Arqus student co-designed projects as they unfold: students report on the development of their winning project for the 2024 edition

Understanding Human Trafficking: A Resource for Awareness and Prevention is a bottom-up initiative that brings together students from the University of Padua (UNIPD) and the University of Granada (UGR), thanks to the Arqus Student Co-designed Projects 2024 funding.

A testimonial by Caroline Massareli and Lidia Meloni.

On 2 and 3 September we had the opportunity to visit the Cooperativa Sociale On the Road, based in San Benedetto del Tronto.

Caroline and I, students in the Masters in Human Rights and Multilevel Governance at the University of Padua, are excited to see our project on human trafficking, in collaboration with the University of Granada, take shape thanks to Arqus.

This cooperative has been working for 30 years to defend and promote the human, social and civil rights of women, men, children and transgender people living in vulnerable and isolated conditions in the territories of Marche, Abruzzo and Molise regions.

The cooperative welcomed us with open arms to provide us with theoretical notions about the historical and social phenomenon of trafficking and the legal landscape surrounding trafficking in Italy. In addition, through group brainstorming activities and a field trip to visit some of the local areas in which they operate, we understood on a practical level the work of the Cooperative, the services they offer and how they carry out intervention and support activities for victims of trafficking and exploitation.

This meeting was essential for us because it allowed us to better understand how an anti-trafficking body works and operates in the Italian territory. It also allowed us to expand our research and information, which will then be essential to shape our project and go on to build the information booklet that we will produce to give the population and the student community more insight into the issue of human trafficking.

More on the project

The project, in collaboration with local NGOs, aims to bring together students, civil society, and the third sector from Italy and Spain to share experiences, discuss new strategies, and raise public awareness about human trafficking.

One of the main outputs of the project will be the creation of a comprehensive booklet that will serve as a practical resource for identifying and responding to human trafficking at the local level. This booklet will be made available in Italian, Spanish, English, and Portuguese to ensure its accessibility to a wide audience, including students and the general public.

The main goal of the project is to take transformative action by raising awareness, addressing epistemic denial and injustice, and breaking down social barriers related to human trafficking. To achieve this, it is essential to work directly with selected NGOs. These NGOs lead the fight against trafficking and work directly with victims through mobile units and drop-in centres. They provide essential services and information to potential victims and are valuable partners in the project.

Working with these NGOs provides a unique opportunity to work with people from different backgrounds, which helps the project to better understand the vulnerabilities of potential victims. This understanding is key to developing more effective approaches and solutions to combat trafficking. Additionally, meaningful dialogue with stakeholders will help reshape the way the university community addresses broader societal challenges, fostering a more informed and proactive response.

This project represents a significant step forward in addressing one of the most pressing social issues of our time.

Caroline Massareli and Lidia Meloni

Cooperativa Sociale On the Road

More information about the Arqus Student Co-designed Projects initiative here.