Comic Heroes for Freedom

Aim

Children face daily risks from traffickers. Be the change to protect them. Your support for this project builds a safer and stronger future

Shandra Woworuntu, Kathy Moran, and the entire Mentari team carry a powerful truth: ending child trafficking is not just their mission — it is their calling. Their work is fueled by deep compassion, lived experience, and an unshakeable belief that every child deserves safety, respect, dignity, and freedom.

As a survivor of sex trafficking, Shandra’s leadership shows what courage, creativity, and lived expertise can achieve. In 2014, she helped publish Mentari’s first comic book, Dewi’s Dream — a groundbreaking, child‑friendly prevention tool that reached over 250,000 students and community members, distributed free of charge. Children learned about gender equality, traffickers recruit tactics, how technology, games, and social media can be used to lure them, and essential safety skills. School staff and families gained critical knowledge and awareness, strengthening entire communities. That success proved one thing: stories can save lives.

Mentari is building on that momentum with a new comic‑based prevention project created through a comprehensive, holistic, trauma‑informed approach. The mission is urgent and clear: protect children before traffickers and recruiters can reach them. Through relatable heroes and age‑appropriate storytelling, this project teaches children to recognize manipulation, trust their instincts, seek help, and understand their rights.

How the Funds Will Be Used

1. Comic Book Creation

• Writing stories inspired by real cases.
• Professional illustration, design, editing, and digital production.
• Translation into Indonesian, Spanish, Malay, and other languages to reach global communities.

2. Ethical Story Development

• Research using credible data and case studies on child trafficking.
• Trauma-informed storytelling developed with experts and survivor-informed perspectives.
• Content focused on awareness, prevention, and recovery.

3. Community Impact

Our goal is to transform real-world experiences into a powerful educational resource that supports human trafficking prevention. Through schools and community organizations, we aim to reach more than 250,000 students and community members.

Mentari team are not just advocates, they are leaders, builders of hope, and champions of safer futures. Their passion fuels this project — and now, they are inviting the world to stand with them.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 30th November 2026 at 2:40pm CST