Thanks for following along with us and sharing all your posts on social media! It’s never too late to take the pledge to end modern-day slavery, so keep up the good work. You can also learn more about the CNN Freedom Project on our website.
We’ll see you for #MyFreedomDay in 2023!
CNN’s Larry Madowo visited the International School of Kenya in Nairobi for a first-hand look at all the ways students there marked #MyFreedomDay, including a special collection in the library.
One of the schoolchildren said their definition of freedom meant “being able to do what you want, at any time, without somebody else telling you what to do.”
The students at São Paulo’s Red House International School took part in #MyFreedomDay by working on projects related to modern slavery and utilizing digital media to present their findings.
Year 6 students also visited the Afro Brasil Museum to learn about the history of slavery in Brazil before sharing their research and discoveries.
CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon chats with young students in Pereira, Colombia, about their pledges for #MyFreedomDay.
Atlanta International School’s students spent the whole day engaging in important work to educate and build advocacy for #MyFreedomDay. There were musical performances, forums, presentations, and a scavenger hunt (with a pizza party reward for the winners!).
The state of Karnataka, located in southwest India, is known for its silk. Mulberry trees grow in abundance, feeding silkworms and a centuries-old textile industry. But while silkworms prosper here, many people in the industry do not.
Read the report and watch the original documentary from 2021
CNN’s Lynda Kinkade spent the day with students at North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia, US, as they shared poems, sang original songs, and used photography, graphic design and watercolors to depict images of what freedom means to them.
Theresa Wong Swie San, a TV host and producer from Suriname in South America, took to social media and pledged to fight for freedom. “I am thankful for those who keep fighting for the ones who can’t fight for themselves,” she writes.
Her young daughter, Jiya, also makes an appearance!
To celebrate #MyFreedomDay, the Oeiras International School in Lisbon, Portugal hosted a bake sale to raise money for various charities fighting modern-day slavery.
“The reality is that freedom is not something enjoyed by everybody around the world,” says Ahmi’ Moore with the Abolition Ohio anti-human trafficking group in the US.
What does freedom mean to you? Let us know using the hashtag #MyFreedomDay.
For the past week, students at Ambatovy International School in Madagascar took part in class discussions, research, and art activities to explore what freedom means. The week-long initiative concluded today with an assembly, where students shared songs, poems, and stories to raise awareness for #MyFreedomDay.
Instructors at the school also took part in sharing what freedom means to them, including “the ability to make my own choices” and “limitless opportunities and possibilities.”
During a Major League Soccer match in Atlanta, Georgia, US, over the weekend, Atlanta International School student Maanya Madan was named honorary team captain – helping raise awareness of modern-day slavery in front of all the fans.
And today at AIS, students got together to share fair trade practices and activities for #MyFreedomDay.
The Dubai British Foundation School proves it’s never too soon to begin education about modern slavery, teaching four- and five-year-olds about freedom.
Watch the video here
The Red Cross Youth Unit at the International School of Riga in Latvia created an educational video on the history of slavery, urging their community to take action for freedom. The students also shared pledges on what they can personally do to fight human trafficking.
And don’t forget – you can take the #MyFreedomDay pledge here.
Field trip day for the students at Saint Catherine Academy in Belize looked a little different this year. For #MyFreedomDay, they visited a few locations within Belize City to raise awareness of human trafficking, complete with signs and messages for the community.
In the US, Curie Metropolitan High School on Chicago’s South Side is putting on a theatrical show to raise awareness of human trafficking.
The school plans to hold a series of assemblies throughout the day too, complete with #MyFreedomDay buttons and banners. It expects to reach more than 5,000 people with several nearby schools in attendance.
Watch the video here
In Paris, students at the multilingual ISIT school (Institute of Intercultural Management and Communication) joined in by watching a CNN Freedom Project documentary before discussing the effects of modern-day slavery.
Guatemalan students from the Colegio Decroly Americano school put on their creative hats to brainstorm and design a mural that embodies the power of freedom in this video.
Several students also collected their favorite quotes about freedom.
Grade 9 students also pledged to learn more about modern-day slavery – check out the full video here.
Hampshire Police say it’s important to show there’s hope for victims of human trafficking.
Watch the video here
Students at South Gate High School in California, US, share what freedom means to them.
The SGHS RAMS club, which stands for South Gate High School Rams Against Modern-day Slavery, is a student-led organization that works with local groups to fight against human trafficking. Their slogan is “Freedom is not a privilege; it is a right.”
Watch their video here
With pieces of paper and some markers, students at Complejo Educativo Bilingüe Mas Camarena in Valencia, Spain drew what freedom means to them.
Crafting their artwork with “care” and “principle,” they hope to highlight the effects of modern-day slavery through their creativity.
A survivor of child trafficking herself, Kendall Alaimo is using art to give a voice to other survivors, rallying schools around the world with her Red Chair Project. Learn more about her project in this video.
Students at the TED Izmir College in Turkey participated in roundtable discussions across campus for #MyFreedomDay, as they turned towards social media to raise awareness.
Students from American Community School of Abu Dhabi share what it feels to be free.
In Tennessee, US, a group of 12th graders at the University School of Nashville are starting the conversation around human trafficking. Along with educating their peers, they have organized a supply drive to support local non-profits, such as Thistle Farms, that help survivors of trafficking.
Watch the whole video here
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the fight against modern-day slavery. Check out this Twitter thread for some ideas, take the pledge, and don’t forget to share on social media using the hashtag #MyFreedomDay to participate in the global movement!
In Baghdad, UNICEF has organized a day of awareness for students at Al Iraq Al Jadeed School, including pledges and artworks.
