Two female high school students in Vietnam have produced an anti-human trafficking manual to raise awareness of the issue.

Their manual was self-published after eight months of non-stop work, compiling information from books and newspapers, as well as seeking support from the authorities.

Ly Phuong Anh and Tran Le Linh Chi, both high school students at Chu Van An High School for the Gifted in the northern province of Lang Son, have designed a handy manual packed with information on human trafficking, highlighting preventative action for their peers.

The manual has made it to the final round of 'Young Masterminds and Education 2017,’ a competition for youth co-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union's Central Committee, the Ministry of Education and Training, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, and JSC Thien Long Group.

Staggering figures

During the 2011-15 period, Lang Son police forces investigated 54 separate cases, arrested 107 human traffickers, and rescued 134 victims, bringing them home from China.

"The figures will not decrease without effective measures, among which preventative steps are key," Anh commented on her book. "Why not make a pocket manual that can inspire students everywhere?"

So she did. Not simply relying on reading and other resources, Anh and her partner Chi sought the support of their teachers to obtain 'the green light' from the authorities, namely the Lang Son Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Women's Union, and the local Police Department.

"At first, the police refused to disclose information given the complicated nature of the issue," Anh said of her initial attempts.

"But later they relented and agreed to provide detailed figures and shed light on the tactics of human traffickers."

The most haunting experience they discovered was the case of a victim named J., who was tricked by her own sister into attending a festival in Lang Son Province.

Here, J. was kidnapped and smuggled across the border to China, where she was sold off as a prostitute. After several failed attempts to escape, J. finally made it back home.

Anti-human trafficking know-how

The most intriguing character in the girl’s manual is Teddy. Throughout the book, Teddy appears horrified by the professional traffickers and gives his best advice on how to identify and avoid them.

According to Anh, the guidebook is divided into two sections: background knowledge and essential skills.

The former features reliable data on human trafficking in her province, relevant laws as well as the common tricks of criminals.

The latter aims to equip readers with survival techniques when one confronts traffickers or has already been captured. There are also suggested courses of action for seeking support.

"High school students must possess these fundamental skills. Whatever they do and wherever they go, they have to tell their parents first. They also need to have their phone on and any identity documents with them at all times," Anh said.

She also strongly recommends leaving traces if already abducted, for example by dropping in to a roadside store and talking to anyone there.

The manual is designed in vivid colors, and is expected to hook readers from front to back.

Upon its 'debut,’ the two schoolgirls were struck by how much the manual appealed to their peers. Their eight months of hard work seemed to have paid off.

Anh found it hard to pick her favorite color, so she made the handbook in four different versions.

"My classmates were really excited about the handbook, and how they might fall victim to human trafficking," she added. "It was even commended by the school principal."

One of her classmates, Nguyen Trung Phap, expressed enthusiasm for Anh and Chi’s creativity: "The book is so informative with crucial tips and advice. I’ve learnt some effective precautionary measures."

Phuong Anh and Linh Chi hope to distribute their work to a nationwide audience, rather than restrict it to their hometown of Lang Son Province.

Saying ‘no’ to social indifference

Hoang Thi Hoai Thu, a history teacher at Chu Van An High School for the Gifted, praised the work of her students. She herself has helped the two girls along their painstaking path.

Thu acknowledges their efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, particularly among high school students.

"They are now aware of the need to equip themselves with essential common sense and skills. They have also picked a youthful look for their book’s design," she added.

"The students are highly conscious of this important social issue."

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