Khulisa has been working to address the problem of child trafficking in the inner-city of Johannesburg since 2005. Activities have focused on increasing knowledge of the problem of trafficking and steps that can be taken to protect oneself from trafficking. Increased awareness of the problem among children and schools has created the need to strengthen services available to trafficked children at children at risk.

The Community Mitigating Against Trafficking Project has established a Community Collaborative of organisations and individuals who work with vulnerable children in the inner city. Participants come from churches and community organisations, children’s shelters, child protection organisations, health services, South African Police officers, organisations working with refugee children and representatives from the Department of Social Development, Joburg Metro community development department and Child Welfare South Africa.

To date, 34 organisations have participated in the Collaborative and attended training workshops which focus on how to identify someone who has been trafficked, assistance provided by various government departments, the legislative framework used to assist such children and to prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking and training in psycho-social methodologies which can be used with trafficked children. Training participants have included religious ministers, Community Development Workers, social workers, police officials, community-based health care providers, and refugee organisations.

A community awareness event was hosted as part of Women’s month to educate the community about the problem of child trafficking and how to recognise it. Songs and poems were shared by trafficked women, a demonstration stand was erected by the South African Police and speeches delivered by community stakeholders.

A sub-committee of representatives from the Department of Social Development, Child Welfare South Africa, Childline and community organisations working with children at risk has developed a comprehensive referral map that can be utilised by the South African Police, child protection organizations and community members so as to ensure that children receive the correct assistance and support. The referral map provides information for assisting children at risk of being trafficked, refugee children, children living on the street and children who have been commercially sexually exploited.

The Collaborative members have also developed a list of individuals who speak immigrant languages who are available to assist children who can not communicate in English.