ABOUT

All children, especially young girls, deserve the right to grow up in a world where they can walk down the street without fear for their safety. Therefore, the goal of this project is to normalize the conversations surrounding sex trafficking by equipping national education systems with simple curriculums.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"

Margaret Mead

MISSION | VISION | VALUES

MISSION

Normalizing the conversation by fostering an informed community

Vision

To create a safe & inclusive environment for all

Values

Compassion, Collaboration, Courage, Respect, Family, & Servitude

The Omega Project values the family in society because education begins in the home. Creating an environment for safe and open discussions with children is critical for their development. Therefore, first educating parents, guardians and teachers is a priority of this project. Parents are taught how to implement social media boundaries, how to build up a child’s self-confidence, and how to teach children to identify their “gut feeling/intuitions” so they can share and ask the right questions. Meanwhile, teachers are taught statistics, how to build safe environments for students to share concerns or questions, how to have conversations with parents about setting home boundaries, and how to build up a child’s confidence so they are raised knowing that they are valued and loved.

WHY "OMEGA" / Ω

Omega or “Ω” is the last letter of the Greek alphabet and it is often associated with or referenced as an “end.”

Ancient Athens, Greece, was the world’s first democratic society in which the voices of others were valued. To meaningfully develop the discussions, challenge ideas, norms, and politics, education was offered freely.

Though the ancient civilization had its flaws, the approach and value of free education align with the heart of The Omega Project.

The Omega Project is rooted in education – providing the general public with resources they would not otherwise have access to and to develop the discussion in a meaningful way, all to “end” the threat of sex trafficking in our world. It starts with education and it ends with us.

Founder

My name is Sarah Cestnick

At the age of 17, an acquaintance of mine was sold into sex trafficking by her boyfriend, and no one knew until she escaped four years later through the help of a local anti-trafficking organization. Shortly after learning about my friend, a headline exposing a local restaurant and mansion owner for sexual assault charges stole the front page of our city’s news, sending shock and helplessness throughout our city. Even though I was fortunate to grow up in a safe and inclusive community, I was extremely ill-prepared to face the threats of grooming. It was then that I first realized the magnitude of this issue and noted the lack of resources that were available to the public.

The world has changed so fast through the rise of technology, that the foundations of interpersonal communication have shifted – impacting how relationships of various kinds are developed and maintained on a global scale. Through this shift, national education systems have failed to properly pivot and address these changes. This means that teachers, parents, guardians, and communities are unable to properly educate our youth against the predatory acts of others (families and strangers alike). Because of this, trafficking has risen 317% in the past 12 years. I believe that education is the first step to not only slowing this rise but also preventing future cases. Education is also essential in restoring whole communities that are a target by the criminal organization for their complacency.

While participating in the 2022 Miss World Canada pageant, I decided to stand for our communities and provide the public with easy and accessible educational resources on this topic through the creation of The Omega Project.