Save runaway girls from human trafficking

 Naina was adopted when she was a small child, after being abandoned when she was a baby, she was scared that she would be left alone once more. Her worst fears soon came true, after her stepparents left her behind when they moved to a new city.

 She decided to move to Mumbai to start fresh, however, being a young woman, meant that Naina was vulnerable to exploitation. She was taken advantage of, married to a man who used her for sex work. Her family never permitted her to study, preferring to do all the house chores, thus she was unable to escape her situation.

When Urja, our partner’s project, first met her, she was living on the streets barely getting by. She was not only provided with housing, so she had a safe space to live, but also had access to therapy, where she could process her trauma. Initially, she didn’t get involved with any activities and kept to herself, but as her confidence grew, she learnt about her rights and education empowered her to move slowly towards self-care. Naina took part in yoga, dancing, art-based therapy and movement therapy- focusing on reconnecting with oneself. She learnt to write and sign her own name and once again could look to the future.

She now has employment and is living independently, grateful for the refuge Urja provided to enable her to do. Her only wish is to continue to feel safe and continue to provide for herself in a sustainable and secure employment.

All girls and women should feel and be safe. Thanks to your support it means girls and women like Naina can be.

Links:

• Visit our website to find out more!
• Karuna Trust Instagram for opportunities and updates!

Before arriving to our partners in Mumbai, Bhavana was living on the streets with her 3 children. She had nowhere else to go and was in a desperate situation.

She was married at a very young age to ease the financial burden on her family, however, her marital family mistreated and abused her. This led her to flee back to her family and start again. Later, she was married a second time due to social and cultural pressure. Her second husband had addiction issues and once again she was abused, and their 3 children neglected. Bhavana was forced to face the streets with her children, instead of enduring any more.

Bhavana was referred to the Urja team under severe pressure, she gained access to the therapy service, which enabled her to take care of her needs and prioritise her mental health for the first time in her life. She attended many activities such as stress relieving classes, trauma healing sessions and group therapy, where she could meet others who had experienced similar hardships. She was also provided with accommodation, so she could rebuild her, and her children’s lives. Her children were finally in a safe and secure environment where they could flourish.

She has recently been enrolled in an open schooling course and has just sat an exam, which she hopes she will receive good results. Part of Urja’s work is finding suitable jobs for women like Bhavana and exploring their options. During their sessions, they suggested that teaching would be a great choice for her to aspire to. With the qualifications that Bhavana now has access to, she agrees that teaching is what she wants to do with her life and continue her education.

Your generous support means women like Bhavana have somewhere to go when their home life is intolerable, and they are made to run away. They can rebuild and access their true potential.

 Thank you.

Links:

• Link to our website to find out more and see our projects!
• Karuna Trust Instagram for opportunities and updates!