How Education Can Save Lives from Human Trafficking
- Pixabay
Jakarta, VIVA – Human trafficking is one of the most detestable crimes imaginable, tearing lives apart and robbing individuals of their freedom and dignity.
Unfortunately, this crime continues to happen in East Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia's regions where vulnerable communities often fall prey to traffickers.
Factors such as poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities make individuals, especially women and children, suspectible to the lure of false promises of employment or a better life abroad.
Ilustrasi hentikan perdagangan manusia/TPPO.
- communitybridge.blogspot.com
A man from Tambolaka, East Nusa Tenggara, named Ronaldus Asto Dadut—known as Asto—has shown remarkable dedication to raising awareness about the dangers of human trafficking in his hometown.
Asto, who studied public health at Nusa Cendana University in Kupang, was moved to act after witnessing the heartbreaking conditions of migrant workers who had been held captive for three months.
During this experience, he was shocked to find 15 victims, mostly women, in appalling conditions; some bore signs of physical abuse and severe depression.
Deeply affected by the state of these individuals, both physically and emotionally, Asto took the initiative to form a community focused on educating the public about the health impacts of human trafficking.
His efforts target the remote communities of Southwest Sumba, where access to information is extremely limited, making them particularly vulnerable.
This community initiative, named Jaringan Relawan untuk Kemanusiaan (J-RUK) Sumba, also known as the "Stop Selling People" movement, provides essential educational resources.
J-RUK’s material includes guidance on the proper procedures for becoming a migrant worker, support for children left behind by migrant parents, and assistance and counseling for returnees struggling with physical and psychological issues.
Moreover, J-RUK encourages people to explore job opportunities within their own communities, offering alternatives to the need to migrate.
In 2017 alone, J-RUK reached 2,889 children, providing lessons on hygiene and health, while 5,307 adults received training on human trafficking prevention.
Because of his effort to prevent human trafficking victims, he got appreciated from Astra through SATU Indonesia Awards 2017.
