ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 Human trafficking often hides in plain sight and Saturday in Central Florida, one survivor shared her story to make sure those victims are not forgotten.<\/p>\n
Savannah Parvu said she didn\u2019t even realize she had been trafficked until learning what human trafficking really looks like.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had heard about human trafficking but didn\u2019t associate it with what happened to me because a lot of times when we hear about human trafficking, we often see in movies or think that it involves chains and kidnapping, but really, that\u2019s not what it is in the United States and definitely not in Florida,\u201d Parvu said. \u201cIt\u2019s possible that that happens, but that\u2019s not the norm. It often involves unmet needs, vulnerabilities, isolation, and the person \u2014 the right person \u2014 who knows exactly how to exploit that.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 7th annual Red Sand Project brought together advocates, community groups, and elected leaders to raise awareness and honor survivors. Red sand poured into the cracking pavement served as a symbol of human trafficking victims who fall through the cracks of society.<\/p>\n
Many elected officials attend the event, such as Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe, Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, and Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.<\/p>\n
She said she was trafficked in Central Florida beginning at 11 years old and was often in public places such as school where warning signs went unnoticed.<\/p>\n
Orange County Sheriff John Mina told News 6 that investigators received about 200 human-trafficking tips just last year, leading to dozens of arrests through a regional task force.<\/p>\n