One of our principal modus operandi is to work in partnership with different organizations, audiences and regions, on an ongoing basis, ensuring their ownership of our various programs. Below are some highlights of media features and partnerships.

Art Exhibition: “Transcendance through the Prism of Youth”
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Teenage artists Sara Daredia and Paul Michael Rimmer put together a visual arts exhibition, sponsored by Youth Underground, on June 23, 2022, tracing the healing journeys of Rayanne Irving and Antares, respectively. In their words: “The viewers will be taken on a form of a journey as they transition between the pieces. The aim is to help them feel a sense of empathy towards survivors of trauma. It is an effort to bring a change in society where instead of viewing survivors with pity, their courage is seen as an inspiration. Rayanne’s and Antares’s dedication to making the world a better place, can be a source of hope for people.” Click on links to view.

Poster English / Français
Flyer
Zoom call between Sara and Paul Michael: “The decision to work with Youth Underground”
Behind the scenes
The rationale behind the art exhibition
The art pieces: PDF / Video
“Thought Corner”


Emanicipation Nation Podcast
U S A
Episode 152: Prevention through Empowerment. Discussion with Dr. Celia Williamson on the role of Youth Underground, highlighting the Nine Principles of Effective Prevention Programs. Click here to listen.


CNN International
U S A
Featured ad dropped in November 2020 about the new threats to students during COVID-19 and the risks associated with students learning at home as a result of the pandemic. Click here to view.


Wayland Music Band
U S A
In October 2020, we officially joined hands and hearts with the Wayland Band to bring an end and an awareness to human trafficking. You can stream the single “No More” now, available on all platforms.


International Baccalaureate Middle Years Graduation Ceremony
S W I T Z E R L A N D
On 26 June 2019, Rasha Hammad, CEO, was invited as a Guest Speaker at the 11th grade graduation ceremony, Campus des Nations (part of the Foundation of the International School of Geneva). “You are living in an era of technology, and the world is much smaller. You can contact anyone, and anyone can contact you. Knowing about human trafficking is not to scare you. It’s to empower you with the knowledge you need to take the right action. The more knowledge you have, the more and better choices you will always be able to make.”


Radio Sans Chaîne
S W I T Z E R L A N D
On February 2019, featured in the Geneva-based Radio Sans Chaîne‘s podcast whose mission is “giving a voice to those who don’t have one.” An opportunity to talk about human trafficking in Switzerland.

CNN Freedom Project – #MyFreedomDay
U S A
Collaboration with the CNN Freedom Project for #MyFreedomDay, since the launch of this day-long student-driven event in March 2017. The purpose of this day it to raise awareness about human trafficking and the meaning of freedom. Children and young people around the world participated wearing their Youth Underground fair trade T-shirts. In 2020, CNN recognized Youth Underground as among the go to Global Anti-Trafficking Organizations.
⇒ CLICK HERE: CNN features Youth Underground
⇒ CLICK HERE: Videos and full information


Hands of Justice – #IgniteFreedom Campaign
U S A
January is human trafficking awareness month in the United States. To commemorate this month, we have partnered with U.S.-based NGO, Hands of Justice since January 15, 2019, for a worldwide 24-hour social media photo Global Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign entitled #IgniteFreedom. To participate, persons of all ages write ONE WORD that came to their minds when hearing about “human trafficking.” 2020 marked our second #IgniteFreedom campaign, with awesome feedback and interaction throughout the day!


Jerome Elam – A Survivor’s Testimony
U S A
We were privileged to have Jerome Elam, CEO of the Trafficking in America Task Force (TIATF), Marine Corps Veteran, Writer & Columnist for Communities Digital News (CDN), and Special Advisor to the Utah Attorney General, spend a week in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 19-22, 2018. Jerome came to share his experience as a child sex trafficking survivor with various schools. Jerome’s presence was important for the youth to be able to put a face on human trafficking. From our point of view, it was informative to get a pulse of what matters to the youth.
⇒ CLICK HERE: Jerome shares his story as a survivor of human trafficking


Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders
Fundraising Concert Featuring Eagle-Eye Cherry
S W I T Z E R L A N D
We were extremely privileged to co-host a unique Eagle-Eye Cherry “Streets of You” World Tour concert in partnership with MSF. The awesome Eagle-Eye Cherry released a new album and organized his first world tour in seven years, gracing the Pickwick’s Pub stage for a night of pure pleasure on October 20, 2018 – his only concert in Switzerland. Funds went directly to Youth Underground and MSF’s children-related projects.

SUSTAIN Cameroon
C A M E R O O N
Collaboration with SUSTAIN Cameroon to ensure the prevention of the trafficking of children and vulnerable groups through awareness-raising and educational material, toolkits and messages – to help the youth escape trafficking, early and forced marriages, and HIV. While the focus of our work is essentially in the most under-served communities in the North West Region of Cameroon (Bamenda), our partnership expands to the country as a whole.


World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2018: Youth Voices on Public Transportation
S W I T Z E R L A N D
On July 18, 2018, we joined hands with Swiss partners for a photo campaign on a total of 50 public transportation (TPG) vehicles. The two-week campaign, leading up to World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, featured youth of all ages voicing their opinion about human trafficking. Our main objective was to highlight the fact that there is no age limit to education. The youth are not only well aware about events happening in our world today, but also have their own opinion about these issues. We need to take a step back, listen and learn.
⇒ CLICK HERE: Full information (incl. videos, photos, press releases)


Study Day 2018 – Foundation of the International School of Geneva
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Presentation to the Foundation’s 11th graders, covering the theme: “Is Human Trafficking Really Our Problem?” Whether or not one knows what human trafficking is, it is safe to say that it is often equated to an issue happening in low-income communities, well beyond our reach – happening “over there”. A “woman’s issue” that involves exploitation but not one that we, the general public, should be concerned about. These misconceptions place this severe violation of human rights on a shelf, in a closed box, that is “not our problem”. In our increasingly interconnected world, ending human trafficking and exploitation is everybody’s business. We can do something about it by acknowledging that this is a human rights issue – not a gender issue – that touches us all, either directly or indirectly. The subject falls under SDG8 which was discussed throughout the presentation: Employment, decent work for all and social protection.


