Swift Current Christian Tae Kwon Do received recognition yesterday for their fundraising efforts to eliminate human trafficking.

The local club was presented with an award from International Justice Mission (IJM) as the highest fundraiser in North America in 2017, after their 'Breaking Boards, Breaking Chains' in April saw the club raise $12,500.

"We don’t do it for the awards, but it’s really nice when you know you’re in a community that can compete financially against places like Toronto or Richmond, or wherever other groups are doing this," said Gary Voysey, Swift Current Christian Tae Kwon Do's chief instructor. "It's just, once again, a testimony to the people of Swift Current and the area - it's just amazing."

Currently, IJM is operating in Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Kenya, Uganda, Bolivia, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.

Funds from 2017's campaign were to be used for the rescue and recovery of child sexual assault victims in Bolivia.

David Pollendine, Director of Development and Mobilization at IJM, explains that these fundraising efforts from local clubs and organizations are crucial.

"It’s really important - the dollar here goes a long way in a lot of the countries where we’re working, so it can really have a massive impact on all the stages that we are involved in what we do," Pollendine said. "Rescuing people from slavery, the restoration as well, getting them back to full health - the whole process can take years. It involves social workers, it involves aftercare professionals. All these things cost money. Then, also bringing things to a prosecution, bringing perpetrators to a prosecution, and trying to work with the whole system to try and transform the justice system... it all costs money."

At the moment, there are 40.3 million slaves in the world, a stat which comes from a joint effort between the International Labour Organization and the Walk Free Foundation, who calculate the Global Slavery Index.

Swift Current Christian Tae Kwon Do has now raised approximately $35,500 over four years.

Next year will be the martial arts club's fifth year that fundraising efforts are headed to IJM, and their Chief Instructor says he and his students are looking forward to the continued success of their work.

"Everybody, from the kids, to the parents, to my more mature students - they really get involved and buy into the idea of 'let's make a difference', especially when it comes to human trafficking," Voysey said.

"Martial arts in itself is about helping other people...it's about making a difference in the community and the world around them. We're really trying to showcase that's what we believe."

The club was also named the top fundraiser in 2015 and 2016.

Since the inception of the international 'Breaking Boards, Breaking Chains' campaign in 2013, $162,000 has been raised by martial arts schools across Canada and the USA for IJM.