HOW IT ALL STARTED
The brainchild of an anti-trafficking awareness charity in Guernsey belongs to Retha Jenkins who was inspired to found an organisation after listening to Christine Caine, founder of The A21 Campaign, at a conference in London. She later visited the A21 Campaign office in Thessaloniki where she had the opportunity to experience first-hand the passion of the team working with the rescued girls. Retha was particularly keen to ensure that no young person in Guernsey should be subject to being trafficked. Initially called Guernsey Against Sex Trafficking (GAST), it later changed its name to the PROTECT Foundation.
In 2016 she invited Jenette and Kevin Bales to take over PROTECT, in part because of Kevin’s established work in the anti-slavery movement. You can read more about his work at www.kevinbales.net
Jenette was born and grew up in Guernsey but moved away for over twenty years, qualifying as an English solicitor and working in an inner city practice in London specializing in family, children and immigration work. They returned to Guernsey in 2014 with their infant son.
They were delighted that Jon Honour and Vicky Pratt accepted their invitation to become trustees in 2017.
The organisation was re-named ‘Abolitionist Guernsey’ to reflect an adoption of wider aims and values. These include:-
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Raising awareness of all forms of modern day slavery and trafficking
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Ensuring that Guernsey is a ‘slave free’ community
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Linking Guernsey to the global effort to combat slavery worldwide by fostering partnerships with grassroots organizations involved in direct action rescue work in other parts of the world.
On 13th March 2017 the organisation held a breakfast seminar and workshop at Les Cotils which gave a basic awareness training to a range of frontline professionals on issues of human trafficking and modern slavery, and helped facilitate a multi-agency conversation about how Guernsey should shape its response to slavery and trafficking.
Volunteering Opportunities
If you would like to know more about our forthcoming events and/or would be interested in supporting the organization and getting involved, please contact Jenette directly at info@abolitionist.org.gg We will do our best to match whatever you feel able to offer to the charity’s needs.
WHO WE ARE
Trustees
Rev. Jon Honour
Prof. Kevin Bales CMG
Advocate Victoria Pratt
Co-ordinator
Jenette Bales
Current volunteers
Chrissie Ferbrache
Lisa Griffin
Kerrie McEvoy