The Trafficking Dispatch
U S A
Run by a young group of student podcasters, The Trafficking Dispatch focuses on educating and empowering young people to help put an end to human trafficking. Our partnership included their sharing and publishing information about Youth Underground every two weeks, towards the end of each podcast, during a period of six months. In return, we shared these podcasts on our social media.
⇒ CLICK HERE: Podcasts and full information 


Institut International de Lancy – former Pensionnat Marie-Thérèse
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Interactive presentation at IIL about human trafficking to senior school students, covering the relationship between this illicit trade and such areas as the migrant and refugee crisis, climate change, social media and overall human rights. Education goes a long way – and we are very proud to be the first organization to partner with IIL to introduce the topic of Human Trafficking into the their school curriculum this year, as part Geography.


Pike House Coffee – “coffee with a cause!”
U S A
Collaboration with Pike House Coffee by promoting fair trade products (food and clothes) to raise awareness and educate teenagers in Knoxville, Tennessee, about human trafficking in particular, and human rights in general. Peer-to-peer action is encouraged through Youth Underground photo exhibitions, individual stills and videos, and the sales of fair trade T-shirts – all organized by teenagers on-the-ground, in Tennessee.


Study Day 2017 – Foundation of the International School of Geneva
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Presentation given by Youth Underground’s CEO as Keynote Speaker to the Foundation’s 11th graders for Study Day. The theme covered was: “Human trafficking: Why should you care?” The session was interactive and challenged students to resolve current affair issues. After a brief introduction to some major ethical theories, students formed teams to investigate human trafficking questions involving choices with no obvious solutions.


Freedom Fortnight
U S A
Featured on Freedom Fortnight’s website to launch a two-week initiative celebrating progress made by an Organization. Youth Underground by Freedom Fortnight quoted as being among the “four fantastic anti-trafficking organizations.”


The Constellation
B E L G I U M
Partnership with The Constellation to highlight the value of a human life, inclusion and the importance of connecting with different organizations/groups under the heading, “What Makes Us Human?”


Enigma Magazine
M I D D L E E A S T & N O R T H A F R I C A
Feature article in Enigma magazine about Rasha Hammad, CEO, and what Youth Underground is doing about human trafficking; as well as challenges in various regions of the world including the Middle East.


Worldwide Documentaries
U S A
Partnered with Worldwide Documentaries as Executive Producer of the film in the making, “Running to Stand Still” about refugee and migrant children in Europe. First phase was a trip to Calais refugee camp (the “Jungle”), France, before its dismantlement – with the production of a trailer. Youth Underground was featured as the voice of the youth, with refugee and migrant youth in the camp wearing our fair trade T-shirts as a call to action.


Echo Magazine
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Feature article in the International School of Geneva’s ECHO magazine and website.


Study Day 2016 – Foundation of the International School of Geneva
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Presentation about Human Trafficking to the Foundation’s 11th grade students’ Study Day. Some 200 years after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, we should not have to say, “Don’t buy people.” But we live in a world where buying people is actually a business – and a very lucrative one where young people are the main targets and the biggest money- makers. What is human trafficking? Why is it happening today? Why is it a collective responsibility?


Foundation of the International School of Geneva
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Presentations and continual support to senior students in particular, in all aspects of their studies to highlight human rights, and their responsibility in defending these rights; as well as engaging them as our ambassadors in events both within and outside their schools as well as within and outside Switzerland. IMPACT: Introducing the issue of human trafficking as an official subject of the Foundation‘s curriculum.


MSCTrailblazers
U S A
Partnered with the Trailblazers’ Fashion Show awareness event in the Santa Clara bay area featuring 10-15 of California’s newest talent on the fashion stage. This partnership included showcasing the work of teenagers to strengthen their reach as a community, and increase their knowledge and recognize those in the Santa Clara community who are actively involved in combating human trafficking head on.


Grace As Justice magazine
U S A
Featured our work ― cover story of Grace As Justice magazine’s 4th edition ― in the area of human trafficking, youth education and prevention, representing Switzerland; along with the largest European-based associations working in the same field.


MsGinko, a not-for-profit affiliate of Legacy Sàrl
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Partnership to support and inspire social change for women and girls worldwide through the production of short videos. Rasha Hammad, CEO, was requested to be an Advisory Board Member for the work achieved with Youth Underground.


Legacy Sàrl
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Partnership to record and collect in-depth audiovisual interviews of the life stories of people who shape our world, with a focus on the youth.


Global Welfare Association (GLOWA)
C A M E R O O N
Collaboration to showcase GLOWA, a not-for-profit NGO that fights human trafficking and the damage it creates in communities throughout the Northwest Region of Cameroon (AIDS orphans, trafficked children); and enable them to use our name, logo and fair trade T-shirts in their youth awareness-raising and educational campaigns (photos, videos, testimonials).


Virgin Unite
U N I T E D K I N G D O M
Collaboration to showcase our work as the voice of the youth; share our work on Virgin’s Leadership & Advocacy blog; and ongoing social media showcasing of our work by Virgin and Virgin Unite.