Laura Pauwels, The Cork Sexual Violence Centre and Cork Community Art Link joined forces on a 2 month project called The Blue Hope Initiative. Together they created an interactive art installation for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which was displayed in Cork’s Bishop Lucey Park on the 30th July 2016.

The piece was inspired by the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) Blue Heart campaign which raises awareness by giving hope to victims and survivors of human trafficking.

The installation was a sculptural tree composed of 1000 blue origami cranes and messages of hope for victims and survivors of human trafficking collected from the general public, people working in associations against trafficking and survivors themselves.

Laura Pauwels is currently doing her masters by research at UCC in Theatre and Human Rights Activism: using performance and arts to raise awareness of sex trafficking and prostitution. She was the project manager and artistic director of the Blue Hope Intitiative. 

The Sexual Violence Centre is involved in a range of activities. Its most important work is the direct provision of services to the survivors of rape, sexual assault and child sexual abuse. The services are confidential, free of charge, and provided by highly experienced professional staff.

Cork Community Art Link is a participative community arts organisation and registered charity in Cork, Ireland.  They work with people to create a sense of community identity and collective pride enabling people to learn more about themselves and the world around them while having fun.  Their work engages with people both as participants and spectators in public spaces developing new ways of connecting with the arts.