Hearing about the appalling crime of human trafficking has prompted a St Albans saxophonist to busk for five hours to raise money for a charity fighting such exploitation.
Verulam School Year 9 pupil Ben Brown was so inspired after listening to Ruth Dearnley, the chief executive of Stop the Traffik, speak at the school’s Abbey service, that he decided to use his musical talent to help.
He entertained shoppers in The Maltings, playing for five hours in one day, and ended up raising £355 for the organisation.
Ben said he had “lots of people” stopping to ask him about the charity’s work, and upon being told he was busking to help stop slavery “they were happy to put their hand in their pocket”.
His efforts added to the £1,853 raised by Verulam for Stop the Traffik.
When presented with the cheque, Ruth told Ben: “It is efforts from young men like you that can have a profound effect on the lives of others – well done!”
The organisation was launched when a refuge worker at a day centre in Mumbai was deeply affected upon learning that a seven and nine year old brother and sister who had disappeared without trace from a slum had been sold to a man.
For more information on the charity and its work, click here.
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