October 21, 2005 – Shirley Luna

Student gives first-hand account of human trafficking

A first-hand account of human trafficking will be given by a Stephen F. Austin State University student who was recruited from Zambia at age 11 to sing in a boys' a cappella choir on an extensive overseas tour, but instead was exploited and enslaved.

Given Kachepa will speak at 5:30 p.m. Oct 25 in the SFA Twilight Ballroom. Kachepa and his fellow choir members were rescued by U.S. immigration officials in 2000 after being forced to perform six or seven times a day at churches, schools and malls in 28 states, sometimes while being undernourished.

"Given was orphaned at age 9 and was living with his aunt's family in a poverty-stricken village," said Peggy Greer, director of the Multicultural Center at SFA. "He was told by his recruiters that he would receive a salary and education while touring with the choir and that money raised from the tour would be used to build schools in Zambia. Of course, none of these promises were true."

Kachepa eventually realized that no schools were being built, no money was going to him or his family and that he was a victim of human trafficking, modern-day slavery.

"Given hopes to make a difference and to educate the public about this atrocity," Greer said. "He helped pass a trafficking law for Texas in 2003 and has been featured on ABC's 'Nightline,' and on PBS, NBC and CBS newscasts. He is making a difference in the lives of others by making the public aware of the third largest money-making scheme in the world – the sale of human beings."

Kachepa, now a freshman pre-dentistry major at SFA, was one of 10 people selected from more than 20,000 applicants for the 2005 national Prudential Spirit of Community Award. He also received the Hitachi Foundation's 2005 Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service, the Ronald McDonald African American Future Achievers Scholarship, the Field Scovell Scholarship and the Grandmothers for Peace International scholarship.

"Given shares his story to help inform social workers, law enforcement officers, lawyers, media, government officials, immigration employees and the general public about human trafficking," Greer said. "He speaks both as a victim and a survivor."

Reservations for a dinner buffet to be served at 5 p.m. may be made by calling the Multicultural Center at (936) 468-1073. Reservations are not required to attend the program, and there is no charge for the meal or program.