Release the Captives (RTC), the anti-human-trafficking club at Gardner Webb University (GWU), is constantly working to find ways to raise awareness of human trafficking. As part of those efforts, the organization is hosting a Fair Trade Market in GWU's Tucker Student Center on Thursday
Feb. 28, 2019, from 2-6 p.m.
"When a product is certified as 'fair trade,' it means that it has been made without the use of forced labor or unethical production practices," says RTC President Michaela Killon. "So fair trade products combat human trafficking through business models that provide fair wages and safe working conditions for their workers."
While awareness about human trafficking has been raised in the United States in recent years, many people still think that slavery doesn't exist anymore. In reality, there are more slaves today than ever all around the world - even in the United States. RTC is dedicated both to promoting awareness of human trafficking and to raising financial support for local and global organizations that fight it.
Today, slavery is big business "because it's cheap and disposable," according to the website
www.FreeThe Slaves.net. The site goes on to say: "In 1850, an average slave in the American South cost the equivalent of $40,000 in today's money. Today a slave costs about $90 on average worldwide."
The GWU Fair Trade Market will feature multiple vendors, including Fair Trade Winds, Rahab's Rope, Unique World Gifts, Cross Trade and numerous local artisans.
"These vendors support the core values of providing fair wages and safe working conditions," says Killon. "This allows our customers to make ethical purchases that really do help change lives."
For more information about the RTC Fair Trade Market, search for "Release the Captives" on Facebook or send an email to gwurelease@gmail.com.

By April Hoyle Shauf, Special to Community First Media