Stop Trafficking
Before It Begins
SUMMARY
The Stop Trafficking Before It Begins project partners with the Church of God in Siliguri, West Bengal, India—a region bordering Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal—where poverty, unemployment, migration, and the collapse of tea plantations have fueled a severe human trafficking crisis. This project will train and equip lay leaders and youth representatives from eight rural districts in West Bengal, India to conduct awareness programs for parents, screen educational films, visit schools, and form vigilance groups in high-risk areas—empowering communities to recognize and prevent trafficking before it starts.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
West Bengal, India’s fourth most populous state, consistently ranks among the highest in human trafficking cases. Its vulnerability stems from:
- Proximity to three international borders—Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal
- Widespread poverty and unemployment, leading to migration
- Closure of tea plantations in the north, leaving rural communities—often illiterate and living below the poverty line—at extreme risk
These factors create fertile ground for traffickers to exploit vulnerable families and fragile communities.
Vision
Vision
To empower local believers as catalysts for change—raising awareness, fostering vigilance, and transforming communities. Our ultimate goal is freedom: that every person lives free from the risk and bondage of human trafficking and free to experiences full and abundant life as God intends.
STRATEGY
The project will train four lay leaders and youth representatives in eight districts to reach areas with a high risk of trafficking. Their strategy includes:
- Hosting community events and programs to educate parents
- Screening anti-trafficking films
- Engaging with schools to inform students about trafficking dangers
Through these efforts, vigilance groups will be established within key communities, creating a grassroots network of protection across eight rural districts of West Bengal.
Will you join Global Strategy in stopping trafficking before it begins?
For more information, contact Global Strategy Projects at 800.848.2464 or GSProjects@chog.org.
