The American Bus Association Foundation launched a scholarship program for victims of human trafficking this month, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games. “Those are prime opportunities for human trafficking to spike,” said Lew Myers, the foundation’s director of research, policy and impact.
The ABA represents the intercity bus industry, charter and tour operators and related companies. The foundation supports industry research and offers scholarships for those pursuing degrees in transportation, travel, tourism and related industries.
Traffickers often use bus terminals and bus stops to recruit vulnerable people and use buses to transport their victims to locations where they’ll be sold, according to the ABA. The group partners with Truckers Against Trafficking’s program to train drivers how to identify possible trafficking and contact authorities through a national hotline.
The $5,000 scholarship, which will be awarded to one individual this year, may be used for education, training, housing, food, daycare or treatment recovery and rehabilitation. Applicants are asked to submit a statement explaining how the scholarship will help them, without including any personal details. “In dealing with human trafficking, there's a lot of sensitive information,” Myers said, so they are not asking for specific information. The 2026 application deadline is May 1.
Myers said there will be regular check-ins with the scholarship winner for one year. These check‑ins are designed to provide support, help assess the recipient’s progress and ensure the scholarship meets the recipient’s needs.
The foundation’s board of governors agreed to fund the scholarship for three years, Myers said.
During President Donald Trump’s first administration, he engaged the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security to combat human trafficking. Any commercial driver convicted of committing a felony involving a severe form of human trafficking will permanently lose their commercial driver’s license.
