To date, BEST has provided Inhospitable to Trafficking training for over 700 people at over 100 different hotels in the region. At one training, a general manager told this story:

“After the BEST training last year, one of our housekeepers identified a victim and we called law enforcement. While officers were inside the hotel, I walked outside to speak with the victim, who was sitting on a curb, head down on her knees. Her blond hair hung down her legs. I asked her, ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’ She looked up at me and I was taken aback…she was so young—only 16 or 17. She should never have been there. She should never have been sitting on my curb.”

Last December we introduced you to "Teresa,"* a brave survivor of sex trafficking who wanted to pursue a career in cosmetology in order to rebuild her life. She had started a degree program but had hit barriers that she needed just a bit of help to overcome.

Many of you gave generously so that BEST could provide Teresa with a scholarship to complete her degree program. We are excited to announce that Teresa is on track to complete her coursework in December and graduate in 2016!