The founder of The Hundred Movement, PW Gopal, poses with interns Kelly Harry, Blair Marini, Kate Miller, Kelly Scott and Sydney Beshore in the Whitewater Café Tuesday evening. PW Gopal spoke of the 32 billion dollar industry that is human trafficking and how his faith-based organization will strive to remove 100 people from it. Photo by Courtney Roskos | The Appalachian

The informational seminar was held in the Whitewater Café of the Plemmons Student Union.

P.W. Gopal, musician and founder of the organization, said “The Hundred Movement” is a religious organization that provides housing for young women and children who are victims of sex trafficking.

“The Hundred Movement” operates in western North Carolina and works in collaboration with the Hope House in Asheville and Hope House II in Boone, both of which provide housing and rehabilitation for prior victims of sex trafficking.

After the information session was over, Gopal presented a call to action to get involved with his current research project, entitled “The Playbook," which five Appalachian student interns are working on.

During the presentation, Gopal explained how the thought that human sex trafficking is mainly an overseas problem is inherently false.

Gobal said trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in America, generating around $32 billion worldwide each year.

Junior exercise science major Daniel Waln attended the event.

“Gopal’s message rings loud and clear,” Waln said. “With diminishing economic and religious resources to help out in these types of human rights issues. We can no longer depend on the church to fix them. Our generation is going to have to be the ones to step up to the plate and tackle these issues if we ever want to see positive results."

Anyone interested in combating sex trafficking in the United States can contact Gopal at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For additional information on "The Hundred Movement," visit pwgopal.com/hundred and sharedhope.org.

Story: DUSTIN FLANARY, Intern News Reporter
Photo: COURTNEY ROSKOS, Intern Photographer