A church leader has safeguarded two boys from suspected trafficking whilst he was part-way through a modern slavery awareness training session led by Hope for Justice.
Yohannes Fosha, who lives and works in the Wolaita Zone of South Ethiopia Regional State, had attended the first part of a two-day training session at the Lewi Resort in Wolaita Sodo just the day prior. And he was travelling on the bus, making his way to the second day of training, when he noticed some suspicious activity.
Yohannes, who leads Bethsaida Kale Hiwot Church, told us: “I had been invited by Hope for Justice to participate in a training programme. The training focused on critical issues, including modern slavery, human trafficking and child protection. The training commenced on Wednesday and I attended diligently before returning home. The following day, Thursday, I boarded a vehicle to Wolaita Sodo to continue with the training. During the journey, I noticed an incident involving a man who was accompanied by two children. I overheard the man instructing another passenger, “Take these children, and if anyone asks, just say, ‘These children are mine, and I am taking them to Sodo.’”
“This raised my suspicions and I asked the man, “Where are you taking these children, and what is your relationship to them?” Initially, he claimed the children were his brother’s and that he was taking them to Sodo to buy clothes. However, when I asked further questions, his responses were inconsistent, which made me suspect that he was attempting to traffic the children.
“The training I had received from Hope for Justice had equipped me with the knowledge to recognise and respond to this kind of situation. Despite resistance from some passengers who discouraged me from involving the authorities, I explained the importance of collective action to prevent suspected criminal activity.”
Hope for Justice urges members of the public, for their own safety, to be cautious about confronting potential traffickers directly. Suspicions can be raised with local law enforcement.
Yohannes contacted the police and the bus station directors, who took immediate action. He later learned that the two boys, aged 10 and 12, had been safely reunited with their families.
The suspected trafficker has been taken into custody, and legal proceedings are ongoing.
Yohannes continued: “This incident highlights the critical role that awareness and training play in combating human trafficking. Thanks to the awareness I gained during the training by Hope for Justice, I was able to recognise and prevent a case of suspected child exploitation and modern slavery. It is a testament to the effectiveness of empowering individuals with the tools to protect the vulnerable in our communities.”
Yohannes participated in the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Identification and Reporting training, delivered by Hope for Justice in December 2024.
This case highlights the immediate impact of the training, as Yohannes was able to identify the signs of human trafficking and take action.
Ashenafi Letebo, Hope for Justice’s Regional MEAL Officer, who is based in Addis Ababa, said: “When faith and advocacy come together, real change happens. Through training on modern slavery and human trafficking, religious leaders are becoming key allies in the fight against exploitation—proactively identifying cases and ensuring justice.”
