Representatives from the Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT) and members from the South West Connecticut Area traveled on Saturday, June 7th to St. James RC Church in Basking Ridge to deliver an informative presentation: “Help End Human Trafficking: Awareness and Empowerment”. 

Louise Biunno DM in the NJ Area took the initiative to elevate local awareness of this key American Association Hospitaller topic. We were happy that the collaboration on this topic quickly led to scheduling this presentation and are looking forward to more joint involvements. 

After an interactive exercise was led by Cece Donoghue, DM to orient attendees to the plight of the those who are trafficked and how so many end up in either a morgue or back on the streets, an engaging presentation was delivered by Ms. Jamie Manirakiza, LMSW, Executive Director of PEHT. Active discussion and Q&A left everyone better informed and more aware of how protective services in our society so often fall short for the insecure and marginalized who are preyed upon by traffickers in the sex and labor trades. PEHT’s mission is to make a difference by educating, embracing, and empowering the victims of human trafficking.  

Members of the SW Connecticut Area (Cece Donoghue DM, Paul Cronin, KM and Niamh Cronin, YOF) set up two tables of survivor-made merchandise from the PEHT Social Enterprise where they employ their survivors, The PEHT Shop, so NJ members and guests could shop. At the conclusion of the program the NJ Area presented a donation to PEHT to help them with the amazing works they provide. To learn more about PEHT or shop their survivor-made products online please visit http://www.PEHT.org.