Q: I saw that the Greater Atlanta Christian School participated in the END IT Movement. Can you tell me about it?
A: Learning about the movement during a Christian conference over New Year's weekend, GAC President Dr. Scott Harsh decided that the message needed to be brought to the student body.
While this was GAC’s first year to participate in the END IT Movement’s Shine a Light on Slavery Day, it was not their first time hosting speakers to raise awareness of human trafficking, according to an email from Director of Community Relations Margie Asef.
“END IT Movement is a collective of everyday people united by the hope that we could put an end to slavery and human trafficking in our lifetime,” according to enditmovement.com.
Guest speaker and GAC parent Dani Luckey spoke before the 661 high school students about the meaning behind the movement, why awareness was important and encouraged them to action.
“I have a voice, you have a voice, we all have a voice. Right now it feels like a yawn, but I want it to be a roar for something I stand for,” said Luckey.
She asked the students to step out and be the change they’d like to see in the world.
“Proverbs says 31:8 says, ‘Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,’ ” she said. “There are 27 million people trapped in slavery today against their will. More than any other time in history.”
As part of the movement, students placed a red X on their hands. Joining millions across the globe as freedom fighters, they used social media as their platform to increase awareness of the gravity and generate conversations.
“I am thankful that my school doesn’t shy away from educating us about human trafficking which helps us to be more aware so that we can help in the fight against it, as well as come together and pray for those who may be caught up in this world,” said 12th grader Tinsley Martin. “Those who spoke during chapel opened our eyes to the ways that traffickers trap their victims and how to identify them and what we can do to help these young victims.”
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