Let's act in the sand

Let's Act in Sand: A look back at the 2023-2024 year for young people
Ambassadors of Talitha Kum from Canada

During their first year of existence, the Talitha Kum Youth Ambassadors (YA) of
Quebecers mobilized around the issue of human trafficking, focusing on migrant agricultural workers. Under the leadership of Isabelle Couillard, they participated in and conducted training, awareness-raising, and advocacy activities. They gradually became committed and engaged protagonists in the fight to promote the rights and freedoms of a population with precarious status who make an essential contribution to Quebec society.

The ambassadors participated in workshops and training sessions, including a symposium on decent work in agriculture, the CATHII-University project at the UN, and the World Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking. They, in turn, organized activities to raise awareness in their communities about the working and living conditions of migrant farm workers. Ten people met with Michel Pilon, former director and now legal advisor of the Quebec Network for Assistance to Migrant Farm Workers (RATTMAQ). On April 27, nearly 40 people attended a screening of the film Richelieu and had the opportunity to speak with its director, Pier-Philippe Chevigny. The group also prepared a presentation on the origins of food and on welcoming farm workers from elsewhere for the parish unit "Come and See." In addition to raising public awareness, he highlighted the importance of this issue to members of parliament at the municipal, provincial and federal levels through meetings and signature campaigns, one in support of a provincial plan to combat human trafficking and another for the abolition of closed work permits.

Their flagship project is undoubtedly Agissons enSable (Let's Act with Sand), inspired by the Red Sand Project. The young ambassadors chose this awareness-raising method to encourage people to show solidarity with victims of human trafficking in public spaces. The symbolic act of pouring small scarlet grains into the cracks of the sidewalks serves to highlight the existence of a vulnerable population at risk of falling through the cracks of the social safety net. It is also a collective effort that advocates for the recognition of this group and the responsibility to ensure they receive adequate services in their country of destination.

The first event of this kind was held at the Saint-Bonaventure parish in Montreal.
One event took place on May 5th, and another near the Saint-Michel metro station on June 16th. More than 260 people were reached at the two events.
The year of the Young Ambassadors is drawing to a close, but the group continues to evolve under
The group is driven by its members and the connections it has forged with local and international solidarity organizations. Furthermore, the group is exploring the possibility of participating in summer activities to connect with Quebec organizations on the ground and to carry out mobilization efforts.

Text and photo: Catherine-Laure Juste

Article taken from CATHII-info, June 2024