Musafir| Women's Day Special: Manju Vyas: Adding colours to the Red Light Area.- 8th March 2016.
Caught in the trifling labyrinth of life, Manju Vyas, a corporate professional felt the need to do something meaningful on her free weekends. She started volunteering for the Apne Aap Women’s Collective, eventually becoming its CEO. Read her inspiring journey of breaking barriers, moulding paths and giving a second life to the sex workers of Mumbai and their children.
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Homegrown| Profiling 5 Ex-Sex Workers training to be hairstylists at Sapna Bhavnani's 'Paathshala' - 3 March, 2016.
“Pathshaala is run by Sapna Bhavnani in collaboration with Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC), a non-profit working towards anti-trafficking. Their (women’s) complete focus is on moving forward, on making the most of the spectacular opportunity they have here, learning from Karishma and Sapna as they strive for financial independence with a new vocation, and a better way of life.
Mid-Day | The bob comes to Kamathipura - 6th December, 2015.
“Ex-commercial sex workers train under celebrity hairstylist to steer financial independence. With sufficient training, AAWC and Bhavnani hope that these new stylists will be able to open their salon, perhaps even in Kamathipura.
The Swaddle| From Kamathipura to Teacher with AAWC - 4 August, 2015.
“When people think of Mumbai’s red light district, Kamathipura, rarely do they think of the many children who call Kamathipura home. Born into an environment of negativity and hopelessness, children are often sentenced by the accident of birth to continue the cycle of intergenerational prostitution or to engage in child labour.
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Lexicon| Breaking Barriers: With Apne Aap Women's Collective - 10 April, 2015.
Founder Sudarshan Loyalka believed that even making a difference in the life of few is a huge achievement. From then on began his journey of setting up Apne Aap Women’s Collective with the mission of empowering women who have been trafficked into brothel based prostitution.
The Knox Student| Diversity Art Month benefitting Asha for Life - 8 April, 2015.
“Members of Asha for Life travelled back to India and picked two organizations that they wanted to sponsor through their organization. They chose Apne Aap Women’s Collective and the Rescue Foundation, both of which are organizations in India that work to rescue survivors of sexual slavery and help them recover from their experiences and reintegrate back into the community.
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Dalal Times Magazine | Wings to Fly - March Edition, 2015.
“AAWC has extensively worked in empowering daughters of women in prostitution to escape a vicious cycle, secure well paid skill based jobs and eventually to be in a position taking their mothers out of prostitution as well.
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Midday | It's cool to be #Brown - 9 December, 2014.
“The editors of FunOKPlease have tied up with Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC), an NGO that works towards empowering women and children in the red light districts of Mumbai. They have launched the #BrownChallenge where children under 15 years can raise funds for the NGO through fun activities.
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The Economic Times | Deepak Parekh's son set to marry - 31 October, 2014.
“Wedding celebrations are set to begin in Deepak Parekh’s house. Parekh’s son, Sidharth will marry his English-American girlfriend, Claire O’ Neil, over a three day ceremony in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The couple has requested that guests refrain from any opulent gifts and instead contribute to the charity, Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC).
The Times of India, Mumbai | Progress hasn't stopped attacks against women17 October, 2014.
“Members from Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC), an anti trafficking organization working for commercial sex workers and their kids in Kamathipura, had visited the Sophia College campus. Stott Despoja (Australian Ambassador) was in town to promote Australia’s global engagement with gender empowerment and equal rights.
DNA of Women | Because girls matter11 October, 2014.
What I love the most at AAWC are the activities we regularly engage in. I love doing masti, singing and dancing and want to become a dancer! I want to become like Katrina Kaif when I grow up!
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Mumbai Mirror | Friends for a cause - 17 Aug 2014.
“The branch office of 14-year-old non-profit, Apne Aap Women’s Collective doubles up as a night shelter and day care for children of women in prostitution. Their effort is to ensure GenNext wrangles itself out of the fate they were born into.
DNA | Born Again - 15 Aug 2014.
“Apne Aap Women’s Collective, an NGO, has been working with the community of women in prostitution to make living a bit easier for their daughters who play in the by-lanes of Kamathipura, susceptible to the same dangers that their mothers are subjected to.
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AmeriCares | AmeriCares India announces Spirit of Humanity Award winners - 17 Apr 2014.
“AmeriCares India announced today the winners of its 5th annual Spirit of Humanity Awards. The annual awards program, held April 16 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Mumbai, showcases achievements of nongovernmental organizations and individuals working to improve health care for the underprivileged. Awards were presented to winners in seven categories: Child Health, Diabetes, Eye Care, Oncology/Palliative Care, Thalassemia, Women’s Health and Jury’s Choice.
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation | International groups tackle Mumbai girl trafficking - 3 Nov 2012.
“The director of the Apne Aap Women’s Collective is in Australia to raise awareness and funds to tackle the problem of sex trafficking.
Time Out Melbourne | Sex trafficking: Talks by Manju Vyas - 22 Oct 2012.
“There are red light districts, and then there is the Kamathipura of Mumbai: a city famous for the extremes of human experiences it offers. It had its origins under the benign eye of the British colonialists in the late 18th century, mainly to serve the British sailors that landed on the city’s harbour. Today it’s one of Asia’s largest red light districts. The NGO ‘Aape Aap Women’s Collective’ (AAWC) works towards the amelioration of these sex workers. This November its director, Manju Vyas, will visit Melbourne to give a talk that highlights the scale and complexity of the problem – and how Australian NGOs can be of help.
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Condé Nast Traveller | The Oberoi Melting Pot 2012 - 11 Oct 2012.
