young people safeguarding strategies against Loverboys: a guide
In an ongoing effort to combat human trafficking, Sonja Limbach and Sarah Shakil from BONO Direct Aid Association have been conducting workshops in schools, educating students about the Loverboy tactic. This manipulative strategy, often hidden yet affecting many, involves traffickers posing as romantic partners to exploit young people, eventually forcing them into prostitution or other forms of labour.
The workshops, organized by Terre des Hommes, Bergisch Gladbach working group, in collaboration with the Catholic Family Education Centre, cover a range of topics, including:
1. Explaining the Loverboy tactic in age-appropriate language. 2. Recognizing early warning signs of manipulation and grooming. 3. Distinguishing healthy from unhealthy relationships.
Through interactive role-plays, discussions, and Q&A sessions, the sessions aim to make the learning process engaging and memorable.
Empowerment comes from awareness, and the program equips students with the tools to identify suspicious behaviours like excessive gifts, isolation from friends/family, and sudden secrecy. They learn to understand that manipulation can occur through emotional tactics, not just physical threats, and to build self-esteem and assertiveness to resist coercion.
In addition to educating students, Sonja and Sarah also train teachers and school staff to detect signs of trafficking and grooming in students, providing proper support, and fostering a safe and open school environment.
As part of BONO Direct Aid, the initiative links schools with social workers, psychologists, and legal aid, offering confidential help to students at risk. The aim is to educate families to recognise and prevent exploitation and to raise community awareness, building a protective net around vulnerable youth.
The impact of these workshops is significant, as they aim to reach young people before traffickers can exploit their vulnerabilities, equipping them with critical knowledge and skills to protect themselves and peers. The hope is that as many schools as possible will offer this workshop, helping to combat human trafficking and protect the next generation.
- Sonja Limbach and Sarah Shakil from BONO Direct Aid Association, with the collaboration of Terre des Hommes, Bergisch Gladbach working group and the Catholic Family Education Centre, conduct workshops enlightening students about their lifestyle and relationships, emphasizing on spotting the early signs of manipulation in education-and-self-development sessions.
- To build a resilient and safeguarded community, these workshops also extend training to teachers and school staff on identifying signs of human trafficking, fostering healthy relationships, and encouraging self-development among students for a stronger protection against potential exploitation.