Read more: They escaped ISIS. Then they got sucked into Baghdad’s sex trafficking underworld
At the International School of Belgrade in Serbia, students got creative for #MyFreedomDay in an effort to raise awareness of modern slavery.
Grade 4 thought about what freedom looks, sounds, smells, feels and tastes like. Some said it smells like nature or chocolate chip cookies, while others said it tasted like cupcakes and sounds like people cheering.
Grade 9 wrote personal messages of what freedom means to them, ranging from “the ability to make your own path” to “freedom to be yourself and SMILE.”
Students at the University of Dayton in Ohio, US, have been teaching high school students about human trafficking.
In The Gambia, youth empowerment center Jokkolabs Banjul has brought together young people in the capital Banjul to say “no more” slavery.
“Every day, stories of modern-day slavery surround us,” says the narrator in a video published by the center. “We’re standing up for the children working in the mines of (the Democratic Republic of) Congo; for the children in Ghana’s Lake Volta … and for every person dreaming of a better life in rural Gambia.”
Read more: Child slaves risk their lives on Ghana’s Lake Volta
Speaking in both English and Spanish, students from the Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona sent out a global message for #MyFreedomDay, listing the rights of children that must be protected.
“Every child has the right to an education.”
“Every child has the right to a safe place to play.”
“Every child has the right to love.”
“Every child has the right to be loved.”
The list went on, piecing together a puzzle in the shape of a human – signifying what it really means to be free.
The Finnish School of Kosovo has gone all-in for My Freedom Day 2022. Students have taken part in a host of activities, including a bake sale and arts and crafts, including breaking the chains of a sculpture made by pupils.
Watch the whole video here
Over the past 7 years, Hong Kong International School students have led initiatives to raise awareness about the issue of modern slavery. Pandemic restrictions in the region meant students gathered online to share their thoughts on freedom and their #MyFreedomDay pledges remotely.
The school is also using its Instagram to engage students remotely. Using the “Stories” function, the school created an interactive Q&A for students to openly ask questions they have about human trafficking. Through its Instagram stories, the school is also sharing information, resources for students to get more involved, and stories from survivors.
At Dansol High School, in Lagos, Nigeria, students have been creating cards and posters to express what freedom means to them.
Watch this video produced by Dansol for more pledges from students.
In a video opening with a collage of photos spelling the word “STOP,” students from Cebu International School in the Philippines, shared their messages for #MyFreedomDay.
Human trafficking “removes basic human rights of people and does not give them the freedom that they need and deserve,” said one student.
“It is imperative that we become catalysts for change in education regarding the effects and consequences of human trafficking,” added another.
They suggested ways to fight human trafficking, from raising awareness on social media, to volunteering at anti-trafficking organizations and calling an emergency hotline if you suspect that someone around you may be a victim of human trafficking.
“We can also educate ourselves and those around us, because everyone deserves freedom and basic human rights,” said one of the students.
In Serbia, students at the International School of Belgrade have joined a worldwide cohort raising awareness of modern-day slavery. They’re creating a giant mural featuring pledges and messages. “Believe whatever you want. Love whatever you do,” says one Grade 3 pupil.
Most of the world’s cobalt – used in phone and laptop batteries – comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where children as young as seven years old are working in mines. Learn more about how you can help end modern-day slavery in our supply chains.
Ahead of #MyFreedomDay, students at Chisipite Senior School in Harare, Zimbabwe, shared their spoken word pieces, which will form part of an interactive performance to raise awareness about child labor in the fast fashion industry.
From kindergarten to secondary school, students in Thailand are exploring the meaning of freedom. Organized by international anti-slavery non-profit A21, students made signs and posters to share on social media.
Grade 6-12 students at the Western International School of Shanghai, China, spent some of their classes today exploring the connections between their own lives and modern slavery, and reflecting on what freedom means to them.
By combining education with entertainment, German author Anke Burfeind is helping children understand modern slavery. “Sometimes you first need to get the attention of the kids, and then you can introduce the subject,” she says.
At the Overseas School of Colombo, students are examining how their spending habits impact modern slavery. Taking a short questionnaire, students looked at items like chocolate and personal electronics to see where their consumer choices might be unintentionally contributing to the problem.
In the approach to #MyFreedomDay, students at Finnish Schools International in Kosovo explored different ways of helping tackle modern slavery, and other issues, such as domestic violence.
For one of its activities, students from preschool to 12th grade decorated stones and pebbles, inscribing them with unique decorations and pledges such as, “I pledge to fight for freedom,” and “I pledge to lift others up.” Arranging the stones to spell out #MyFreedomDay in the school’s garden, the interactive art installation will remain on display to students and visitors for the rest of the semester.
CNN’s Vedika Sud visited École Mondiale World School in Mumbai, India, where students have been learning about forced labor, human trafficking, and child marriage through drama and performance.
“It was really surprising for me that, not only does it exist, [but] that I was probably exposed to it and I didn’t even realize,” says Yash Mandloi, one student involved with the project.
The group wrote, directed, and recorded a short performance that was shared on the school’s social media channels.
The project has got students thinking about what they can do to help end modern slavery. After collaborating with a local NGO, they’re now hoping to take their project to rehabilitation centers.
You can watch the students raising awareness, here.
International anti-trafficking group A21 is encouraging people to pledge to help end modern-day slavery. You can pledge here.
In the approach to #MyFreedomDay, CNN anchor and correspondent Kristie Lu Stout experienced a virtual sweatshop session with 40 students and their parents from Hong Kong and Bangkok.
Today, March 16, students are joining the fight against modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
Pupils at school and at home are raising awareness of the 40 million people – including 10 million children -- living in modern slavery today.
You can pledge to make a difference, here.
