Teen Talk
Love Moves
By Jessica Small
Being a teen in today’s world is complicated. There is so much going on, all over the planet. Social media has made it easy for people to connect, and be a part of change on totally separate continents. At any given second, it seems as if a thousand people are trying to redefine society.
But when we focus on such global issues, we tend to lose sight of the pressing issues right here in Florida.
Many of the kids at my school, Wellington High, have started charity clubs. Even more people have dedicated their precious time and energy to volunteering in these groups. In a system that basically trains kids to focus on having the best HPA and highest SAT scores and the most money, that’s a pretty wonderful thing.
So this month, rather than talk about my own opinions, I’d like to focus on a very special individual.
I recently met with Valentina Ferreira, a junior in my high school, to talk about a club she started, called Love Moves. This club is aimed at basically loving anyone and everyone who needs it, regardless of who you are. And to Valentina, the victims of human trafficking needed to be shown some love.
“I have a big God and in my heart He has put big dreams. Everybody said I was thinking “too big”. That’s also how Love Moves kind of started,” Valentina said. “If I can’t join them, because my ideas are “too big”, let’s create a club where ideas can be as big as they want.”
Human trafficking is a $22 billion industry, with over 30 million victims a year. Of those, a shocking 17,500 are brought into the United States each year, Florida having the third highest instances in the nation. Sadly, 99% of the victims don’t get rescued.
“It’s not just sexual, involving girls. In Palm Beach Gardens, [human traffickers] rent out homes in nice neighborhoods. They bring in workers [like maids and cooks], and keep them there underpaid, overworked and abused. Then they transfer them from house to house against their will. Since there are a lot of [service jobs] in that area, being an area of wealth, people think it’s normal. Human trafficking is really all around us, we just don’t know it. So, hey, let’s look at what’s going on right here,” Valentina says.
To support this cause, Valentina and her club have decided to take action. On April 21, from 8 am to 1 pm in the Wellington High School bus loop, Love Moves will be holding a yard sale. Anyone can buy a spot in the yard sale to sell their own things. Spots are only $25, and you can keep the profit of what you sell, or donate it to Love Moves. Valentina has also made it easy for anyone to donate their things to be sold by volunteers on the day of the event. All of the proceeds go to the Freedom Safe House (a home for rescued victims) project – building it, furnishing it, having materials, and getting specialists to work with the victims once they come in.
“It’s not like were just looking for money. We’re saying ‘Please listen, and share! Spread the word.’ If more people know, it’s not that easy to get away with,” says Valentina.
So, my message to you is this: take a look at the world around you. Chances are there are problems occurring really close to home, that you overlook everyday. We can all dedicate a few hours a month, or a few dollars to making a difference. And we should. If not for ourselves, do it for the upcoming generations who are trying so desperately to stabilize a future in this ever-changing society.
For more information about human trafficking and Valentina’s fundraiser, you can email her at valentinaf94@gmail.com or contact her through Facebook by visiting http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Moves-yard-sale/283209118412497.
Jessica Small is a junior at Wellington High School. She is the Sports Editor of the school’s online publication, whswave.com. She is enrolled in rigorous courses at WHS and aspires to study journalism and business in college. She is involved in her high school dance team and is president of ThinkPinkKids.