End Human Trafficking

Free Haircuts to Fight Human Trafficking

by Amanda Kloer

Published November 22, 2009 @ 04:00PM PT

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I love to feature stories where people use whatever skills and resources they have to contribute to the fight against human trafficking, whether it's baking pies or giving pilates lessons. This week a barber in the UK made me smile when he decided to give free haircuts to help fight human trafficking. It takes some creativity to connect modern-day slavery and modern-day grooming, but this brilliant barber did just that.

Fabiano Martell, an Italian barber based in the UK, first learned about human trafficking from an information stall at a Christian gathering. Horrified by the stories of children being trapped and sold in the sex trade, he tried to imagine the pain families who experience such tragedy feel, and wondered what he could do about it. When he decided to take action, the first place he looked was to something he knew -- his job as a barber. For two days, Fabiano is offering free haircuts in exchange for donations to benefit the British anti-trafficking organization Stop the Traffik.

Said Fabiano of his test run, "I don't know how effective this venture will be but it is a starting point and hopefully people will become aware of the immensity of the human trafficking trade."

While Fabiano may be unsure what the results of his fundraising experiment will be, that hasn't stopped him from pulling out the scissors and giving activism his best try.

For me, the beauty of this story is not how much money Fabiano raises or how many people he teaches about the reality of modern-day slavery. It's his innovation in using his own skills and interests to benefit a cause he cares about. Haircuts have just as much potential to raise money for a charity as bake sales and car washes, plus they have the added benefit of not being so ubiquitous they've become unmemorable. A great model for a fundraiser is to include something creative and unexpected that will peak people's interest.

If you're a barber or a stylist, maybe you can follow Fabiano's lead and cut hair in exchange for donations to your local anti-trafficking organization. If you're not a barber, think about how your personal skills can contribute to the movement. There is, in my opinion, no skill that can't be creatively utilized to benefit a good cause (with the possible exception of skills that revolve around criminal activity). So whether you're a barber or a teacher or a house painter or a pharmacist or a magician, you too can help human trafficking victims out of slavery and into freedom.

Photo credit: rockmixer