By Brenda Lee, Social Service Assistant, Good Shepherd Centre, Singapore (Province of Singapore and Malaysia)
On 16 July, staff at Good Shepherd Center delivered a training program to young residents involving technology and devices such as WhatsApp, smartphones, television casting, laptops, and translation apps to celebrate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which will be celebrated on July 30.
We chose to run the program using this digital method because we have six residents who speak five different languages among them. While the program aimed to teach participants the positive uses of technology for learning, it also highlighted the dangers of online activities.
Key topics included how to protect oneself online, recognize scams, understand how traffickers use the internet, and protect children from online predators. Besides learning practical skills for safe online behavior, participants were also better equipped to prevent human trafficking and other online threats.
After introducing the program, participants watched the first video (watch here), which was about a mother’s determination and bravery as she went undercover online to expose child predators. Through her unwavering efforts, she meticulously gathered evidence and captured conversations and actions of these predators before handing over the information to authorities. Her inspiring actions deeply moved many program participants.
Using a translation app, they shared via WhatsApp that they admired her courage and applauded her bravery for creating a plan to catch these predators. This video was also an eye-opener for some of the participants who regularly joined online games. One participant shared that after watching the video, she would be more vigilant when she goes online to play her games.
The last video (watch here) featured a young, modern, confident, and educated woman sharing her personal experience of falling victim to a love scam, resulting in a devasting loss of 70,000 Singapore dollars. This video profoundly impacted all the program participants, prompting them to reflect on their vulnerability to modern scams and what it felt like to lose such an amount of money.
One participant shared that the video served as a wake-up call, highlighting how scammers had evolved and adapted their tactics in the digital age. The young woman in the video, despite being cautious and discerning, still fell victim, emphasizing that even the most vigilant individuals can be susceptible to sophisticated scams. For many participants, the video challenged their assumptions about scams, revealing that today’s scammers are vastly different and more cunning than those of the past.
At the end of the day, staff took a few moments to reflect with the participants on their thoughts and takeaways from the program. One participant mentioned that she had learned things not taught in her school and was grateful for this opportunity. The rest of the participants expressed that such scams and perpetrators are prevalent on the internet, and they must take the necessary precautions to be safe while on the internet.
