The International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking (February 8th) is a significant day for all Talitha Kum Networks worldwide. Around this day, all the networks promote anti-trafficking awareness raising activities.
The International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking 2021 had the theme: “An Economy without human trafficking".

This year Talitha Kum International organized a data collection referring to the period between January 1st and March 15th 2021. The data collection and analyses was in collaboration with the Department of Social Science of the Pontifical Gregorian University led by Prof. Peter Lah, sj. and coordinated by Sr. Mayra Cuellar, mb.

25 Talitha Kum networks (46,3% of the total) participated. 
The research aimed to evaluate and strengthen the awareness-raising strategies implemented by local networks, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks, in addition, assessing the impact of awareness-raising activities in different contexts and find common indicators.

According to the data collected awareness raising activities reached out 98 countries in 4 continents: Africa, Asia, America and Europe. Globally Talitha Kum Networks implemented 165 onsite events, 107 online events, 29 activities realized through media and social networks, reaching out a total of 216,249 people  directly or indirectly.

The outcomes of the data analyses include the mapping of the activities and a list of lessons learned have been shared online on March 22nd at 3pm Rome Time Zone. This event was in collaboration with the British Embassy to the Holy See that supported Talitha Kum activities in this significant occasion. In her initial greeting, the British Ambassador to the Holy See, H.E. Sally Axworthy highlighted the huge impact of the awareness raising activities promoted by the networks on local communities, especially in areas of risk of exploitation. 

During the event four sisters shared their experience, what they learned implementing awareness raising activities.
Sr. Nardi Torres, Talitha Kum Ecuador, shared the experience of creating a new network of Talitha Kum. The idea to join Talitha Kum came in November 2020, when 28 religious sisters belonging to 12 religious congregations decided to collaborate.  The celebration of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking was perfect to start officially. February 8th, 2021 the network was officially welcomed by Talitha Kum International. 

“It is with great gratitude and joy that I share the significant achievements made in Ecuador in this campaign against human trafficking”, explained Sr. Nardi, “It was possible to train groups that have the possibility to raise awareness about human trafficking and to get involved in prevention action: religious sisters, pastoral referents,  health care personnel, parents and women leaders in vulnerable communities.”

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