A photo collage of the new dedicated space for youth at our Human Trafficking Survivor Support Center with our two dedicated team members Stef Sanchez and MK Galli.
When [Allie] first met her mentor, she was very shy and reserved. She rarely connected with peers, and her parents were concerned that she was isolating herself. Since joining the program, Allie has participated consistently and just celebrated her 16th birthday!
Working closely with her mentor, Allie created a personalized service plan focused on making friends, building confidence, and exploring her interests like soccer, art, and baking while also studying for her learner’s permit, improving her English skills, and preparing for her first job.
Over time, Allie blossomed. She now looks forward to group outings and field trips, whether it’s a day at the park, a community event, or a fun team activity. Her mentor notes that Allie has become more talkative and adventurous, often suggesting new places to visit, and she continues to make steady progress in speaking and understanding English.
Her parents share that Allie has “come out of her shell” and are grateful for the encouragement and opportunities the program provides.
Allie’s next steps include applying for part-time jobs and continuing to build friendships while strengthening her English, showing how mentorship can help a young person grow in confidence and joy.
AAU's Human Trafficking Support Youth Mentoring Program was implemented this year to provide comprehensive support to young survivors impacted by human trafficking through personalized mentorship relationships. Youth develop trusting relationships with trained mentors who are committed to listening and learning from their experiences while providing wraparound support to empower survivors as they navigate challenges make progress towards healing. In FY2025, our team delivered 4096 instances of service to youth survivors impacted by human trafficking.
Community members interested in supporting our mission can make tax-deductible donations through aau-slc.org/donate. Every contribution helps sustain comprehensive, trauma-informed, culturally responsive services that create pathways from crisis to thriving for Utah's most vulnerable community members.
To maximize your impact, an anonymous donor will match every gift up to $10,000 from now through Giving Tuesday, December 2nd, doubling your impact to support refugees, refugee youth, and human trafficking survivors. Donate today to double your impact!
