Today, over 50 million people worldwide are being trafficked or live in modern slavery.
Take part in raising awareness. Join the movement by filling sidewalk cracks with red sand and documenting your sidewalk transformation on social media using #RedSandProject.
How to participate
Participating in Red Sand Project is as easy as ordering your supplies and gathering a group of people together. And it’s free! (We only ask that you pay for shipping.)
Get people and supplies
Red Sand Project is a way for people to come together and connect, raising awareness about human trafficking, modern slavery, and exploitation. You can take part in Red Sand Project with a group of friends or family, with a team or an organization, as a youth group or community group, and even in your classroom. All you need is a group of 15 people or more.
Order the sand — it’s free!
Once you know how many people are in your group, and where you’re going to have your event, order your sand from us on this website. We’ll send you red sand and informational materials, free of charge. We only ask that you pay for shipping. (Please allow up to 7 days for processing, plus time for shipping.)
Create your sidewalk installation
Find a location to pour the sand, gather any materials you might need (cups, sidewalk chalk, posters, etc.), and then you’re all set to do your Red Sand Project event. As a group, pour the red sand in sidewalk cracks and highlight the ways people are vulnerable to exploitation.
Share your experience
Make sure to take photos and videos of your sidewalk transformation, and share them on social media using #RedSandProject. Your event will be connected to the thousands of other Red Sand Project actions worldwide, expanding the movement to end human trafficking and modern slavery.
Take the first steps
If you know how many people will be in your group, go ahead and place your order for sand. (Your event should be no fewer than 12 days from the date of your order.)
Still unsure? Read the frequently asked questions below.
How many people will be participating?
Give us your best estimate of the approximate number of people with whom you’ll be doing Red Sand Project. This number helps us figure out how much sand to send you.
- It’s okay if you’re not exact — we’ll provide enough extra materials in case you need to add 5-10 more people.
- Make sure your event date is no fewer than 12 days from the date of your order.
Great, 15-50 people. We recommend 1 box of sand.
We encourage groups to use our large, 25-pound boxes of red sand for their events. Large boxes allow us to minimize waste and be more efficient with shipping. Most groups will use one box of sand per 100 people.
- If you have fewer than 50 people, or don’t plan on pouring sand at your event, we recommend that you only use our smaller toolkits.
Select the number of toolkits you need. We recommend 50.
Toolkits allow people to take Red Sand Project home with them and share it with their community! This is how we can spread the word and grow the movement to end human trafficking.
- If your group is smaller than 50, we encourage you to use toolkits for pouring sand instead of a large box.
To participate in Red Sand Project, we ask that you gather a group of 15 people or more.
This can be a group of friends or family, a team or organization, a youth group or community group, a classroom... there are lots of options! If you have any questions, feel free to send us an email or give us a call.
For groups of 300 or more, please reach out to us by email or phone.
Due to the large amount of sand required to accomodate groups of this size we recommend getting in contact with us directly. We'll work with you to figure out how to best meet your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Red Sand Project cost?
We provide the materials for you, free of charge — we only ask that you pay for shipping. We know that shipping costs can be expensive, and we appreciate your help in keeping Red Sand Project functioning. Shipping costs vary depending on location and quantity, and we do our best to keep costs as low as possible for you.
What if I can’t afford shipping?
If shipping costs are a concern for you, please let us know — we do not want shipping costs to be prohibitive. We are happy to work with you to help ensure your Red Sand Project event can happen. Just email us at info@redsandproject.org and tell us your situation, and we’ll figure it out together.
What if my event is in fewer than 12 days?
We ask for 5-7 business days for processing, as well as 3-5 days for shipping. If your event is in fewer than 12 days, please email us at orders@redsandproject.org and we will try our best to fulfill your order. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to deliver every order in time if it is placed less than 12 days in advance.
Where can I use Red Sand Project?
Anywhere there is a crack in a sidewalk or on the street! Public places are fair game, but make sure to ask for permission if you want to use it on private property. You often don’t need a permit to do it in public spaces, but certain colleges and parks might require additional permission. We recommend that you use the Global Modern Slavery Database to identify local anti-trafficking organizations, and ask them for permission to do Red Sand Project outside their offices or buildings.
How many toolkits should I request? Should I request a box of sand?
It depends on the number of people you’re expecting. We recommend ordering as many toolkits as you think there will be participants at your event. People can take toolkits home with them, or give them to friends or community members as a way of spreading the word about human trafficking. If you plan on creating large outdoor installations, we recommend that you order boxes of red sand in addition to the individual toolkits. Participants can take the sand in cups and pour it into cracks; this option creates less waste, and is easier to manage. In general, one box of sand is enough for about 100 people.
Can I participate by myself?
Unfortunately we no longer provide Red Sand Project as an activity to be done individually. However, you can still participate in a group! You can do Red Sand Project with a group of friends or family, for a team or organization, as a youth group or community group activity, and even in your classroom. If you can gather a group of 15 people or more to participate, let us know and we will send you Red Sand Project toolkits, large boxes of sand, and informational take-home materials to help you with your event.
Do you ship internationally?
Generally we do not ship outside of the United States due to customs issues and shipping logistics. We cannot guarantee that the order will be able to ship to your location and arrive on time. However, we would love for you to be able to participate, so we are happy to look into the shipping logistics and will let you know if we run into any issues. We do ask that you pay the shipping fees.
To get started, please send us an email with: your name, your organization's name, the date of your event, the shipping address, the number of participants you expect, and how many toolkits and/or boxes of sand you need.
Please note that international shipping, if possible, will take longer than our standard times.
Is the red sand safe?
Yes! The sand is colored using special pigments and resins, all of which are tested and certified non-toxic. Since the intended use of the sand products includes children ages 3 and up, our sand manufacturer is extremely careful. No plastics/polymers/BPA are used during the manufacturing of the sand.
The sand is made from the feldspathic rock family, a known source for producing a natural, non-toxic material completely void of carcinogens like crystalline silica, quartz, tremolite asbestos and more. It’s colored red using organic pigments and resins, encapsulating each grain with only organic ingredients and processed to sparkling perfection. The sand also does not contain any nuts (including peanuts), gluten or wheat; and it is tested annually with safety standards for children of all ages. Here is a downloadable sand safety data sheet, if you need more information.
In terms of environmental impact, our sand manufacturer uses only natural and organic ingredients to manufacture our sand products: sand (crushed feldspar rock) and color processing (organic pigments and resins).
Will the red sand stain my skin or clothes? Is it difficult to clean up?
No. The sand will appear to ‘rub off’ and stick on skin and fabrics due to its extreme fineness. Grains will easily stick to surfaces with moisture, fabric, static, etc. Soap and water is encouraged for easy removal. The sand is easily cleaned up by sweeping or vacuuming — it also will wash away in the rain or with water just like the sand at the beach!
Can I use the Red Sand Project logo on my promotional materials?
Absolutely! If you are using a Mac, you can download our logos and fonts right here. If you are using a PC, please download our logos and fonts here. We just ask that you credit Red Sand Project with the hashtag #RedSandProject.
Still have questions?
If you have any questions, please send us an email or give us a phone call.