Life has come full circle for Harold D’Souza, native of Bajpe, Mangalore. From being a near slave in Lady Liberty’s land, to now being the ‘Voice for the Voiceless Victims’.
Varadaraj Souda President, Konkani Association of Northern California addressed the press, “It was a great pleasure meeting Harold D’Souza and an honor listening to him. Thank you for giving us the insights into this issue and educating us. We definitely need to do more to raise the awareness on this topic and this is a step in the right direction. Harold showed the strength by sharing his personal journey which was an eye opener for us including me”.
Ontario Konkani Association (OKA) in collaboration with Canada India Foundation (CIF), Indus Community Services, North American Konkani Association (NAKA), Chitrapur Heritage Foundation, U.S.A. (CHF), Saraswat Foundation, U.S.A. and Konkani Association of California, U.S.A. (KAOCA) conducted a conversation with Hon. Harold D’Souza on Sunday, March 13, 2022. The interview was conducted by Sadanand Mankikar.
Kishore Kulkarni from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada said, “The web seminar on human trafficking was so well organized. The subject was such a delicate but very harsh at the same time, and not taken into consideration by many if not most. It needs a real big and strong heart to come out and express in the public domain. Hats off to Harold D’Souza”.
Harold D’Souza is a survivor of labor trafficking and is an inspirational survivor advocate of international reputation. He is the Founder and President of Eyes Open International. He was appointed to the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking first by President Barak Obama and then by President Donald Trump.
Dr. Neha Gutkar stated, “This has been an amazing collaboration with experts from the field. Sometimes experience teaches us more than we can learn from the literature on the topic. In this case, I can see that Harold has lived the pain and he is trying to make a difference, so no other person goes through what he has been through. Harold presented his story to the world and it’s a big achievement in itself and the most difficult thing to do. I look forward to learn and collaborate with Harold D’Souza”.
The information shared by Harold was eye opener to gauge the depth of human trafficking issue and work which needs to be done. Our admiration for the work Harold is doing in this direction. Canada India Foundation (CIF)was delighted to be a partner with all supporting organizations, expressed Satish Thakkar, Chair, Canada India Foundation.
Sadanand Mankikar, born and brought up in Honnavar, North Kanara, Karnataka, residing in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, has been involved in community service since 1976. Since forming the Seniors’ Forum in 2016 and Health Awareness Program in 2018, he has organized over 40 events on health-related and socio-cultural issues.
Around 2018, having come across Hon. Harold D’Souza on Facebook and impressed with his activities related to Human Trafficking, Sadanand started envisioning about interviewing him.
YouTube link of this event can be watched: - https://youtu.be/u6AbUi1EGUg
Aim high, achieve higher and aspire happiness is the mission statement of crusader Harold D’Souza.
If you or anyone you suspect is a victim of labor or sex trafficking, dial the Canadian Human Trafficking hotline: 1-833-900-1010 and in the United States of America call: 1-888-373-7888.