Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Aug 12: "Students should always respect, love and admire their parents, teachers and professors. I was invited to the United States in 2003. I went there with faith, trust, and a dream. My agent took all the cash and documents from me when I landed in America," said Harold D'Souza, a human trafficking survivor and founder of Eyes Open International, president's advisory council on human trafficking.
Addressing students at St Agnes College (Autonomous) here on Saturday, August 12, he said, “I believed my agent and handed over all my documents and cash to him thinking that it will be in safe custody.”
Harold called upon the students to change their thinking style and said, “That will change your life. I had a salary of USD 75,000 per year and benefits, but I was made to work in a restaurant. Basically, I was manipulated, tricked and trapped. The traffickers are 10 times smarter than us. You have to be cautious when somebody invites you. Before that, you should discuss it with your family, NGO, or experts.”
He also said how hard he worked in America. “Labour trafficking happens in four places. That is in restaurants, gas stations, stores and hotels. Human trafficking is a USD 150 billion business after drugs. The risk factor in human trafficking is very thin, but the profit margin is very thick,” he said.
He further said, “Human traffickers do not get prosecuted. Hence, I stood up against the voiceless. When you prosecute one perpetrator, you are saving hundreds of victims. All the perpetrators are millionaires as they are making money by sucking the blood of the victims.”
He called upon the students to believe in faith and not fate.
Harold also said if any student of St Agnes College wants to pursue further studies, his organisation will help them.
Principal Sr Dr Venissa AC, Alwyn D' Souza, Reshma student coordinator Vaishnavi Jogi and Vineetha N T were present.