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. Read more>> >>.
"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. Read more >> >>.
"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. Read more>> >>
"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.Read more >> >>
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.Read more >> >>
"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.Read more >> >>
"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.Read more >> >>
"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.Read more >> >>
"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).Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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!Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"In what comes as a major encouragement for NGOs working in the field of healthcare, the 5th edition of the AmeriCares India Spirit of Humanity Awards 2014 felicitated six organisations on Wednesday. Bhaktivedanta Hospital of Mira Road received the award in the Oncology category, followed by Sanjivani Health & Relief Committee in Diabetes, St Jude India ChildCare Centres in Child Health, Sankalp India Foundation in Thalassemia, Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust in Eye Care, Rural Health Organisation in Women's Health, and Apne Aap Women's Collective in Jury's Choice.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"Do they prefer to be married? Are their husbands good fathers? Do their infants have a crib? What about contraception? When Sharon Johnston,wife of Canada's governor general David Johnston, stepped into a yellow room in Kamathipura on Saturday, she bore many questions about the lives of sex workers and the promise of new answers. During her visit to the office of Apne Aap Women's Collective, an anti-trafficking organisation, Johnston--who has a background in child psychiatry--learnt things like the partners of sex workers were not paternal and their kids slept under the same bed on which they entertained clients. She met the NGO's beneficiaries, among whom were sex workers who confessed in Hindi that they could now afford to send their kids to English-medium schools and daughters of sex workers, one of whom now works in retail. Later,she mingled with girls at the NGO through games and later signed their chart with the message: "Your service makes your love visible." Johnston, accompaniied by Peter Singer, CEO of Grand Challenges Canada, an initiative that seeks affordable innovations to solve health issues, left the room impressed. Read more>> >>
"Visit to Apne Aap Women's Collective by Her Excellency Sharon Johnston: Apne Aap Women's Collective is an NGO that works to prevent second-generation trafficking among the children of sex workers in Asia's largest and oldest red-light district, Kamathipura. During her visit, Mrs. Johnston will interact with current and past beneficiaries of the Udaan project-daughters of women in brothel-based prostitution and other marginalized girls between the ages of 6 and 18- to discuss the challenges of integration and the positive changes in their lives. The Consulate General of Canada in Mumbai recently facilitated funding for the Udaan program through an association of expatriate spouses called Mumbai Connexions.Read more>> >>
"Premier organised a treat for 25 children of Apne Aap Women's Collective (AAWC), an NGO working with children of brothel-based women. Mr. Vijay Gawade, an Administrative Assistant working in Premier's corporate office, volunteered to spend a day at a centre located in one of Mumbai's red light areas, where he organised a mango and ice cream party. (go to page 7)Read more>> >>
"To celebrate our 6.11 release this week, we decided to donate to the Apne Aap Women's Collective (AAWC), a non-profit that makes a "positive difference in the lives of the women and children in the Greater Kamathipura Area, the red light area of Mumbai, India that is also one of the largest and oldest red light areas in Asia." This week, we had the opportunity to talk to Elizabeth Tang, an investment banker who left her job last September to work for AAWC in India. Read more>> >>
"A young girl who grew up in Mumbai's red-light district facing poverty and sexual abuse has overcome the odds to win a scholarship to study in New York. Shweta Katti (18), left for the U.S. on Thursday to study at the liberal arts Bard College, where she hopes to read psychology. Afterwards, she wants to return to India and help other young women in her community… After Shweta completed her higher secondary school, she approached Apne Aap, an organisation in Kamathipura with which she was associated since Class IV. Apne Aap then took her to Kranti, an NGO that educates and empowers trafficked girls, to help her in pursuing further education. Knowing well about her field of interest, the organisation then cleared the deck for Shweta to get further education in the U.S.Read more>> >>
"A bright red auto, painted in a riot of blue and green, alighted on the streets of Lower Parel in March after completing a journey of 1,800 kilometres that started in Delhi ten days back. The red, painted on the three-wheeler, signified empowerment, solidarity, and also the support of the Vodafone foundation which pledged 12.5 million rupees for this journey dubbed The Red Rickshaw Revolution (RRR). Read more >> >>
"CNN's Mallika Kapur reports on a young woman raised in a Mumbai brothel who is going to college in the United States.Watch video"
"Growing up in a neighbourhood where women eventually become sex workers to earn their daily living, can be scarring, more so, when you are ridiculed for the colour of your skin and sexually molested by your own father. Eighteen-year-old Shweta Katti, who was born and brought up in Mumbai's red-light area, Kamathipura, faced all of this, and more. Despite the adversities, she not only managed to overcome her demons, but to also earn a place in the prestigious Bard College in New York to pursue Psychology with a $50,000 scholarship… Her mother's efforts and financial help from Apne Aap, a women's collective, ensured that Shweta never withdrew from her studies. Read more>> >>
"Here's how 18-year-old Shweta Katti is spending her summer: after completing a leadership, entrepreneurship and public speaking course in Patna, she'll follow it up with an internship in Punjab, working with an organisation on organic farming. After that, she'll spend time with her family in Mumbai before going to her village in Karnataka, where she's become something of a hero… The granddaughter of a brothel owner, she was raised in the infamous red light district of Kamathipura, where she was the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her alcoholic stepfather. Timely intervention by NGOs Apne Aap and Kranti, however, gave Katti the chance to pursue her studies at a municipal school. Read more>> >>
"The daughter of a devdasi, she was raised in Mumbai's infamous red-light area of Kamathipura. And it is from here that 18-year-old Shweta Katti has won a scholarship to study at the Bard College in New York. In a freewheeling chat with RINKY KUMAR, she talks about being sexually abused by her father, suffering from low self-esteem and conquering her fears… On her mother's behest, Katti started going to Apne Aap, a women's collective at Kamathipura that works with the children of sex workers.Read more >> >>
"Born in Mumbai's infamous red light district, Shweta Katti has won a scholarship to the Bard College, New York. This is her story. Read more>> >>
"Kamathipura Girl Shweta Katti Born and raised in one of Mumbai's biggest red-light areas, