Houston-area high school students recognized for work against human trafficking

As many know, Houston is one of the largest spots for human trafficking in the nation. And schools are ground zero for a lion’s share of the “recruiting” and grooming of potential human trafficking victims.

So, it is quite significant that several Houston-area high schoolers from Spring ISD took it upon themselves to get involved with fighting against this horrible crime.

Several members of the Spring ISD Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council were recognized by a national nonprofit organization — as well as by President Joe Biden and Texas Governor Greg Abbott — for their work in spreading awareness of human trafficking.

Several district officials, including Superintendent Lupita Hinojosa, were in attendance, along with staff representatives from all six district high schools, as well as Lawrence Bell, who was representing Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, and Denise Mears, the founder and CEO of Project Protect Our Children.

“We are here today to see all of your amazing smiling faces and to thank you for the role in bringing human trafficking awareness to your peers, the school staff, and your communities,” said Mears, who presented members of the council with special awards recognizing their work on their respective campuses to raise awareness around human trafficking, including resources and signs of human trafficking.

She also brought along recognitions and awards from Biden and Abbott.

“We strongly believe in the power of the youth voice,” Mears said. “Our youth are champions in the fight. We didn’t want to talk to you or at you. We wanted to talk with you. To give you a seat at the table.”

The awards were part of the last meeting of the school year for the self-governed Student Advisory Council, which are held monthly and aimed at providing student leaders in the district an avenue to share their feedback and ideas from their respective schools.

Earlier this school year, the group got involved with Project Protect Our Children, which was founded in 2019 to prevent child sex trafficking, exploitation and abuse through proactive community engagement, preventative educational programs, awareness and empowerment opportunities.

Over the course of this school year, students used social media, flyers and posters around their campuses, collaborations with other student organizations, tables at lunchtime with information, and more to spread awareness of human trafficking, including the signs of human trafficking to look out for and to clear up any misinformation on the topic. They also shared a hotline number with resources for students who may suspect they know someone who is vulnerable to or a victim of human trafficking.

“We want to thank Project Protect Our Children for the opportunity,” said Hinojosa said. “Our students have worked really hard in educating the other students on their campus — getting the word out on what it is, what the signs are, and how anyone can help.”

Two students were also recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, awarded by Biden.

Sharly Manzanares Guzman, a senior at Dekaney High School took home the bronze award, while Camilo Huerta, a senior at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School, took home the gold award.

“We truly believe that these students can be champions in this fight,” shared Mears. “They truly are and can be a major part of the solution to end human trafficking.”

The students who were recognized by Project Protect Our Children with the Champion Award include: