A new organization aims to create beauty out of something broken using beach glass and ultimately spread awareness about human trafficking.
The Greater Glass Company, created by a local church, held its first event in November 2023 in coordination with the Sexual Assault Survivors Centre of Sarnia-Lambton.
Since then, Sarnia Evangelical Missionary Church Pastor Deve Persad said momentum in their mission to advocate and educate has increased through community presentations.
Part of the organization's plan to boost awareness is the sale of jewelry and art made out of beach glass, largely collected from the shores of Lake Huron. Persad said it represents how something that may seem broken at first can have beauty, value, and worth.
"Our desire is to get out locally more than just to sell jewelry," he said. "The jewelry helps but we want to get the message out so we are trying to think of different ways to amplify this message and so this gives us the opportunity to talk to people."
The Greater Glass Co. became a vendor on Etsy earlier this month. Persad said they also expect to be at local craft markets this summer. Many of the items for sale were created by local students who are part of a church group.
Persad said as part of their mission to spread awareness about human trafficking, and to make sure young people have a safe space to talk and are left feeling valued.
"One of the things that we simply talk about is those emotions that reflect vulnerability. Are they sad? Are they discouraged? Are they hurt? Are they angry? Then, how do they process that? How do they deal with that? What is the opposite of that and then how do they make their move towards those things? If we can provide safe places for students to be able to share that without expectation but with encouragement, then that will be of help."
While there are no immediate plans to speak in schools (as they would have to be invited), Persad is scheduled to speak to two other local groups this week.
He said since the pandemic, human trafficking cases have increased. Persad said according to Victim Services, 18 survivors were assisted in 2022 and 15 people were helped in 2023.
"One is too many. Just a few years ago, pre-pandemic, that number was [in the] single digits," he said. "Just as domestic violence has risen incredibly through the pandemic, so has this issue because we have been blinded to the happenings that are going on right around us."
Persad said over 90 per cent of girls trafficked in Canada are Canadian-born and many are trafficked along the 400 series highways in Ontario every two to three days.
"It's not someone else's problem, it's not somewhere else's problem, it's here," he said. "We have to do our part to protect those who are most vulnerable."
Statistically, those who are most at risk are Indigenous women and girls, migrants and new immigrants, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, children and youth in the child welfare system, and those who are socially or economically disadvantaged.
To address the issue, Persad said people can't be ignorant of the manipulative tactics used by perpetrators, and those who are fueling demand need to be made to feel uncomfortable.
Financially speaking, Persad said each victim is worth roughly $300,000 to a perpetrator.
"When [people] listen then it gives us a greater opportunity... one, to confront the demand side and also to point those who are most vulnerable to needed help and resources in our community," he said.
The Greater Glass Co. is waiting to hear back on its application to become a registered non-profit organization.
Persad said they have a five-year plan with long-term goals of improving trauma care for survivors and establishing a safe house in the community.
"Our idea would be to have at least four beds in there with one bed designated as a First Nations room," he said. "Survivors come with a number of needs, more than just getting clean off of drugs... the trauma that they've been under, there's emotional and psychological help that they need so this is a multi-layered thing. We are doing some background digging with organizations across the country to be able to make sure that when we're ready, we are actually ready."
Persad said other safe houses in southwestern Ontario are in Chatham and Aylmer.
Persad was the guest speaker at a Rotary Club of Sarnia meeting held at the Dante Club on Tuesday.
More information and indicators of human trafficking can be found on the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline.
Hotline response advocates are available 24/7 and can be reached at 1-833-900-1010. Locally, those in crisis can call the Sexual Assault Survivors Centre at 519-337-3320.