In a world where education is a beacon of hope, we’re excited to introduce our brand-new scholarship program, designed exclusively for survivors of human trafficking. At Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network, we believe that education has the power to transform lives, and that is why we are proud to launch The Jade Richard Scholarship, a scholarship that will serve as a catalyst for those who have shown remarkable resilience.

In this blog, we will walk you through the heart of our scholarship program, its eligibility criteria, and how you can be a part of this life-changing initiative.

The Heart of our Scholarship Program

The Jade Richard Scholarship Fund has been established to honor the legacy of Arizona Survivor Leader Jade Richard who unexpectedly passed away in June 2022, only a month after graduating with her bachelor’s degree.

Jade was a beacon of light in the anti-trafficking community and worked at the Phoenix Dream Center serving both male and female victims of human trafficking. She was a role model and mentor to those in the program as well as those in the community. Her legacy has continued to live on, encouraging survivors to continue with their educational goals and dreams.

At the core of our mission is a deep commitment to empower survivors of human trafficking through education. We firmly believe that education can be a powerful catalyst for transformation and healing for those who have endured the unimaginable.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

This scholarship provides financial support and encouragement to an individual who is a survivor of human trafficking.

Candidates must meet all of the following eligibility requirements to apply:

• Survivor of human trafficking¹
• Citizen or permanent legal resident (green card holder) of the United States; DACA or DREAMer; Special immigrant juvenile status and deferred action
• Enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited public or private post-secondary or vocational institution
• Recommended by an agency and/or counselor or social worker, willing to provide information on behalf of the applicant.
• Currently resides in Arizona

Preferences for applicants:

• Survivor applicants seeking their first college degree or technical job training
• Have completed at least one year of trauma counseling
• Demonstrates financial need

How to Apply?

Applying for our scholarships is a straightforward process. Visit www.aatn.org/scholarshop to find all the necessary information regarding eligibility, the application process, and application form. Our dedicated scholarship committee will evaluate each application.

Applicants will also be invited to participate in a virtual or in person meeting. This meeting is for advisory members to get to know the applicant as well as an opportunity to answer any additional questions or concerns that the applicants may have.

The Transformative Power of Our Scholarship

We encourage survivors to take this opportunity and embark on a journey towards a better and brighter future. By supporting survivors in their pursuit of higher education, we hope to empower them to reclaim control of their lives and embrace new opportunities.

Join Us in This Journey of Transformation

As we launch our Human Trafficking Survivor Scholarship Program, we invite you to be a part of this incredible journey. Whether you are a survivor eager to pursue education or someone who wants to support this initiative, you can find more information about our program, eligibility, application and how to get involved on our website. Together, we can illuminate the path to a brighter, more hopeful future for human trafficking survivors.

For more information, please visit www.aatn.org/scholarship or email [email protected].

Definition of Human Trafficking for Eligibility

[1] Human trafficking survivors are defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations as:

• Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
• The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery (22 U.S.C. § 7102(9)).
• Before you were age of 18, did you ever trade/exchange sex to meet your basic needs? Examples of basic needs include: something of value such as money, a place to stay, drugs, protection, or clothing.
• Have you ever been forced or tricked into trading sex for something of value like a place to stay, protection, drugs, clothing, or food?
• Have you ever had a person force, trick, or pressure you to exchange/trade sex for money or other items? Examples of a person could include Boyfriend, Family Members, Manager, Pimp, Partner.
• Did you ever have sex for things of value (money, housing, food, gifts, drugs, or favors)?
• Did you work where it may be common to be pressured into performing sex acts for money, such as a strip club, illicit cantina, or massage business?