Modern Day Slavery Webinar

• An estimated 45.8 million people are in slavery across the globe.
• Every 30 seconds, someone becomes a victim of modern slavery.
• Men, women and children are exploited, many into forced labour and criminality against their will.
• No one should have to live in these conditions.

These statistics are frightening, but it is important to remember that each number represents an individual with friends, family and hopes and dreams for the future. They have committed no crime and are being appallingly exploited and abused.

So many men and women who simply want to support their families find themselves threatened or coerced into sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, construction work or even trafficked to have their organs removed.

Breaking free from slavery is just the first step on a long journey to restoration. Victims of Modern Day slavery have experienced sexual, physical, emotional and psychological abuse on a scale that none of us can even dare to imagine. When individuals have been so dreadfully mistreated, they lack self-esteem, self-confidence and the ability to truly trust anyone.

‘THEIR VOICE’ was started in 2015 by a social worker volunteering in a safe house for families who had been rescued from human trafficking and modern-day slavery and helps these precious individuals to piece their lives back together.

Their Voice does this through very practical means of providing items such as clothing, toiletries, baby equipment or school kits for their children. In addition, they help individuals to work through the trauma they have experienced and find skills to build a secure future.

“Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, according to the National Freedom Network. The counter-human trafficking group says most of the country's exploitation hotspots are in Gauteng. Looking at the reliable stats of those working on the ground, we know that in South Africa, approximately 155,000 people are trapped in human trafficking at any given time.”Tershia De Klerk, Spokesperson - National Freedom Network

Carolyn Thom

Carolyn qualified as a Social Worker in 1997 at Greenwich University and in 2000 earned a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and specialized in Bereavement Counselling. She has 12 years’ experience working in a Local Authority setting and successfully completing the BA post graduate Course in the Mental Capacity Act and the Best Interest Assessment before moving into the voluntary sector working in a Hospice. In 2015 she started up the charity ‘Their Voice’ to support men, women and children who have been rescued from Modern Slavery.

Carolyn is a dedicated professional with strong organizational skills and thoughtfulness. She dislikes injustices and will bring change to things that are in her ability to do so. Her vision is to enable people who have suffered trauma to live hope filled lives again.

Tershia de KlerkTershia de Klerk, is the Founder and Managing Director of The Joseph Movement NPC, following her position as Chief Operating Officer of STOP Trafficking Of People NPC. She is a Member and the Spokesperson of the National Freedom Network and continues building relationships and collaborating with various network partners – anti-Human Trafficking NPOs, Companies, Media and Government bodies.

She studied Psychology and is currently furthering her Criminology studies. She has gained experience in both the corporate and Non-profit arena. Her experience ranges from Business & Operations Management, to Social-Political Awareness Leadership. She has also done extensive work in helping develop, translate and edit, Educational resources.

She was the Spokesperson for a Pro-life and Freedom Awareness group, and continues to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves – She is currently the main Spokesperson for The Joseph Movement, as well as for the National Freedom Network. She has first-hand experience of exploitation in the modelling and advertising industries.

Please watch the replay below: