a Jasmine Youth Ally

After watching Jasmine’s movie and reading real youth stories, you must want to help. GREAT! Here are some of our ideas. Please don’t forget to share your great ideas and work by tagging us with #WEAREJASMINESTRONG or messaging us on Jasmine’s social channels!

IG: @IAmJasmineStrong
Snapchat: @imjasminestrong
Facebook: @IAmJasmineStrong

Email us with any questions, ideas, or suggestions for updates to this guide: Jasmine@IAmJasmineStrong.com

 
 
 

What does it mean to be a Jasmine Youth Ally?

Jasmine Youth Allies stand strong for survivors of all forms of human trafficking and exploitation. They also work to prevent exploitation from happening in their communities.

Being a Jasmine Youth Ally also means that you take time to:

• Do your homework on the issue. Read through our site and check out https://polarisproject.org/.

• Think critically about your role as an ally - We love this website which looks at how to be an effective and thoughtful ally (on any issue): http://www.guidetoallyship.com/.

• Think critically about your own identity, power, and privilege. While this site is built for facilitators, we think you can handle it :): https://msw.usc.edu/mswusc-blog/diversity-workshop-guide-to-discussing-identity-power-and-privilege/

• Read our Tips for Youth: https://www.iamjasminestrong.com/youth-tips

• Review our Do’s and Don’ts of being a Jasmine Youth Ally.

 

DO

  • Learn about the issue

  • Reflect on your own identity, power, and privilege

  • Be open to listening to other youth, especially those who have been impacted by the issues you hope to change

  • Report situations that you suspect are cases of human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888 or text “Jasmine” to 233733)

  • If you’re worried a friend is in an abusive relationship, share the  LoveIsRespect number (1-866-331-9474) and website chatline.

Don’t

  • Ask people about their trauma or why they didn’t leave a situation of abuse

  • Use disrespectful or shaming language

  • Share people’s personal stories without their permission

  • Assume everyone in the sex trade or street economy feels oppressed

  • Tokenize people’s experiences by asking them to speak or share without support, compensation, and really thinking it through

Inspiration

10-year-old Vivienne Harr from Fairfax, CA set up a lemonade stand to fight child trafficking.  She has raised more than $100,000 to date and now runs an organic beverage company, Make A Stand, Inc, to benefit survivors of human trafficking.  Watch her documentary here: https://fairtradecampaigns.org/2014/02/stand-with-me/

Do you know of other amazing Jasmine You Allies? We want to hear about them so we can share their work! Email us at Jasmine@IAmJasmineStrong.com or direct message us at @IAmJasmineStrong on Instagram.

Show Solidarity

  • Share the I Am Jasmine Strong video with your friends on social media.

  • Share how you claim your inner power by holding up our downloadable sign and sharing on social media with #WeAreJasmineStrong

Ideas for Taking Action

1. Share Jasmine Strong with your school - You can download Jasmine’s poster to hang in your school halls or bathrooms. Consider approaching a teacher to have them show the I Am Jasmine Strong movie - You can let them know we even have a teacher’s guide for hosting a classroom discussion here.

2. Check your slavery footprint - Companies need to be held accountable too.  Take this quiz to learn about your slavery footprint and post online.

3. Tell companies what you think - If you see a show, advertisement, or sign that clearly shows women or girls in degrading positions or otherwise looking exploited, you could call them out by tweeting at them or sending them a letter.  Here is a sample of what Meghan Markle did when she was just 11-years-old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMoVen6_XuA

4. Organize a clothing drive or help raise funds for your local anti-trafficking organization - You can help other youth with your resources and time! See what is needed before you begin. If you’re in the Bay Area, check out our resources page for ideas of organizations you might approach.

5. Write an article for your school or community paper speaking out about human trafficking in your community -  Consider interviewing anti-trafficking leaders in your community who can speak to how the problem looks where you live. Remember to check your sources. There are a lot of inaccurate stats out there!

6. Organize a walk or run to raise awareness and funds for your local anti-trafficking organization - Contact a local group that you find inspiring and ask them if they would be open to you hosting a walk or run on their behalf.  Tips on organizing a run/walk: https://www.classy.org/blog/9-week-plan-organizing-5k-charity-run/.

7. Host a film and discussion night at your school or in your community - Many times, local libraries will loan their space. Look into community centers and recreational centers that might be open to using their space. You may want to check out one of the following films:

“A documentary featuring the real struggles and overcomings of young women and girls sold into sex trafficking in New York City.  This documentary centers around the experiences of a nationally recognized nonprofit, GEMS. This is a very intense film. Please be aware it can be very triggering for those who have experienced abuse, domestic violence, or trafficking.”  

  • I AM JANE DOE https://www.iamjanedoefilm.com/

    “A documentary film documenting the journey of teenage girls and their parents who take on Backpage.com, an online advertising website (since shut down!) that allowed for the buying and selling of victims of sex trafficking in order to make profit.  At the heart of the film is the controversy over whether or not websites that publish advertisements that sell young girls like the two featured in the film should be held liable. Watch and learn more about how these young survivors took on a giant and since have won!”

  • American Crime, Season Three (Netflix) https://www.netflix.com/Kids/title/80024103

    “This fictional series that first aired on ABC focuses on realistic and heartbreaking stories of victims and survivors of all forms of human trafficking, including the sex trafficking of an American teenage girl, the exploitation of a young woman who is slowly being more and more abused as a domestic nanny, and an American young woman forced to work with other migrant and trafficked young people on a farm. It’s fiction, but it truly rings with some truth.”

  • SOLD www.soldthemovie.com
    (    Note: SOLD has a full-length version as well as a 50 minute version for schools,
    with a discussion guide.)

    “SOLD is based on the real life story of an American woman photojournalist who sees a very young girl being held in a brothel in Nepal where she and other trafficked girls are forced to serve men at the hands of a vicious female trafficker and her criminal associates.  This film is about hope, strength, and fighting back!”

“This older fictional film features Lilya, a 14 year old girl whose mom leaves her alone as an orphan in poor post Soviet Russia. In an attempt to survive, she goes to a strip club where she then meets a young man intent on selling her into sex trafficking in Sweden. This film is dark and hard to watch, but it is based on the real story of a young girl found dead in Sweden. The film inspired laws against sex trafficking in Sweden and beyond.”

  • Trade https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399095/

    Set in Mexico City, a young girl is kidnapped and trafficked into the United States along with other trafficked young women from all over the world. This film features a fictionalized story of bravery. While many elements are sensationalized, it still speaks to the horrors of trafficking and the complexities of its network.