What we covered
- March 14 was #MyFreedomDay, and students around the world held events to raise awareness of modern slavery.
- Hundreds of schools took part - CNN reporters were at schools across the globe.
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#MyFreedomDay 2019: Students teach the world about modern slavery
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#MyFreedomDay 2019 - oh what a day!
An enormous thank you to everybody who took a stand against slavery for #MyFreedomDay 2019. It’s overwhelming how many people took part and gives hope that together we can make a change.
We’ll leave you with this powerful and uplifting song and dance from students at the Royal Orchard First School in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Awareness is the first step to action
A21, an anti-trafficking organisation, joined students at the Los Angeles School of Global Studies, to launch their Human Trafficking Awareness Program.
The program, which will be rolled out across the world in eight different languages, aims to educate individuals on human trafficking: teaching them to spot the signs of slavery and equipping them with tools to take action – such as the hotlines to call.
Katy, from A21, tells CNN that she hopes the program will “empower us to be a part of the solution to see human trafficking eradicated in this generation.”
High school student Oswald says that from today he’s learned how modern slavery isn’t just an issue happening overseas. “It’s happening right here in LA…at every corner of the planet,” he says.
“It’s so important to get educated about that, and inform our community about that,” he adds, calling for tangible action against trafficking.
Musical activism
Today we’ve not only learned about modern slavery, but also how powerful music can be to raise awareness of it.
Afro Roots musician Rocky Dawuni visited a school in Accra, Ghana, earlier today and with a chorus of children sang his new single – all about freedom of expression.
Earlier this month, the CNN Freedom Project revealed how 20,000 child slaves risk their lives on Ghana’s Lake Volta.
"Think about freedom"
“Our goal is just to make people think about freedom,” says a sixth former from the Atlanta International School (AIS), where they held a round table to discuss the lessons learned from #MyFreedomDay.
Another student says she was shocked to discover the many different forms of slavery, from sex trafficking to forced labor.
Students from AIS prepared presentations to educate their peers on different types of slavery. These two shared what they know about child marriage.
All in all, it was a very impressive effort from AIS for #MyFreedomDay. Here are some individual messages from students on what makes them feel free.
Products of slavery
Students at the American Institute of Monterrey, Mexico learned how slavery plays a role in everyday products, such as chocolate or coffee.
They also made a collage of post-its with messages on them of what makes them feel free. “Freedom is to think whatever you like, and say whatever you feel,” reads one.
From the CNN Freedom Project: How Project Runway is helping trafficking victims
Project Runway and Southwest Airlines are teaming up with non-profit Rethreaded to empower human trafficking survivors, and give their lives new purpose.
Modern slavery: learning how to spot it and stop it
Today CNN’s Isa Soares visited students at Yeading School, London.
Together they discussed modern day slavery: how to spot it, and most importantly how to stop it.
Have a listen in to CNN’s coverage from earlier today, when the school pupils sing and dance a special song for #MyFreedomDay.
The Force is with #MyFreedomDay
Snakes and slavery: two things Indiana Jones hates.
Legendary actor Harrison Ford dropped in to tell CNN what makes him feel free. There’s 40 million slaves in the world today, and there’s a long road ahead to turning that number to zero. But as Han Solo might say: “Never tell me the odds!”
Hands up for freedom
In a powerful message for #MyFreedomDay, children from the Atlanta International School raised their arms for 40 seconds to raise awareness of the 40 million people trapped in modern slavery today.
CNN’s Cyril Vanier, reporting from the ground, says it was amazing how the children – some as young as five – understood the message and felt grateful for their own freedom today.
Freedom to learn
For the diligent students of Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School in Illinois, US, the right to an education comes top of the list of what makes them feel free.
“I’m super grateful to have the freedom of an education, so that I could get a job, go to college and become successful,” says Dylan.
#MyFreedomDay from the Pyrenees
Speaking today from the slopes in Andorra, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin tells us what makes her feel free.
“Everybody is entitled to their own opinion,” she says.
Delivering a knockout punch to modern slavery
In the Philippines, schools and universities are teaming up with non-profit Voice of the Free to raise awareness of human trafficking.
Not to be outdone, Filipino rugby team the Lady Mavericks are also getting in on the act.
Highlights of #MyFreedomDay 2019 so far
My Freedom Day is far from over, but we couldn’t wait to share with you all the stories we’ve seen and heard so far. Run VT!
A MyFreedomDay #TBT
A #MyFreedomDay Throwback Thursday to when Atlanta International School spelled out our hashtag in the biggest way possible in 2018. Thanks for the memories, Martin Luther King III!
Communicating freedom
Getting the word out is vital if we’re to abolish modern day slavery. That’s why we need people like the students at the American Institute of Monterrey Valle Oriente, Mexico, who’ve been creating communication strategies to help spread the message of #MyFreedomDay.
Sharing stories on March 14
CNN’s Isa Soares took part in a “power shuffle” with pupils at Yeading School, London, sharing case studies of human trafficking survivors.
A Chinese man transported in a shipping container and too scared to seek medical help. A 13-year-old girl forced to marry a man twice her age and work 70 hours a week.
“Now I’m thinking about people in different countries who have to work all day long without earning money or anything,” reflected one student.
Last week, pupils from Yeading School joined thousands of children at We Day UK, an event organized by WE charity, to empower students to create social change.
Cheer for change
The Cheerleading team at Sacred Heart University, Connecticut, spelled out what makes them feel free. For them, it’s all about being part of a team.
Sharing stories of forced labor in Uganda
Students in Lweza, Uganda have had a full program of events today. Dance and theatrical performances sat alongside stories from survivors of forced labor abroad.
Tear down this wall!
CNN’s Oren Liebermann comes live from the Poznan School of Music in Poland, where students have channelled their inner Pharrell Williams.
Children also constructed a wall symbolising the obstacles to freedom around that world, before knocking it down. It’s just another way of communicating the task of abolishing modern day slavery.
As one student says: “Talk is the most common and most effective thing to make others feel free, feel happy.”
"Heavy stuff"
Forty million: that’s the estimated number of enslaved people around the world as we write this live blog today. At Atlanta International School, CNN’s Cyril Vanier observes a moment of silence with the students.
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