"Reaching the stars"

In 1999, during our outreach program, we met Kala, (name changed) a daughter of a woman in prostitution. She was very shy, meek and reluctant to come to the organization for any formal or non formal education. She was at high risk of getting forced into prostitution as her mother was getting physically weak due to HIV.

With our constant persuasion and counselling, she started coming to our center. With support and encouragement not only did she improve in her studies, but she also started taking interest and participation in other activities and programs. She became confident.

After the tenth standard, AAWC enrolled her in a personality development program as well as an English speaking course for a year, as she wanted to start earning her own money. Simultaneously she did her 11th and 12th standard studies privately. By then she was placed at a Pizza Chain. In a very short period she became the team leader there. In June 2008 a famous five star hotel started a three year “Hotel Management Apprentice Program”.

After five rigorous rounds of interviews, 14 students out of 120, from all over India got selected. Kala was one of them. After her training she will be a full-time recruit anywhere in India or abroad (as per her performance and choice) by the same hotel. This is her third and final year. She passed her last two exams with 75% and 79%, respectively.

Academic Statical data of girls from 2000 till 2011

Stories of Transformation through the “Udaan” program – A flight to a better life
(All names have been changed to protect the identity of these girls)

:: Success Stories Of Women In UMEED Program ::
(All names have been changed to protect the identity of these women)

Meena is a 43 years old Devdasi. She has lived all her life in the red light area. Her mother put her into prostitution at age of 14 years. This is as customary ritual of the community. Meena was too young to realize the meaning of sex work and the consequences of it. Once she began understanding it, she starting turning to alcohol to suppress her emotional and physical pain.

Meena has been a beneficiary of AAWC since its inception. Initially when she frequented the centre, was very casual in her approach. After some persuasion she started learning computers and English. Realizing her potential, AAWC provided her with a job as a Peer educator for its outreach program. AAWC accepted challenge of addressing her alcoholism. Very soon she gained confidence and brought her two daughters to the centre for educational and other help. AAWC counseled Meena and her daughters simultaneously, to protect their future against the Devdasi tradition of getting into prostitution.

With AAWC's unconditional care and support, gradually Meena started realizing her responsibility as a mother and a protector. When her mother and other community people pressurized her, she firmly made the resolve of not letting her daughters follow her profession. AAWC helped Meena’s daughters with job skill training as para-professionals in Social Work after their basic education up to the 10th std. Both of them secured jobs at non-profits. Meena proudly encouraged her daughters to pursue a job of their choice, following which she up let them chose their life partners and get married.

Today, Meena is a proud grandmother of three grandchildren.

Vidya was married to an unemployed alcoholic man at the age of 15 years. She was trafficked and forced into prostitution at the age of 17 years by her own brother in - law under the pretext of getting a good paying job in Mumbai. She was tired of being hunger and constant physical abuse. Vidya tried to resist being pushed into the sex trade but couldn’t do much as her baby was with her in laws back in the village.

Here in red light area Vidya kept shifting from one brothel to other. She became quiet and introverted but very rude by nature. In between she gave birth to a girl child which soon became a beneficiary of AAWC's Umang and Udaan project. The daughter was later on diagnosed with L D. AAWC extensively counselled Vidya about this.

Through her daughter AAWC got an opportunity to peak into Vidya’s life. Slowly AAWC staff was able to gain her trust to share all her pain within. But soon Vidya was devastated when she discovered that she has HIV. She went into a shell and was not ready to accept that she had HIV. She became completely indifferent towards herself. The community around started taking advantage of her illness, by trying to lure her daughter into prostitution.

Vidya was very reluctant, but AAWC very firmly intervened here and convinced Vidya to put her daughter into a Boarding home. A huge positive change in her daughter’s behaviour turned Vidya’s outlook drastically. She admired AAWC whole heartedly for this change. Unlike earlier she is now seriously taking care of her health and takes her ART medicines. For the first time in her life Vidya has put on weight and looks self content, even though she is unwell.

AAWC is happy to provide the means of some respite and change in Vidya’s life.

“AAWC is my real family. This is the first time in my life I have felt what is true love and care is”   Vidya says.