Youth Voices: What Safety Feels Like Through Their Eyes
At PACT, we see youth as essential partners in our mission to end child exploitation and trafficking. That’s why we actively engage and collaborate with young people to shape the development of our educational content, public service announcements, and awareness campaigns. Their insights ensure our work is not only relevant, but resonates and is more impactful for their peers.
Since 2021, we’ve hosted a summer youth internship program that brings together passionate high school and college-bound students. In recent years, youth interns have traveled to the United Nations for events related to World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, got a behind-the-scenes look at local art exhibits across the city, and toured the United States Department of Homeland Security. Through hands-on learning, critical conversations, and creative expression, the youth interns gain the tools to become informed advocates and have a meaningful role in advancing anti-trafficking efforts within their schools, communities, and beyond.
To wrap up this year’s summer youth internship, the interns’ final project was both creative and profound: to create a piece of art that answers the question, “What does safety feel like to you?”
One intern’s art project focused on labor trafficking, describing safety as "good conditions,” a reminder that trafficking often preys on vulnerability, and that safety begins when basic human rights are met.
Another intern spoke of "the cycle of pain and sanctuary," emphasizing that while exploitation can perpetuate cycles of harm, healing and safe spaces can break those cycles and offer a place of sanctuary to survivors.
Two other interns shared that safety is family and community because they are people that they can be themselves around and feel comfortable with.
Ane intern created a project entitled, “Sounds of Safety,” where she shared about turning to music as an outlet to decompress from the stress of everyday life. Adding onto the theme of family and community, she added that “home” is her safe space to relax and be herself.
Another intern said that safety means, “boundaries, trust, having a support system, and family.” She noted that this was reaffirmed to her when she engaged in PACT’s workshops. “Not having these things makes one vulnerable to exploitation…You can always assert your boundaries!”
Throughout the internship, the summer youth interns engaged in conversations about trafficking prevention. While trafficking can impact anyone, PACT’s work reinforces that knowledge is power, and that using their voices to set boundaries and raise awareness is a vital part of prevention.
Today’s youth understand the pressures, digital space, and cultural dynamics of their generation better than anyone else. By listening to them, we gain valuable insight and are able to build stronger and more effective solutions to protect children.
“Our strategy relies on constant innovation to make sure that we’re able to reach youth in a meaningful and engaging way. We do that by our own research, but also by engaging with our Youth Council and our summer interns. We work with them directly on updating our curricula. We talk about social media trends. We talk about the way that youth are engaging with online spaces...They advise us through this process, so our curriculum always has youth voices baked into it.”
Resources for youth:
Complete the Social Identity Quest to learn more about online safety
Sign up for future updates about joining PACT’s Youth Council
Read other youth perspectives like Lessons Learned from Survivors, A Guide to Staying Grounded Online, and Protecting Children in a Digital World
