Second Life Educates About Trafficking

News Type: Event — Mon Aug 7, 2006 6:14 PM EDT

technology, charity, slavery, second-life, trafficking, fund-raising, secondlife

Some of the freebies available for those completing the maze.
Members could take a screenshot of themselves and this picture would be used in a real life campaign that gathers photos of people wearing shirt and holding signs that say 'Slavery Still Exists'

Some of the people who have completed the maze and were discussing slavery at the monument.

An example of one of the displays through the maze. By touching the globe you would receive a notecard with more information.

Many people see second life as a place to chat and earn money. As a member of the teen grid, this is more evident, however, recently over at global kids island they've been creating some awareness about Child Sex Trafficking.

Throughout the summer, one of the islands in Teen Grid (Global Kids Island) is running a summer camp. The event was organised by those participating on the summer camp, passing on what they've learnt to their friends and other kids on Second Life.

Throughout the Camp Global Kids summer program, we explored a variety of global issues. Child Sex Trafficking is a particularly horrific issue that has struck us as profoundly worrisome, so we chose to take action here in the Teen Grid. This is why we're here - to inform YOU about Child Sex Trafficking and how you can help end this global crisis.

The event was centred a maze which as you went round gave you fact cards about different types of slavery such as human trafficking. The aim of this was to educate the users of second life. As each person completed the maze they were asked a quiz question, which if they got right were given a free item, generally containing information such as stop Slavery, or a dove of peace.

At the end second life members were also given the chance to donate some of their Linden dollars. The money raised through this is going to the Polaris Project, an organization that works to end Child Trafficking and modern day slavery. If requested, people could also put donation boxes in their own shops to help raise money.

People were also taking screenshots of their avatars, which would be used in a real life campaign, mixed in with photos of people wearing shirt and holding signs that say 'Slavery Still Exists'.

A Different Route of Education

The thing I found interesting about this was how, by trying to address teenagers from a route which many are more comfortable in, and spend quite a bit of time in, they're also managing to educate them, quite willingly in most places. As I went round the maze I saw many people stopping at each of the case studies and fact cards and reading them.

Could we be seeing maths or English taught in small classes in a similar way? An extra class in an environment the pupil is more comfortable in may be beneficial. Just chatting to others within the environment will help improve their English and perhaps confidence in talking to other people.

Also evident throughout second life are members educating themselves or each other. For example, a lot of items are created by the members, who have had to learn how to build them, then learn programming for more interactive elements. Many of the kids on Teen grid didn't know how to programme when they first arrived, however, through tutorials and people willing to help each other, they have learnt enough to complete items they are building, or have learnt where to go to find out more so they can continue to educate themselves.

Raising money was also another part of the event that seemed to be working quite well. It can often be hard to get teenagers to donate money, however, within the virtual world they were a lot more willing. The one donation box had raised about L$6500 within a few hours, which is about $22. Although it does not seem that much, If the same people had passed a donation box in the street for the same cause, would so much have been donated?

We've already seen Second Life plan live virtual gigs and link ups with events held by Radio 1. How long will it be until we start seeing some more charity fund raisers on there, or more events like those we attend in real life.

2 Votes
Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Lee Stone's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Second Life
Regions: none

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

0.7

{"commentId":243771,"authorDomain":"haneyarmstrong"}

HaneyArmstrong

What a great find! Come join our conversation about non-profit activity in Second Life at

{"commentId":243771,"threadId":"35981","contentId":"316231","authorDomain":"haneyarmstrong"}

#1 - Wed Aug 9, 2006 2:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":243783,"authorDomain":"haneyarmstrong"}

HaneyArmstrong

...at omidyar.net

{"commentId":243783,"threadId":"35981","contentId":"316231","authorDomain":"haneyarmstrong"}

#2 - Wed Aug 9, 2006 2:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":2587141,"authorDomain":"rainbowngo"}

Rainbow Foundation, Bangladesh

Linkage With Girls Trafficking and HIV/AIDS

Mohammad Khairul Alam
Executive Director
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation
24/3 M. C. Roy Lane
Dhaka-1211, Bangladesh
rainbowngo@gmail.com
Tell: 880-2-8628908
Mobile: 01711344997

Human trafficking is an issue of international concern, one of the worst forms of girls trafficking relates to the sexual exploitation of girls. The sexual exploitation of girls is a wide term, which encompasses prostitution and trafficking for purposes of sexual abuse. It differs from girl sexual abuse in that there is some form of commercial transaction. It is this commercial transaction, which has led to prostitution and other forms of girl sexual exploitation being tackled as a labour issue, rather than as girls abuse for it.

Trafficking & HIV/AIDS is interrelated, especially women and girls are trafficking for use of sexual industry. Most of trafficking girls would face several physical & sexual abuses. When a girl or women newly enrolls a sex industry, she tries to safe herself heard & soul, but most of the time they couldn't free her.

Trafficking to girls' prostitution is increasing but the issue is not proper recognized by the government. There is no adequate information or research document in the area that can convince policy makers for taking appropriate actions. The increasing trend of the root cause of girls prostitution such as poverty, socio economic vulnerability, in appropriate education and shortage of funds to solve the magnitude of the problem, lack of clear policy and guidelines and weak implementation existing policies.

Adolescent girls trafficked to India are at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, because of India is the second largest HIV/AIDS infected country in the world, more then 5.1 million people are living with AIDS or HIV. India is a neighboring country of Bangladesh, about four thousand miles border surrounded by two countries, the major portion of which do not have any natural barrier. It is estimated that half of the girls in Mumbai brothels who are under the age of 18 years have been infected with HIV. Although without being trafficking, every day many people cross border movement take place both officially and also illegally. Due to reason of that great chance to spread out HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh.

A survey conducted by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation that the girls forced (trafficking) into the brothels do not want to return to their homes once they are into it for more than one year. Such girls believe, they would be victim of social stigma and face discrimination from the society. They also believe, their family would suffer several social taboo, self-respect, and social-dignity.

We can't imagine how many girl, women and children are being trafficked every day from Bangladesh. The Human rights organizations in Bangladesh estimate that more than 20,000 women and children were trafficked annually for the purpose of prostitution, and more than 50,000 women and children were estimated to have been trafficked into India annually, most for the sex trade. Kushtia, Jessore and Rajshahi borders are the safety points to trafficking. There is three types of trafficking occur in Bangladesh: 1) he/she is sold by a family member, friend or neighbor; 2) he/she is tricked into going to another country with the promise of a job or a marriage proposal; or 3) he/she is kidnapped and forcefully taken away.

In Kushtia area, some villages are used as stations for the traffickers. Rajshahi borders of Bidirpur and Premtali are used because there are fewer check points. Jessore border is very popular with traffickers. Some hotels, hut and deserted-house godwons are used to keep the girls brought from different parts of the country. In that case, most women are made to believe that they will find good jobs and marriage prospects there.

Trafficking in girls and women is warmly linked to movements in search of employment opportunities. Poverty and gender discrimination make girls and women more vulnerable to traffickers and buyers. The traffickers are not accompanying the women while crossing the border. So it is difficult for the border police to arrest them. There are some female members in the trafficking gang, which helps to hide their identity. Initiatives to reduce poverty and promote gender equality are therefore of direct importance in efforts to combat trafficking.

{"commentId":2587141,"threadId":"35981","contentId":"316231","authorDomain":"rainbowngo"}

#3 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:00 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"35981","isPrivate":false}

LEE STONE

Backyard

Second Life Educates About Trafficking

A Different Route of Education

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: