Raising Awareness Through Manga: Protecting Young People from Sextortion

Sextortion cases are on the rise, ensnaring more and more young people in their deceptive traps. The best way to protect ourselves and others is through education and awareness—understanding the tactics these criminals use and learning how to stay safe online. At ZOE International, we believe the first step in ending human trafficking is providing education to our communities.

One popular and powerful tool Japan uses to educate the youth is manga, a medium that resonates deeply with young people. That’s why we collaborated with Drawbridge Creations, a manga ministry organization, to create a joint project entailing a compelling story about a high school girl who falls victim to sextortion. This manga, released in late November, not only illustrates the dangers but also provides critical resources for those at risk. At ZOE, we witness the common occurrence of victims not realizing the exploitative relationship they’re in, and if they do recognize it, it is incredibly hard to tell someone and break free from it. This is why it is incredibly important to communicate with the youth in a way they would listen and understand the deeper implications of their decisions.

The manga includes:

• Information on where to seek help
• Self-check quizzes to assess personal risk
• Practical advice on staying safe

Thanks to the generous support from the New Hope Leeward Church in Hawaii, we can now offer hard copies for free! Our goal is to distribute this valuable resource to as many Japanese students as possible. If you’d like to help, you can order free copies today and share them with those who need them most. Please contact us at info@gozoe.jp with the name, address, and the number of copies required. Currently, the manga is available only in Japanese, but we are working on an English version, which we hope to release in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates! Together, let’s spread awareness and empower young people to protect themselves.