Help a girl from Mumbai's red light area study in New York

Last year, Shweta Katti made it into a prestigious list – Newsweek’s “Women in The World: 25 under-25 Young Women To Watch” . Katti was featured alongside heavyweights like Malala Yousafzai, for her efforts in spreading awareness about the education of the girl child in red-light areas.

Since then, Katti has been accepted to the Bard College in New York to study psychology. She hopes to become a therapist and plans to return to India upon completing her studies, in order to help her local community. As an opportunity for Katti, this is fantastic, but she needs your help to fulfill her dreams. Bard College has given her a scholarship that covers her tuition fees, but Katti needs an additional $13,000 to cover her living expenses. A small donation from you could make a big difference to her.

Most of the time, the women who become news have heartbreaking stories, but Katti is inspirational. In an interview with Mid-Day , Katti spoke about her mother being devadasi and the struggle that characterizes life in Kamathipura, Mumbai’s red light district. Yet, despite all the stigma and trauma that marked her childhood, Katti has grown up to be a bright and confident young woman, thanks in large part to the work of the NGO Kranti which rehabilitates children from red light areas.

For those interested, here are a few more Mumbai-based NGOs that work with sex workers and their children:

1. Kranti provides young girls from red-light areas with a home, formal education and vocational training.

2. Apne Aap is a social organization created by the human rights activist, Ruchira Gupta. It offers legal protection, secure housing and education to sex workers and their children.

3. Navjeevan helps rehabilitate sex workers and their children.

4. Prerana helps trafficked women, providing them with education and health advice and a safe environment.