Voices of Survivors Project

The Voices of Survivors Project is a platform for survivors of human sex trafficking or other forms of violence to express their lived experiences as survivors through photography.

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About Voices of Survivors Project

The Voices of Survivors Project came from a dissertation study conducted to directly highlight the voices of survivors and their expressed experiences, especially after separation from the trafficker.

Seven women participated in this Photovoice study, six providing eligible photos. They were instructed to take or gather as many pictures as they wanted over 30 days, with the only limitation of no identifying information, such as faces. The prompt given was to take pictures and share a caption that expresses their experiences as a survivor.

The participants then participated in a focus group to together discuss the shared themes and messages of their pictures. Finally, they were asked how they wanted to share these photos with others. They collectively expressed they wanted a national and global reach to learn through their photo journey.

Thus, the Voices of Survivors Project became a transportable exhibit, accompanying photo book, and social media, the fruit of their feedback and their willingness to share their experiences through these photographs. The exhibit contains the submitted photos of each participant, who also chose their identifying name or number displayed throughout the study.

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“I hope others see the power of Photovoice and the ways that it can be utilized to give expression to an individual, and as a survivor, the ways that I have found healing in the midst of it and the ways that it can really share that narrative and not just share the narrative but also share the future as well. It doesn’t just tell the past narrative, it can also share the creation of a future narrative. This is what I am leaving this experience with, which has been so powerful for me.”
Voices of Survivors Participant
“It takes a lot of people to help someone come back to life and to experience life again.  It takes a connection.  It takes a connection with people.  It takes connection with God or your Higher Power.  It takes a connection with yourself.  It takes a lot of reflection. Survivors are just normal people going through everyday life, and trying to make a little difference.”
Voices of Survivors Participant
“There is more positivity than negativity.  Being a survivor does not mean that everything is about the traumas that we have endured.   How big of a change it is to go from being in the life to be out of it.  Yet, we are able to see more than survive.  We can engage in the future.  We can see the world around us embrace new things and new experiences.”
Voices of Survivors Participant
“There is hope and that it is possible to see beauty even in the midst of the horrific things that have happened. If we can see beauty, then we can communicate beauty because pictures are a form of communication. Then if we communicate beauty, that creates hope and hope then gives us the ability to take another step into the future”
Grace, Voices of Survivors Participant
Support the Project

Order a Voices of Survivors Book

Proceeds for this project will be donated to national/global organizations helping survivors of human trafficking.

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Voices of Survivors Project: Original

$25

Voices of Survivors Project, Lehigh Valley
Volume 1

$25

Voices of Survivors Project, Lehigh Valley: Volume 2

$25

Voices of Survivors: Lehigh Valley Volume 3 book

Voices of Survivors Project, Lehigh Valley: Volume 3

$25

Order a Voices of Survivors Book

Would you like to empower your next awareness event?

Dr. Heather Evans and the Voices of Survivors Project display is available for your next in-person or virtual event or training. Dr. Evans brings nearly two decades of experience and knowledge that will empower and educate your attendees. The Voices of Survivors Project Exhibit is ideal for awareness events and trainings for any community group or organization.

To learn more about how you can have Dr. Evans deliver her passion and knowledge to your audience, contact her team TODAY!