Whether a woman is seeking financial independence or a young girl is beginning her school, our centers offer sustained, reliable support. Our work encompasses outreach, health, education, safe home, adult literacy, empowerment, recreation, and livelihood support.
By remaining rooted in the heart of the community, we ensure that every individual has a trusted place to turn for health, learning, and the support needed to reintegrate into the society.
Umeed
She took the journey
From despair to hope,
Slow down, she is learning to cope,
New breaths of trust strengthen her lead—
She reigns over life with her newfound Umeed
Umeed means hope. Hope for women aged 18 and in brothel-based prostitution in and across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai’s red-light areas – Kamathipura, Falkland Road, and Turbhe. We don’t believe in one-time rescue. Instead, we walk alongside women at their own pace, helping them build the skills, confidence, and networks needed for societal reintegration. Through sustained support and dignity-centred care, we facilitate genuine pathways to empowerment.
Outreach workers identify beneficiaries, inform their mothers about Udaan’s services, and monitor each girl’s progress through school visits, individual interaction and monthly meetings. Mothers visit their daughters at safe homes and receive regular progress updates.
We provide urgent treatment for STIs, HIV/AIDS, and TB. This includes hospital referrals, subsidised care, medical camps, nutritional supplementation, and counselling for substance abuse, violence, and mental health concerns.
We help beneficiaries escape debt by opening savings accounts, teaching banking skills, and facilitating access to government schemes. Our support workers provide personalised guidance towards financial autonomy. We break the cycle of debt and build economic stability for societal integration.
Daily workshops build foundational competencies in Hindi and English, numeracy, literacy, and functional life skills. Vocational training programmes include tailoring, mehendi application, and beauty services. We also assist with job placements and provide support for women starting small business.
We assist women in obtaining essential identity documents including Aadhar, PAN, ration cards, and voter IDs. We raise awareness of legal, social, and financial rights, equipping women with the tools to participate fully in mainstream society.
Festival celebrations, excursions, and group activities offer moments of respite, connection, and belonging.
We refer women to secure safe homes when they require safety, chronic illness care, or residential job training to support their transition into mainstream life.
Udaan
She is on fire!
With eyes for tomorrow,
Oh! She is fearless, beyond all shadows,
There is no looking back—
She trusts the charm of her newfound Udaan
Udaan is a flight into mainstream society for young girls aged 5 to 18, in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai’s red-light areas. These girls face the significant threat of intergenerational prostitution. We provide comprehensive healthcare, nutrition, shelter, psycho-social support, and academic guidance, creating pathways towards societal reintegration with dignity and breaking cycles that have persisted for generations.
Outreach workers identify beneficiaries, inform their mothers about Udaan’s services, and monitor each girl’s progress through school visits, individual interaction and monthly meetings. Mothers visit their daughters at safe homes and receive regular progress updates.
Enrolment in kindergarten, schools, and colleges. After-school tuition, spoken English courses, and coaching support. We review progress monthly to ensure no child falls behind.
We provide daily nutritious meals, medical camps, monthly check-ups, wellness workshops, hospital referrals, subsidised hospital care and medication. Yoga and karate classes are held to build psycho-physical balance. Counselling addresses personal challenges.
Girls learn banking, government schemes, and saving practices which are skills that enable them to support their mothers and build their own futures.
We facilitate access to identity documents and raise awareness of human rights. Vocational training in music, dance, drama, and karate is delivered through structured programmes. Expert speakers conduct workshops on life skills, career guidance, and social awareness, preparing girls for full participation in mainstream society.
Day and night safe homes for girls facing unsafe home conditions. Referrals to vetted shelter homes when additional support is required.
Theme park visits, carnivals, festival celebrations, and group activities create spaces where girls can simply experience childhood, build friendships, and enjoy moments of carefree play.
For ten years, Rekha* engaged with AAWC primarily for material support, showing little regard for the outreach team. The pandemic changed everything. When she witnessed the team’s relentless commitment, ensuring provisions reached women despite all obstacles, her perspective shifted. Rekha now actively participates in activities, volunteers to help with distributions, and has discovered the true value of community support. Her transformation shows that genuine connection takes time, but leaves lasting impact.
Mina, 50, has lived in Mumbai’s red-light district for many years. She has faced numerous hardships throughout her life, but her determination to change her circumstances has been unwavering. A dedicated participant in Umeed for several years, she always envisioned leaving her past behind and returning to her native village. When AAWC introduced tailoring training, she enrolled enthusiastically, mastering the craft with exceptional attention to detail. She began accepting small tailoring orders within the community, gradually building confidence and expertise. Through persistent effort, she repaid all her loans, returned to her village, purchased a sewing machine, and now earns a sustainable livelihood through tailoring commissions.
Arati,44, faced immense adversity from a young age—losing her mother, enduring abuse, and being coerced into Mumbai’s red-light area. She battled HIV, abusive relationships, TB, cancer, and overwhelming debt. At her lowest point, she contemplated ending her life. Through Umeed, she received critical health support, counselling, hospital treatment, and ₹50,000 in government assistance. With nutritional support and skills development in bag-making, Aarti began earning a livelihood and caring for her child with dignity. Today, she not only sustains herself but actively motivates others facing similar circumstances.
When the lockdown struck, Meena* lost all income and faced mounting challenges. AAWC provided rations and emotional support during those uncertain months. Our outreach workers
encouraged her to explore new possibilities. With their guidance, she launched her own vegetable business. Today, Meena manages her finances confidently, negotiates with customers, and meets her expenses independently. She’s a testament to resilience and societal reintegration.
At age 8, Priti’s* health deteriorated significantly during the pandemic lockdown. Confined to a small room in the red-light area, she lost her appetite, disengaged from online classes, and developed unhealthy habits. Recognizing the urgency, AAWC readmitted her to the centre. Through one-on-one counselling, group sessions, nutritious meals, and a structured routine, Priti transformed. She regained focus, became actively responsive in classes, and achieved excellent scores in her exams. Today, she is healthy, active, and happy, thriving in the nurturing environment AAWC provides.
Twelve-year-old Sarina* arrived from Kashmir in 2019. Shy and gullible, she was easily manipulated by women in the red-light area who sent her on dangerous errands. AAWC staff counselled her repeatedly about setting boundaries and recognizing risks. After returning from Diwali vacation with her mother, Sarina proudly shared that she had firmly refused inappropriate requests from neighbours. Her mother confirmed the change. This newfound assertiveness marks crucial progress in Sarina’s psychological development and her capacity for confident participation in mainstream society.
Shama* was identified in 2018 in a busy Kamathipura brothel. Initially reserved and hesitant at AAWC’s day and night shelter, she gradually began to trust. After completing our kindergarten curriculum focused on motor skills and cognitive development, she enrolled in an English-medium school. Through group sessions and individualized support, Shama blossomed. Today, she participates actively in school activities and has developed a keen interest in craft. Her mother no longer harbours concerns about her daughter’s future.
Four-year-old Rima* couldn’t even hold a spoon when she first joined Udaan due to her poor health. Her mother’s frustration led to physical punishment, which Rima replicated at the center. AAWC teachers addressed the root cause, and provided timely nutritious meals to improve her health and counselled her mother on positive parenting. Rima’s transformation was remarkable. Her health improved substantially, her behaviour stabilised, and today she participates sincerely in all activities. Early intervention fundamentally changed the trajectory of her childhood.
Disclaimer: "*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the individuals."
Umeed
Udaan
