Pune: A fundraiser by Swadhar IDWC (Institute for Development of Women & Children), Pune, in association with GiveIndia to scale its residential programme for children of commercial sex workers in the city’s Budhwar Peth area is off to a flying start. The fundraiser on the GiveIndia platform aims to raise ₹1 Crore and has reached the halfway mark within a few weeks.
Swadhar IDWC-Pune has been working to stop second-generation prostitution in the city’s red-light area, Budhwar Peth. Under Project Mohor, Swadhar provides the children of sex workers with shelter, nutrition, healthcare and education in its centre in the Budhwar Peth area of the city. The fundraiser will help the organisation from running out of funds to rescue more children from being abused and ending up in the same profession as their mothers.
“Right from cleaning, bathing, feeding, medical care, seeing that the child is ready for school – all of it is taken care of here, which is impossible in a brothel. We have rescued hundreds of children so far. Most of them are now pursuing higher education or have finished school with flying colours,” said Sanjivani Hingne, Secretary, Swadhar IDWC-Pune.
Swadhar’s facility comprises a kitchen that provides free nutritious meals throughout the day, a pre-school, an eLearning centre and a crèche for infants. It also helps children to enrol on schools, colleges and vocational courses for a bright future.
Talking about the fundraiser, Priyanka Prakash, Director, Head – Online Giving & Marketing, GiveIndia, said: “A sex worker’s life is limited to the red-light area, and the children born to them grow up in the same environment, exposing them to harsh life, and many of them may grow up thinking that prostitution is their fate as well. Data shows that many girls in red-light areas get abused at an early age and may end up as sex workers without proper guidance. Swadhar’s Project Mohor has been doing stellar work to stop second-generation prostitution. GiveIndia’s fundraiser for Swadhar has found tremendous support, and we hope more people will donate generously and provide a better future for the children of sex workers.”
Project Mohor ensures children do not fall into a generational cycle of sex work and crime by prioritising care and protection. Their emotional and mental well-being follows this. Educational activities and other programmes to secure the children’s future with long-term goals are implemented later.
Those who wish to support Swadhar can donate here:
https://fundraisers.giveindia.org/fundraisers/help-sanjivani-hingne-rescue-children-of-sex-workers-trapped-in-brothels-donate-to-provide-them-with-shelter-food-and-education