South Kolkata Hamari Muskan in Santoshpur, Kolkata, India
In Kolkata’s red light areas, violence is the chief and sometimes the only mechanism via which a girl or a woman is kept within the confines of “her work” by her trafficker; pimp or landlady. Children born out of this violence become a part of this cycle of trauma, right from birth.
It is not rare for a child we work with, to carry marks—visible or otherwise—of abuse and sheer neglect. Memories and experiences impact a child’s ability to maintain a positive sense of self. During the process of recovering from this violence, children—and also adults—encounter emotional and social distress which deters them from being wholly invested into their surroundings and in their lives. To counteract this numbing violence, neglect and harm, South Kolkata Hamari Muskan (SKHM) stresses upon therapeutic tools to better the mental well-being of a child, youth or a woman and boost resilience and confidence.
In brief, SKHM offers educational; psychosocial; skill-building and nutritional support. Positive mental health combined with school-based education, martial arts training, wholesome food and a team of teachers and caregivers who are forever rooting for the students, help the children perform better: in studies, in life and within their community, providing them a choice to break the cycle of violence and prevent second-generation prostitution.
It is a tough job! It requires tough people. So, SKHM chose the best of the best; people from the community. A percentage of SKHM’s staffs comprise former prostitutes, brothel landladies, liquor sellers, etc. Today, they are SKHM caregivers and outreach workers. Girls from the neighbourhood, who opted for education, and grew up to be smart, confident and tough examples, are our teachers.
However, good intentions alone don’t lead to success. SKHM struggled—like most frontline non-profits—with finances. Working with an invisible minority—not a priority for either its people or the government—is never easy. During a particularly dark time, it was Shine a Light which indeed did shine bright for us.
In 2016, after a brief visit, they began their journey with us by adopting our cause to prevent trafficking and second generation prostitution as worthy and relevant. They adopted SKHM’s night crèche which went on from 8pm to 11pm. It led to the creation of a safe space that kept children away from harm when the red light area was at its terrible and busiest best. It led the non-profit to expand its hours and provide double the nutrition that it could before.
"SKHM remains grateful to Shine-a-Light’s team led by the people who are committed to the cause, hopeful for change and tirelessly optimistic to work towards it. It has been an absolute pleasure to observe Shine-a-Light’s work and journey. They befriended us when we began a seemingly-impossible task of breaking an “almost tradition” of second-generation prostitution and start compulsory school admission in a semi-literate community. We remain grateful to the Shine a Light team of pacifist warriors for their support. They have been more than generous friends and this is a collaboration we cherish."
It is not rare for a child we work with, to carry marks—visible or otherwise—of abuse and sheer neglect. Memories and experiences impact a child’s ability to maintain a positive sense of self. During the process of recovering from this violence, children—and also adults—encounter emotional and social distress which deters them from being wholly invested into their surroundings and in their lives. To counteract this numbing violence, neglect and harm, South Kolkata Hamari Muskan (SKHM) stresses upon therapeutic tools to better the mental well-being of a child, youth or a woman and boost resilience and confidence.
In brief, SKHM offers educational; psychosocial; skill-building and nutritional support. Positive mental health combined with school-based education, martial arts training, wholesome food and a team of teachers and caregivers who are forever rooting for the students, help the children perform better: in studies, in life and within their community, providing them a choice to break the cycle of violence and prevent second-generation prostitution.
It is a tough job! It requires tough people. So, SKHM chose the best of the best; people from the community. A percentage of SKHM’s staffs comprise former prostitutes, brothel landladies, liquor sellers, etc. Today, they are SKHM caregivers and outreach workers. Girls from the neighbourhood, who opted for education, and grew up to be smart, confident and tough examples, are our teachers.
However, good intentions alone don’t lead to success. SKHM struggled—like most frontline non-profits—with finances. Working with an invisible minority—not a priority for either its people or the government—is never easy. During a particularly dark time, it was Shine a Light which indeed did shine bright for us.
In 2016, after a brief visit, they began their journey with us by adopting our cause to prevent trafficking and second generation prostitution as worthy and relevant. They adopted SKHM’s night crèche which went on from 8pm to 11pm. It led to the creation of a safe space that kept children away from harm when the red light area was at its terrible and busiest best. It led the non-profit to expand its hours and provide double the nutrition that it could before.
"SKHM remains grateful to Shine-a-Light’s team led by the people who are committed to the cause, hopeful for change and tirelessly optimistic to work towards it. It has been an absolute pleasure to observe Shine-a-Light’s work and journey. They befriended us when we began a seemingly-impossible task of breaking an “almost tradition” of second-generation prostitution and start compulsory school admission in a semi-literate community. We remain grateful to the Shine a Light team of pacifist warriors for their support. They have been more than generous friends and this is a collaboration we cherish."
Jackson County SART (Sexual Assault Resource Team)
We got permission to use these quotes from survivors, who accessed services that Shine a Light helped make possible (prevention program, SASH support group, bodywork, Direct Service coordination through our Resource Specialist, counseling funding) “I am speechless for the financial assistance. The stress from basic survival needs is an underpinning of massive stress and sets off ptsd, making it harder to care for myself and make decisions…You are a shining star in a sea of cold and indifference…you think I could do this myself? I cannot imagine. …[the Resource Specialist] called today and I thank you so much. I felt loved and cared about.”
A survivor who disclosed after a prevention class at a high school and was able to access our services: "I'm just so grateful for you. For everything you have done for me, and are doing for me and so many other people. Hearing your voice while you are speaking to everyone about this issue just made me feel passion and a desire to change the world. I'm so grateful for you."
