Thus, on March 9, Caritas Dalat once again set out to continue its awareness campaign against human trafficking. Carrying urgent and timely information, we traveled to Da Nhinh 2 Hamlet, Da Tong Commune, Dam Rong District, a rural area marked by hardship but filled with human warmth and solidarity.
What moved us deeply was that, although most of the local people had little prior knowledge of human trafficking, many never imagined it could affect their own lives, they still made the effort to attend the session. They came with a desire to learn and protect themselves and their loved ones. More than 100 people gathered, from the elderly and mothers to young children, filling the space inside and outside the chapel. The women joyfully welcomed us with a lively opening activity and a traditional dance rich in local cultural identity.
Whenever we conduct awareness sessions on human trafficking, we can’t help but feel a sense of sorrow, because what we bring is not faith or hopeful messages, but painful truths, dark corners of society filled with traps and deception. There are moments of silence during the session, when painful images appear on the screen, and heartbreaking stories begin to show in the eyes of the listeners. Innocent children look on with wide-eyed wonder, while the adults are shocked, unable to believe that human beings could treat one another so cruelly, pushing others into misery just for their gain.
And even after hearing these stories, not everyone can fully understand how large and complicated this issue is. Human trafficking is a sophisticated and cross-border network in which "innocent victims" can be turned into accomplices, recruiters, deceivers, or enablers. In the process, they are forced to discard compassion, community ties, and even family bonds, all to meet a cruel “monthly target.”
With only a limited amount of time, we did our best to share the necessary knowledge through a combination of current news updates, simulated documentary clips, review games, and group activities for reflection and practical takeaways. We hoped that the community would become more alert and, when danger arises, they would be able to recognize and avoid falling into its traps.
The session may have ended, but the concern still lingers. The tactics of traffickers grow increasingly deceptive, when even a sorrowful face may hide the true face of a predator, how can we still trust in the goodness of others? When suspicion creeps into every interaction, is there still room for love? Or will we become indifferent to all that happens around us?
And yet, amidst these shadows, we still count ourselves blessed, because we can still protect ourselves and support one another. And on this journey, we believe God is watching over and guiding every step we take. We pray that compassion will rise powerfully, awakening conscience and prompting true conversion, so that the cries of victims will no longer echo in injustice, and that we may all live more peacefully at the heart of this world.
