Save runaway girls from human trafficking

Nineteen-year-old Zoya has spent her entire life navigating a system that often felt like it was designed to let her down. As an orphan in Mumbai, she moved between various childcare institutions and shelter homes, never knowing the stability of a family or a place to call her own. Upon turning 18, the support she relied on vanished, leaving her without a path toward independence or a way to earn a living. The years of neglect and lack of guidance meant she struggled to pass her school exams, and in her previous shelter, she faced harassment and profound loneliness.

Last year, Zoya was referred to our partner’s project, Urja Trust. When she arrived, she was deeply distressed and searching for a sense of belonging. The project’s priority was to provide a trauma-informed environment where her basic needs—food, clothing and healthcare—were finally met without question. For the first time, she had the mental space to think about her future rather than just her survival.

Through intensive counselling, Zoya began to work through the long-term effects of neglect and the isolation she had felt for years. Our partner’s project provided career guidance and encouraged her to look beyond her previous academic struggles. They helped her enrol in a hospitality management course at a leading hotel, where she didn't just learn new skills—she excelled.

Zoya has now completed her training and secured a professional placement. After a lifetime of being moved from one institution to another, she is finally charting her own course. She is currently looking for long-term roles in the hospitality industry, supported by a referral for stable housing.

While she builds her career, Zoya still holds onto a deeply personal hope. She remembers a brother who visited her once when she was very young, and she dreams of one day reconnecting with him or finding answers about her parents. With her newfound confidence and the professional skills she gained through our partner's project, Zoya is a determined, stepping into the world with a plan, a purpose and a place to belong.

Thank you for your essential support. Because of you, more women like Zoya can find a place of safety and build a life of choice and freedom.

Aarohi, aged 20, came to Karuna after escaping violence at home. She was referred to the project by a local support network and found safety in Karuna’s shelter for women experiencing homelessness. Aarohi had endured years of physical, emotional and verbal abuse from her family and faced discriminatory treatment compared to her brothers. She had limited educational opportunities, completing only up to the 9th grade, and struggled with socio-economic hardships and a lack of a supportive environment. The psychological trauma of abuse and neglect, combined with fear for her safety and lack of formal skills, made her situation extremely vulnerable.

Since joining Karuna, Aarohi has engaged in counselling sessions and has participated in workshops aimed at building her self-esteem and planning her future. She expressed a desire to learn vocational skills, particularly mehndi art (henna), and received guidance and support to pursue this.

The project has provided her with a safe and nurturing environment where she can focus on personal growth and begin to rebuild her confidence. Support in emotional regulation, social skills development and self-confidence have helped Aarohi gain stability and start planning for financial independence.

Aarohi is now actively learning mehndi art and gradually participating in activities that support her rehabilitation and skill development. She has chosen to remain at shelter, where she feels safe and supported, despite her family’s wishes for her to return home. Although she is not yet earning an income, she is on the path to developing the skills needed to support herself financially. Aarohi dreams of becoming financially independent through her work as a mehndi artist and hopes to build a life free from abuse and dependency, creating a future grounded in safety, dignity and self-reliance.