"Being raped was an awful and debilitating experience. I am so grateful that I found SART. The incredible amount of support and resources you have offered has been truly lifesaving. I could not have done this alone and without you. I have felt supported in a way that I couldn't even imagine was possible. I am so grateful for the genuine care, resources and connection that I have received from SART. It has been life changing."
“The support that I have received from SART in paying for bodywork sessions has been a blessing and a gift. I was experiencing excruciating tension in my shoulders, neck and back, and had recently learned that my pain could be trauma-related. I felt deeply listened to and supported in working out the pain in my body. Thank you for helping me grow into the best version of myself that I can be by helping me work through these traumas. I can not be more thankful!”
"Being raped was an awful and debilitating experience. I am so grateful that I found SART. The incredible amount of support and resources you have offered has been truly lifesaving. I could not have done this alone and without you. I have felt supported in a way that I couldn't even imagine was possible. I am so grateful for the genuine care, resources and connection that I have received from SART. It has been life changing."
“The support that I have received from SART in paying for bodywork sessions has been a blessing and a gift. I was experiencing excruciating tension in my shoulders, neck and back, and had recently learned that my pain could be trauma-related. I felt deeply listened to and supported in working out the pain in my body. Thank you for helping me grow into the best version of myself that I can be by helping me work through these traumas. I can not be more thankful!”
Maslow Project: Testimonial for the Shine a Light Foundation
Maslow Project is extremely grateful to have been a beneficiary of the Shine A Light Foundation’s charitable work since 2014.
Shine A Light’s focus on ending sex trafficking is especially relevant to Maslow Project, and to the homeless Jackson and Josephine County youth we serve. Homeless youth face a disproportionately high risk of being sex trafficked, as well as being exposed to other types of sexual abuse and exploitation. According to a 2018 report by the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, and Research, nationally, two out of three female (RHY) runaway or homeless youth reported being solicited for paid sex, and 22% of RHY of all genders reported being solicited on their first night of being homeless. LGBTQ RHY were solicited at twice the rate of non-LGBTQ youth, and 90% of transgender RHY reported being solicited. While sex trafficking might seem like a “big city” problem, our region’s location along the I-5 corridor makes the youth we work with at especially high risk.
Maslow is especially proud to report this year we had a 98% (62/63) graduation rate for our case managed seniors, compared to the national average of 25%. The 2017 report, Voices of Youth Count, Missed Opportunities: Youth Homeless in America, illustrates the importance of educational attainment in prevention of and the effects of homelessness. Earning a high school diploma is a protective factor for decreasing the prevalence of adult homelessness, being a victim of sex trafficking, entering or re-entry into the criminal justice system, while increasing employability, thus increasing housing stability and self-sufficiency. Last, through generous donors we have set up a Graduate Scholarship Fund for our graduating seniors. Maslow awarded 10, $1,000 scholarships for our graduating seniors. It is inspiring to watch youth working toward their goals of a brighter future.
Shine a Light Foundation has been a valued partner in our work, and is helping Maslow Project to change lives right here at home in the Rogue Valley. The services we are able to provide with the help of the Foundation not only help our youth build life skills and resiliency, they also give our young clients – who spend much of their lives dealing with adult concerns like how to stay safe, where they’re going to sleep that night, and whether or not they have anything to eat – an opportunity to just focus on “normal” adolescent activities for a few hours. The support of the Foundation sends an important message to our clients: that there are people in our community who value them for who they are, rather than judging them by where they sleep.
The Shine A Light Foundation is a wonderful example of grassroots philanthropy in our community – we thank them for their work and their support!
Shine A Light’s focus on ending sex trafficking is especially relevant to Maslow Project, and to the homeless Jackson and Josephine County youth we serve. Homeless youth face a disproportionately high risk of being sex trafficked, as well as being exposed to other types of sexual abuse and exploitation. According to a 2018 report by the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, and Research, nationally, two out of three female (RHY) runaway or homeless youth reported being solicited for paid sex, and 22% of RHY of all genders reported being solicited on their first night of being homeless. LGBTQ RHY were solicited at twice the rate of non-LGBTQ youth, and 90% of transgender RHY reported being solicited. While sex trafficking might seem like a “big city” problem, our region’s location along the I-5 corridor makes the youth we work with at especially high risk.
Maslow is especially proud to report this year we had a 98% (62/63) graduation rate for our case managed seniors, compared to the national average of 25%. The 2017 report, Voices of Youth Count, Missed Opportunities: Youth Homeless in America, illustrates the importance of educational attainment in prevention of and the effects of homelessness. Earning a high school diploma is a protective factor for decreasing the prevalence of adult homelessness, being a victim of sex trafficking, entering or re-entry into the criminal justice system, while increasing employability, thus increasing housing stability and self-sufficiency. Last, through generous donors we have set up a Graduate Scholarship Fund for our graduating seniors. Maslow awarded 10, $1,000 scholarships for our graduating seniors. It is inspiring to watch youth working toward their goals of a brighter future.
Shine a Light Foundation has been a valued partner in our work, and is helping Maslow Project to change lives right here at home in the Rogue Valley. The services we are able to provide with the help of the Foundation not only help our youth build life skills and resiliency, they also give our young clients – who spend much of their lives dealing with adult concerns like how to stay safe, where they’re going to sleep that night, and whether or not they have anything to eat – an opportunity to just focus on “normal” adolescent activities for a few hours. The support of the Foundation sends an important message to our clients: that there are people in our community who value them for who they are, rather than judging them by where they sleep.
The Shine A Light Foundation is a wonderful example of grassroots philanthropy in our community – we thank them for their work and their support!
Children of the Night
Thank you for this gift. Sex trafficking victims are unable to attend school because of trauma and chaotic lifestyles. Shine a Light has supported 333 hours of online tutoring for the high school equivalency exam in which most successfully complete in 50 hours.
