Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Two sophomores organize human trafficking awareness events
As part of Country Day School of the Sacred Heart’s summer reading, Upper School students read Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern Slave, by Shyima Hall. The nonfiction book recounts the author’s experiences as a trafficked child from Egypt to the United States. The required summer reading inspired Sacred Heart students to speak out more for those who have no voice, whether it’s making others aware of issues such as human trafficking or standing up for a friend who is being bullied.
In an effort to continue the conversation, the Upper School had an assembly on human trafficking with two guest speakers last fall. Pearl Kim, the Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit and currently an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the District Attorney, Delaware County, in the Special Victims and Domestic Violence Division and Special Agent, Edward Conway, who has worked for the Philadelphia Division of FBI for the past 13 years, both shared their personal experiences in helping to bring justice to victims. The assembly helped the Sacred Heart students feel the impact of this important world issue from both local and global perspectives.
Under the direction of Community Service Coordinator, Kelly Weber, sophomore students Cathy Nguyen ‘19 and Sarah Conway ‘19 took the initiative to plan events in January as part of the National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. There was a brief non-denominational prayer service in Sacred Heart’s Chapel at each lunch. Students also lead an optional letter writing campaign to elected officials in hopes of increasing the training given to officials and medical professionals to identify victims of trafficking.
Also, in January, the Upper School held its first student book club. The group met in the fall and chose Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. The memoir focuses on Stevenson’s founding of the Equal Justice Initiative and his work with inmates who are serving time on death row or living out lifetime sentences. He chronicles not only his own experiences but also those of the prisoners he represents as he seeks justice for marginalized populations that are not always adequately served by the justice system. The book discussion was moderated by Kelly Weber and Kerri Schuster. Students were able to make connections to what they had learned in their History, Religion and English classes and to be educated to a critical consciousness while being active, informed, and responsible citizens. The book club participants enthusiastically suggested making another reading selection and will meet again in the spring.