“It’s Time to Talk Human Trafficking” Through Stop-Now
Harold D'Souza shares his story
Harold D'Souza strives to give a voice of courage, hope, and freedom for all victims of human trafficking.
I had never had the opportunity to hear his voice before, so when I joined this discussion through Zoom. I really didn't know what to expect.
What I found was a very interesting and very honest conversation about labor trafficking, and the realities about entering America legally and having the horror of labor trafficking await you once you arrive.
Harold explained his story and the group asked the questions that many people will not:
- How can this happen in America?
- Can we make a difference?
- Is this a societal problem?
This discussion was so different than most of the other talks I've had about human trafficking.
It was so refreshing to hear an honest dissection of the real issue: greed and corruption are causing this to happen and are perpetuating this horror.
Harold pulled different people into the discussion and I found myself being brought into the spotlight when I wasn't expecting that to happen at all.
I explained how I got into this fight and how I am frustrated with the groups I work with, because I do not see labor trafficking being treated as seriously as domestic minor sex trafficking.
I also explained more about PBJ Learning and Radical Empathy and how we work to raise awareness and prevent people from becoming victims.
Also surprisingly, there was some strong pushback making the point that “awareness” isn't working. I agree! My viewpoint is that there are not enough teachers that feel comfortable teaching the material, which leads to a perpetuation of a lack of awareness.
This version (WAY BETTER than mine, below – lol) is from the STOP NOW YouTube Channel – be sure to SUBSCRIBE and give it a LIKE on YouTube.
I recorded this version from my perspective.
What I took away from the Zoom call was that there is not only a REAL problem of labor trafficking in America, there are some VERY REAL concerns that America isn't doing everything it could do to make a difference.
I reached out to Harold after the Zoom event and I am very excited to say we are having a meeting this week. We simply have to join forces. Our awareness tools and our online course are a one-two punch that will change the world. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be doing this.
Let's do this Harold!
“My experience as a survivor of human trafficking inspired me to spend my life helping to raise awareness for important issues and prevention education. I hope to create a world with more love, understanding, and compassion.” – Harold D'Souza's LinkedIn Profile
Selected stories about Harold's awareness efforts
Lucy May WVXU host interviews Indian American on labour trafficking
Saturday, January 29th, 2022 at 7:58 AM (ORIGINAL HERE)
Cincinnati, Ohio: Entering America legally is heaven, but illegally is hell; proclaims activist Harold D'Souza a native of Bajpe, Mangalore.
There are approximately 24.9 million people in forced labour worldwide according to the International Labour Organization. But reliable statistics on human trafficking are hard to come by. As Erin Meyer, the anti-human trafficking manager with the Salvation Army explains, survivors often do not know they are being victimized.
Harold D'Souza said; Paying agents a hefty sum to enter the United States of America illegally is actually paying for your own ‘Coffin' and not ‘Comfort'.
Recently an Indian family from Gujarat froze to death on the Canadian and US Border. This family paid Rs. 65 Lakhs to enter America undocumented. Jagdish Patel, 39, Vaishali Patel, 37, and their children Vihangi, 11, and Dharkmik, 3, died from exposure due to frigid cold near Manitoba, Canada in January 19th, 2022.
“We certainly do work with individuals who don't self-identify, maybe they don't self-identify as being a victim. It's a very disempowering term and a disempowering concept,” Meyer says. It may take survivors years to come forward.
This was the case with Harold D'Souza. He's the survivor of labour trafficking and worked without pay for more than a year before reporting the abuse. Now he is the founder of Eyes Open International and works to help victims of human trafficking.
Joining Cincinnati Edition to discuss Human Trafficking Awareness Month were Ohio Department of Public Safety Office of Criminal Justice Services State Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Maria Busch; The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Manager and End Slavery Cincinnati Coalition Manager Erin Meyer; and Eyes Open International President and Co-founder Harold D'Souza.
With award-winning news from 91.7 WVXU, Cincinnati Public Radio reaches over 250,000 listeners each week.
On January 26th Lucy May WVXU Cincinnati Edition Host interviewed international inspirational survivor advocate Harold D'Souza on; ‘Why the prevalence of human trafficking is so hard to track.
If you or anyone you suspect is a victim of labour or sex trafficking in America call 1-888-373-7888 the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Socio Story invites Activist Harold D'Souza on ‘IMPACT Conversations' Show
Thursday, January 20th, 2022 at 7:05 PM (ORIGINAL HERE)
Cincinnati, Ohio: January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The United States President since 2010 has dedicated this month to raising awareness about human trafficking and educating the public about how to identify and prevent this crime.
