Shelter home for survivors of human trafficking

As in previous reports, we want to keep thanking you for your help. You make it possible for women survivors of human trafficking to build a better future for themselves. In the Udaan shelter, we host women who work hard every day to get the reins of theis lives back in their own hands.

In this opportunity we would like to share the story of Gita, who joined the shelter in 2021 with a lot of fears and a very hard background, but also full of hopes.

When she was only 13, she had been sold by her own uncle to a brothel at Kamathipura, the red-light district at Mumbai. For years, she suffered sexual exploitation, and also had to take responsibility for her son, her mother, and even her grandson - whose mother, Gita's own daughter, abandoned with her after she left with a man.

She was decided to fight for her future and that of her family, so she joined the shelter and worked hard to gain a acquire abilities and get a life for herself and her beloved ones.

Today we can state emphatically that Gita has taken great advantage of this opportunity. She has participated with the desire to grow on a personal and professional level in the different sessions proposed.

Although what she has enjoyed the most is cooking. She loved taking care of this activity in the center. 

And you might have noticed that we use the past tense, this is because Gita is now ready to go her own way and she is going to start her own business. a food stall in Kamathipura, the income of which will support her and her family. She is happy, and very excited! And at Mumbai Smiles we brim with pride.

We will to continue suporting her, with a new dose of energy. At last, she has the reins of her life in her hands, so she can build her future and that of her family!

Links:

• Gita: the reins of her life, in her hands