This is Project Maple Leaf, a movement to eradicate human trafficking in Canada.

Imagine this. You've got a nice family. You’ve got a nice house in the suburbs. You share meal times as a family. What could possibly go wrong?

Even comfortable, stable, “normal” families can be targeted by human traffickers.

Lynda Harlos knows this all too well. Her daughter Samantha was a regular, rebellious teenager who started a relationship with a man who, unbeknownst to her, was a pimp.

He lured her. He groomed her. He promised to fulfill her hopes and dreams.

When their relationship became sexual, he rewarded her with money. She grew dependent on him. And he grew more controlling.

Sex and money became inextricably linked. And the stakes got higher.

Eventually the relationship grew into exploitation. He pressured her into having sex with strangers, for money. She became a victim of human trafficking.

It came to a point where Samantha realized she couldn't go on. Fortunately, she had a good support system and she was able to get out and make a new life for her and her son.

Looking back, Samantha now sees and understands how human traffickers prey on the vulnerable.

They look for the one thing that only they can provide. In Sam's case as a single mom, they offered her independence. For others, saying "I am proud of you" is enough for an attention starved child to be lured in. 

Be it emotional or financial support, traffickers insinuate themselves to take control, create dependence, and set the stage for exploitation.

Samantha and Lynda's message now to parents is, watch for the red flags.

Little things, like, does your child have a hotel pen? Is she hanging out with a new set of friends? Is she absent from home longer than normal? 

And her message to young women victimized by human traffickers? Reach out.

There are resources. There ARE people who can help.

Courage for Freedom is one of those resources.

Project Maple Leaf is about raising awareness about human trafficking, and resources like Courage for Freedom.

Inspired by the vision of Kelly Tallon Franklin, herself a survivor, Courage for Freedom provides training education, resources and safe space where young women, by connecting with horses in a quiet, secure rural environment, can escape from their abusers, heal, and restart their lives on a new trajectory.

How can you help?

Join the Project Maple Leaf movement. 

Take the #eradicatechallenge on social media. Repost the sign, or post a picture of you holding the printed version & tag Courage for Freedom (or, you can make your own sign!). Or, you can make a video using the following script: "I [name] want to end the buying and selling of girls and boys, children in Canada. I challenge [friends names] to take the Eradicate Challenge"

- Tag 5 friends, family members or colleagues, challenging them to join the movement (and keep challenging others)

- Make sure to use the hashtags #EradicateChallenge and #ProjectMapleLeaf

- Don’t forget to turn on your location and show Canada cares, coast to coast to coast!

Add your voice, speak up, share the message in your networks so that Courage for Freedom can continue to help girls like Samantha.

PS: <<First Name>>, to hear more, watch Lynda and Samantha’s story here. To learn more about Lynda’s mission to help parents, visit www.parentwithpurpose.ca. And, we will be seeing a lot more of Lynda in the weeks to come, as we will launch a special blog in October. Stay tuned! 

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