This December, HerCampus Jefferson decided to team up with the Dressember Organization to raise money to end human trafficking. To do so, a member of HerCampus will be wearing a dress every day for the month of December. The statement of the Dressember Organization is a world without slavery, where all people are free to live vibrant, autonomous lives. Their idea is that a dress serves as our uniform. Dressember is an opportunity to reclaim and reappropriate the dress as a symbol of freedom and power; a flag for the inherent dignity of all people. The vision is that in the month of December, when it’s especially cold, we wear dresses to serve as a conversation starter to educate those around us about modern slavery. Here are a few statistics found on the Dressember website:
-More than 30 million people are currently enslaved worldwide.
-Human trafficking generates about $150 billion a year.
-About 2 million children are currently exploited in the global commercial sex trade.
This mission statement and statistics spoke volumes to me when I first heard about it a few years ago. Since I went to a Catholic High School and wore a uniform, I was never able to actually participate. Joining HerCampus was the perfect opportunity to bring this idea to the girls in the club, because I knew they would love it just as much as I did. Together, we designed pins to sell to help raise money, along with spreading awareness on campus of the modern slavery we live around today.
To follow our progress and keep up with updates, follow @hercampusjefferson on Instagram. There is a link in the bio where you can donate if you’re interested in supporting this cause.