Julie Wade
Columnist
Hollywood depictions of human trafficking too often reduce survivors’ experiences to a one-dimensional narrative wherein grateful victims (who have been horrifically kidnapped) are heroically rescued and happily returned to their families to resume their lives as normal.
I wish that were the case.
As the executive director of Tharros Place, a nonprofit providing residential services for girls ages 12 to 17 who are survivors of human trafficking, I am grateful for the awareness-raising. However, these depictions fail to acknowledge the long road to recovery, a complex process of addressing trauma, finding safe housing, accessing legal aid, making safe and trusting relationships, and rebuilding a life. This begs the question: what does success look like? At Tharros Place, we not only consider a survivor’s immediate needs – stable housing, food, and clothing – but also their less tangible needs. Safety and security. Restored dignity. Emotional and psychological stability. Education and financial support. We are open 24/7 and staffed by trained and licensed professionals who provide trauma-informed, customized client-centered care. This is the foundation and the start of a full recovery.
But survivors need more than teachers and experts; they need each other, too. Having peer support and the camaraderie of community allows them to share their experiences and learn from each other. After some of the horrific experiences our girls have endured, we’re adamant they have the opportunity to just be “regular” teens: going on field trips and to the movies, enjoying each other’s company at celebratory events like a spring formal, or getting the opportunity to interact with members of our Teen Board, a group of dedicated teens from various high schools in the Savannah/Chatham County area who assist in the mission of cultivating a culture of courage for our residents. Building community in this way strengthens their resilience.
In addition to counseling resources, trafficking survivors also need legal advocacy to understand their rights and educational and vocational support for long-term independence. And as they transition to independent living, interview prep and job placement services can help them secure stable housing and employment.
But our job doesn’t end when someone graduates from high school or returns to a solid family environment. Trafficking survivors need ongoing support in the form of community groups and mentorship programs to ensure they have continued access to mental health services and the proper guidance. I’m proud that at Tharros Place, we have a 100 percent contact rate with every child who has come through our program.
Sadly, human trafficking isn’t just something that happens in the movies. It is real and happening to girls (and boys) in our own neighborhoods, schools, churches, and communities. In 2024, 804 minors in Georgia were reported as trafficking victims. With Savannah’s high poverty rate, international port, booming tourism industry, and the crossroads of Highway 95 and I-16, the county ranks sixth in the state (out of 159 counties) for the number of reported cases of minor victims of trafficking.
This January, we will acknowledge Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a presidentially designated observance designed to educate the public about human trafficking. It takes all of us working together to recognize, prevent, and help others recover from human trafficking. While successful recovery from human trafficking is intensive, the transformation of those girls from victims to young women brimming with confidence, self-respect, and courage is priceless.
To learn more about human trafficking and its impacts in our community, as well as the events planned this month, visit tharrosplace.com.
Julie Wade is executive director of Tharros Place, a 501(c)(3) that takes its name from the Greek word for courage. In 2023, Tharros Place opened a 12-bed residential home to address underlying trauma and cultivate a culture of courage for girls ages 12 to 17.