UOC Speaks on Online Safety and Child Trafficking at Danville Youth Group

On Thursday, 27 August 2026, Unchain Our Children (UOC) addressed a youth group in Danville on online safety and child trafficking. Invited by Karen Menkveld, Gauteng Awareness team leader, representing A21. The session reached 36 young people and four adults. A follow-up session will be held in a week’s time.

A21, a global non-profit founded in 2008 by Christine Caine, that works towards abolishing modern slavery through outreaches, victim recoveries and restoring survivors. With operations in multiple countries, including a South African branch since 2013, which is based in Cape Town, A21 runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline (0800 222 777), delivers school and community prevention programmes, trains frontline professionals, supports survivor restoration and partners with law enforcement on victim identification.

Children fall victim for several interconnected reasons: their still-developing brains limit risk assessment and the ability to spot manipulation; traffickers use sophisticated grooming that exploits natural trust, the need for affection or obedience to authority by posing as friends or benefactors; a false sense of safety behind screens makes them easy targets for online predators using fake profiles; and many still rely on outdated “stranger danger” stereotypes, overlooking threats from people they know or romantic partners.

Children in the chains of human trafficking are trapped because they are controlled, manipulated, and threatened which rendered them helpless.  However, there is an escape and a future for them by speaking out and contacting helplines like the A21 national Human Trafficking Hotline. A21 offers support for survivors and treasure their experiences as they have lived both the horror and the freedom. 

“Survivors can be the voice of the victim and the voice of reason to possible future victims.” Karen Menkveld, A21

UOC’s presentation focused on prevention as the first and most powerful response. Breaking cycles of abuse and related crimes such as human trafficking requires intervention at every stage, yet recognition of the warning signs remains essential. The talk highlighted the erosion of Godly foundations, moral compass and healthy parenting in an age marked by parental absence and constant device use.

“Victims need to know the escape route.  They need to know which legit organization to call, like A21 and similarly UOC, hence the awareness campaigns we do at schools, churches and other institutions.  Speaking out and exposing perpetrators is the way to freedom.”  Wayne van Onselen, Founder & Executive Director UOC

Young people increasingly form relationships online rather than face-to-face. In cyberspace, filtered images and curated personas hide personality, nuance and genuine eye contact—creating fertile ground for predators. These individuals exploit innocence and naivety with false promises of work, a better life or love. UOC stressed that children can be prepared against deceit through deliberate teaching that equips them to recognize grooming tactics, question too-good-to-be-true offers and maintain safe online habits.

Lured by fraudulent “work opportunities”, like modelling, overseas jobs and fake bursaries, free travel and high salaries are promised but upon arrival their devices are confiscated and they are trapped in forced labor.

“A21 treasures the opportunity to partner with UOC.  We are so much stronger when working together.  What we value most of the partnership, is UOC’s availability in emergency cases and that they are hands-on with practical advice and willing to go many extra miles to secure the safety of victims and lift them out of bondage.”  Karen Menkveld.

The engagement underscored the value of partnership between organizations such as UOC and A21 in raising awareness among the next generation and strengthening community defences against online exploitation and child trafficking.

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A21                                                                                                               

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