From staff reports
January is “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” and at its January 3 meeting, members of the Rotary Club of Beaufort learned more about this insidious crime.
Human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, occurs throughout the world, and is a major focus of Rotary International. In support of learning more about this crime and how to spot it, the Rotary Club of Beaufort invited Beaufort resident Rachel McBride, who, with her husband Mark founded “The Helianthus Project,” to educate its members about human trafficking at the global and local level.
The Helianthus Project is a local Latina- and veteran-founded nonprofit with the mission of assisting minor/youth victims of human trafficking. McBride explained the project’s emphasis in three major areas: education, advocacy, and healing.
She dispelled many of the myths about human trafficking and provided statistics on how pervasive the crime is, even in the local Beaufort area.
As an expression of its support to McBride’s efforts, Beaufort Rotary President Barry Wilson presented The Helianthus Project with a check for $1,000 as a grant for its programs.