“No need for a hot air balloon, an aeroplanes or a ship to sail you across the seven seas, The Oberoi Melting Pot 2012 is bringing the world and-more importantly, it’s varied cuisines-to you… Above all, the event is being held to support four charities and their work-Apne Aap Women’s Collective, Khushi, Muktangan and Mary’s Clan.
BollySpice | Subhash Ghai's Whistling Woods celebrates Cinema100 - a Centenary of Indian cinema - 6 Jun 2012
“Hallways adorned with the original posters of timeless classics. Auditoriums across the sprawling campus at Whistling Woods International (WWI) playing Indian cinema’s gems… The inaugural ceremony began on a high note with A. R. Rahman, Gluzar, Saroj Khan, Sukhwinder Singh commenced with the lighting of the lamp as well as a tribute to film industry pioneer Dadasaheb Phalke by unveiling his life-size statue… The following afternoon saw Amol Gupte’s special workshop for over 150 children attached to three non-profit organizations Apne Aap Women’s Collective, Jeevan Pushp Charitable Trust and Aseema.
The Sunday Guardian | A sneak peek into summer fashion1 - 1 Mar 2012.
“Over Japanese high tea and short cakes at Megu in the Leela Palace, New Delhi, Sahachari Foundation recently presented a preview of Design One, an exhibition promoting upcoming designers and women entrepreneurs. Design One is aimed to raise funds for deserving NGOs… such as Victoria Memorial School for the Blind, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Apne Aap Women’s Collective and Muktangan.
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Hindustan Times | One stop for 90 shops - 6 Sep 2011.
“If you couldn’t score passes for fashion week last month, there’s good news still. Design One, a charitable exhibition by the Sahachari Foundation, has brought together 90 designers under one roof, all offering specially-designed collections for the upcoming festive season… “This year, we are supporting the Apne Aap Women’s Collective, Bombay Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind.”
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Times of India | Apne Aap! - 29 Aug 2009.
“When 11 talented women come together for a noble cause,you can expect nothing but the best.Sahachari,which means Women Walking Together,is a charitable foundation established by women plans a host of events during the year,the proceeds of which support a project initiated by Apne Aap Womens Collective (AAWC).
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Mid-Day | Shopping for a cause - 23 Aug 2009.
“Sit in on a gathering of a group of ‘ladies who lunch’ and you will catch snippets of conversation about children, weddings and diets interspersed with tinkling and flashes of expensive jewellery. But the group we met was a little different.
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The Indian Express | Apne Aap, for Kamathipura's women - 16 Feb 2009
“Down a decrepit lane in Khetwadi, on the first floor of a municipal school and in a newly refurbished room, sits Manju Vyas. At a glance, the room appears to be part of the school’s administrative set-up, but it is from here that Vyas runs Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC), in support of women whose lives are in some way affected by Kamathipura’s flesh trade.
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DNA | The camera saved their lives - 15 Nov 2008
“There was a life before they went behind the camera. And now there’s quite a life after it. The girls were all part of She Creates, a project started in 2007 with 25 girls from various sections of society, who were all taught to use a video camera. Jyotsna, Sree, Trisha, Nita, and Rima belong to Apne Aap Women’s Collective that works with marginalised women and girls. Last year, the girls brought out four fascinating shorts. Muskurati Roshni dealt with female foeticide, something the girls had seen up close. Jyotsna said they chose the topic because it was wrong, it was the most widespread, and because, as girls, they felt hurt and ashamed.
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Afternoon Despatch & Courier | Refuge in hell - 1 Jun 2006
“Sudarshan Loyalka and Manju Vyas had a dream – a dream where women and children would not have to rent their bodies out in order to survive. Unfortunately, the world they encountered offers no respite for its victims. Their ravaged souls turn to drugs and alcohol from which there is no escape. Instead of becoming disillusioned and frustrated, Sudarshan and Manju have turned their dream into a pragmatic vision that has been beautifully realised today. Kamathipura may be still the hell-hole it was eight years back, but the future is warm with hope. ‘Apne Aap,’ an NGO started by the duo is aimed at ‘making a difference’ to relieve the plight of destitute children and women at Kamathipura.
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Times of India | Ray of light for sex workers - 28 May 2006.
“Off an infamous street choked with emaciated cart pullers and pesky pimps, surrounded by run-down houses, stands a century-old ramshackle building, Its dimly-lit, betel juice-stained stairs lead you to a first floor spartan room that works as counseling centre, a sanctuary and an office, all rolled into one… Sudarshan Loyalka and Manju Vyas in Kamathipura, are a beacon of hope…they provide succor to the women who may not be able to leave prostitution but can certainly keep their daughters away from it. Apart from partially empowering over 600 sex workers, they issue them identity cards, help women get ration and voter’s cards and open bank accounts. Loyalka and Vyas have called their good intentions, Apne Aap, a place deprived women can call their own.
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National Geographic | 21st century slaves - Sep 2003
“While this story exposed me to the darker side of life, it also showed me the best of human nature. In almost every country where there is a human trafficking problem, there are also people who have dedicated their lives to finding a way to stop it. I met one woman in Mumbai, India, who has devoted herself to helping the children of prostitutes in brothels. She’s part of a group called Apne Aap (On My Own), who are getting them into school and showing the young girls that there are other options in life so that the cycle can be broken. It was gratifying to meet people like her. They stood out as true heroes.
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Indian Express | Cops spy easy pickings, thrash CSWs - 21 Dec 2000.
“Already strained, the relations between policemen from the V P Road police station and commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Khetwadi have taken a turn for the worse as officials savagely assaulted two of them and verbally abused five more in the space of a week. A 23-year-old CSW was first beaten by a constable on December 14. After days of tension, an uneasy truce was engineered between the copes and CSWs in the area through NGO Apne Aap Women’s Collective on December 20.
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