Rome: As the world prepares to mark the International Day of Awareness and Prayer Against Human Trafficking on February 8, Lone Botshelo, the Youth Ambassador of the anti-trafficking network Talitha Kum from Botswana, is in Rome to participate in an international gathering aimed at strengthening faith-driven advocacy against modern slavery.

Since joining the Youth Ambassador program in 2024, Lone has become increasingly aware of the scale and immediacy of human trafficking in his home country. “I didn’t realize how alive and real it was in Botswana,” he admits. Through training and on-the-ground experience, he discovered how profoundly trafficking affects vulnerable communities, especially women and children. “This journey has opened my eyes,” he says. “Trafficking is not distant it is happening among us. It calls for a life of purpose and commitment.”

Lone balances his work in finance and digital content creation with active participation in youth ministry and social action. His longstanding interest in climate change, mental health, and social justice naturally extended to anti-trafficking advocacy. Learning about Talitha Kum’s mission, he felt an immediate calling. “It wasn’t just another project,” he explains. “It was a way to serve, to live with purpose.”

Arriving in Rome, Lone describes the international gathering as both moving and challenging. Although he missed the opportunity to meet the Pope with the group, he quickly immersed himself in workshops, prayers, and dialogue sessions. “We are here to pray, to learn, and to act,” he said. “Being among young people from so many countries reminds us that this is a global struggle.”

Leading up to the International Day, Talitha Kum organized candlelight processions and prayer vigils to honor victims and raise public awareness. For Lone, social media has become a critical tool for advocacy. “We live in the digital age,” he notes. “Everyone is online from teenagers to grandparents. So why not use that space for awareness?”

In Botswana, Lone and a team of around 40 Talitha Kum members produce videos, reflections, and creative content on trafficking. During the novena to Saint Josephine Bakhita, the former slave and patron saint of trafficking victims, they shared daily meditations linking her story to contemporary realities. “Through trends, vlogs, and storytelling, we reach people who might never attend a seminar,” he said. “Digital platforms are spaces for education, awareness, and even conversion.”

Talitha Kum’s work in Botswana begins at the grassroots level. Activities include parish visits, post-Mass talks, educational brochure distribution, youth workshops, school assemblies, and community outreach. One of the most significant initiatives was a national panel discussion that brought together Church leaders, social workers, law enforcement, and government officials. Around 60 participants attended in person, with many more joining online and via radio broadcasts.

“This dialogue is crucial,” Lone emphasizes. “It demonstrates that the Church, civil society, and government can collaborate effectively. Partnership strengthens prevention and support for victims.”

Looking ahead, Lone aims to expand Talitha Kum’s reach beyond the Diocese of Gaborone, deepen collaboration with government agencies under Botswana’s National Action Plan against Human Trafficking, and work alongside institutions committed to protecting the vulnerable. “We want to walk with the government, not against it,” he notes. “Funding, training, and shared projects coordinated action is key to sustainable change.”

At the heart of Lone’s advocacy is a simple but powerful message: “Human trafficking thrives where people are silent. Our task is to speak, educate, and protect.” He believes that young people, empowered by faith and technology, can become transformative agents. “If we use our voices wisely, we can restore dignity to those who have been rendered invisible,” he says.

“In both the digital world and real life,” Lone concludes, “we must never make it easy to exploit human beings. Every person deserves freedom.”