For some, slavery isn’t a thing of the past.

According to the new University chapter of the national organization Not For Sale, some researchers estimate there are more human slaves in the world today than at any other point in history.

Not For Sale is a national organization dedicated to eliminating human slavery throughout the world.

“Human trafficking is the fastest-growing illicit enterprise in the world,” said Kaci Schack, a first-year social work master’s student from Edmon, Okla., and one of the creators of the new Athens Not For Sale chapter. “Slavery exists in every state.”

“We’re working to start this chapter in Athens because we feel it’s too important for people not to know about it, especially in this area,” said Kayla Sullivan, a junior majoring in international affairs from Trenton. “Atlanta is actually a hub for trafficking. It has one of the highest rates of child prostitution in the nation. With such a large percentage of our student body coming from the Atlanta area, it makes the issue especially relevant.”

Not For Sale has six other chapters in the state – at Emory, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and Georgia College & State University.

Schack and fellow creator Kayla Sullivan, a junior majoring in international affairs from Trenton, are still in the process of registering the club as an official campus organization. They have created a Facebook group called “Not For Sale (UGA Chapter)” and as of Oct. 21 had more than 50 group members.

“Once we get a couple more committed people, then we can register our organization and decide when and where meetings will be held,” Schack said.

Not For Sale will host multiple events throughout the year to raise awareness of human trafficking and recruit more interested students.

Schack and Sullivan said they hope to bring David Batstone, founder of the national Not For Sale organization, to Athens to speak to students about modern-day slavery and how they can help with the cause.

They also want to organize fundraisers to benefit NFS Georgia and hope to screen documentaries and dramas that deal with trafficking issues.

They are already working to arrange several informal information sessions for students to learn more about the issue of human trafficking.

“It’s important to us that we make things are relaxed as possible, and to mix in fun activities with what we do, because the seriousness of this issue often pushes people away from learning more, and not out of callousness so much as discomfort,” said Sullivan.

If students are interested in joining Not For Sale, they can become a member of the Facebook group or e-mail notforsaleuga@gmail.com for more information.