Socio Story an impact advocacy platform has invited international survivor-advocate Harold D'Souza on their ‘Impact Conversations' show to be hosted on Jan 21 in a live session at 4 pm IST.
Reshma Jain Editor, Socio Story will be interviewing incredible crusader Harold D'Souza on his life-changing journey from rags to riches.
Indian American Harold D'Souza said; “A short term pain is a long-term gain, but a short-term gain is long-term pain. It took me 133 months to smell the fragrance of freedom. I will fight till my last breath for innocent victims to live their life with freedom. Teamwork makes the dream work”.
Every day, vulnerable people are trafficked into modern-day slavery and exploited for profit.
Harold D'Souza President of Eyes Open International and former US Advisory Council Member on Human Trafficking appointed by President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump will share his journey from ‘Survivor' to ‘Thriver' on ‘Impact Conversations' organized by Socio Story.
Manoj Pachauri is the founder of Socio Story.
Truly said no one can stop running water from flowing. This non-stoppable Harold D'Souza during his recent visit to India travelled 17 cities and did 53 presentations to create awareness and prevention on human trafficking
WCPO Cincinnati, OH – Local man has global impact to fight labor trafficking
3/10/2021 (ORIGINAL HERE)
Duration: 01:51
Eyes Open International founder Harold D'Souza is using his personal experience as a victim of human trafficking to help others.
Voices of Freedom – Harold D'Souza and Katherine Chon
Jul 29, 2021 (ORIGINAL HERE)
Harold D'Souza tells his friend and colleague, Katherine Chon, about his journey from experiencing labor trafficking to becoming a leading activist in the nationwide effort to address the problem.
Harold has served the White House on the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and is founder and president of Eyes Open International, a non-profit group focused on combating human trafficking through empowerment.
These Voices of Freedom were recorded and produced by StoryCorps in partnership with the Office on Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information, visit acf.hhs.gov/otip/voices.
This is the transcript from the video. I wish I had the formatted text from within the video.
harold de souza tells his friend and colleague katherine chon about his journey from experiencing labor trafficking to becoming a leading activist in the nationwide effort to address the problem harold has served the white house on the united states advisory council on human trafficking and is founder and president of eyes open international a non-profit group focused on combating human trafficking through empowerment i am an immigrant from india and i am a survivor of human labor trafficking and dead bond age which happened in cincinnati but today i am a free man i always tell that survivors are poor starters but strong finishers when you were younger did you ever imagine advising presidents governors others on how to improve life for communities that are very underserved it's a blessing that in the year 2015 december 16th president barack obama announced my name on the united states advisory council on human trafficking and there were 11 survivors who were appointed i was so deeply touched everyone respected us so much that they never looked at us as survivors they looked at us as experts and that totally transformed my life when i was a child i was a failure i failed in all the subjects it was my dad he always believed in me and whenever i come to the white house i have my dad's photograph i carried all the time so harold your father was a big influence in your life and you are a father how is your family responding to the work that you're doing now i have two boys bradley is 25 years old and rohan is 22 years old they're so grounded but we don't talk much about what happened in our life my younger son was slapped in front of my own eyes by my trafficker for no reason and i didn't do anything i just looked and i was quiet i didn't know what to do i was so helpless when i come to the white house people call me honorable harold de souza but in real life when you're a victim they say hey illegal come here they call you illegal and what happens in my mind i think i'm a criminal what do you hope will be different 50 years from now i am always working on that how we can combat or stop human trafficking so i think after 50 years things should be different we need to take care of our kids we need to love them and we need to see that they follow in the right track you know i always tell my kids enjoy your life but at the same breath see what you can give back to the community and if you can help somebody why not that when you say one victim catherine you say one survivor but when you prosecute one perpetrator you are saving hundred victims catherine you have played a very big role in my life delegates like you are like mother theresa for me mother teresa always says do not waste time judging people just love them that's what you have done from day one if one of your sons or your grandchildren are carrying a picture of you in their pockets what would you be saying to them do not tell god how big the storm is in your life but tell the storm how big the god is in your life believe in yourself and be happy thank you so much harold these voices of freedom were recorded and produced by storycorps in partnership with the office on trafficking in persons at the u.s department of health and human services for more information visit acf.hhs.gov/otip/voices