TOUCH: A Novel Exposing the Hidden Crisis of Youth Male Trafficking

About This Project

Summary

TOUCH is an award-winning novel exposing the hidden crisis of youth male exploitation. Research suggests boys may make up half of trafficked youth, yet their stories remain invisible. With few services or safe houses for them, awareness is critical. Centering a teen male survivor with trauma-informed realism, the project challenges blind spots and sparks dialogue at schools, festivals, and community forums. Strategy: storytelling as advocacy—fiction paired with resources that broaden awareness.

Goals & Objectives

Use storytelling to elevate awareness that boys are trafficked; expand who is seen, believed, and protected; equip educators and caregivers with language for trauma-informed conversations; reduce stigma that silences male survivors; and create pathways to action through resources and conversation.

Results & Impact

TOUCH has earned 25+ honors, been featured at major festivals, and reached readers worldwide. Feedback shows it sparks awareness that boys are exploited. The project drives school discussions, podcasts, and spotlights, reframing trafficking as a story that explicitly includes boys.