At the moment I am very busy helping the people affected by natural disasters in the east of Nusa Tenggaraa. At the same time, I am trying to carry out the mission entrusted to me by the congregation, that is to say, to work to prevent trafficking in human beings. Since the floods and cyclones on Timor, we have been working with volunteer Catholic youth of the Archdiocese of Kupang. On 30 April, the young people had an activity on emigration.
In the "Parish St. Teresia of the Child Jesus" of Panite – Kupang, there is the Mission against human trafficking; this includes 50 participants from an area of the diocese, which will soon form a parish, and from the so-called "basic community groups". They work in accordance with the United Nations Human Rights Program. Their aim is to provide education to Catholic youth, who are studying and work at the same time. Before they leave their hometown and migrate to other cities, they should be provided with correct and important information.
The first part of the education was about the Bible and had to do with social problems. P. Valens Aquino, CMF was responsible for this. I raised the issue of 'human rights'.
This training is intended to help Catholic youth not to believe in fictitious agents too quickly and not to become victims of human trafficking. Fraud also happens through social media, which offer work and scholarships from unclear or insecure sources. Our hope is that such educational programs will often be offered to prepare the young people for the challenges they face abroad and to help them to achieve their goals.
(Report by Sr. Laurentina)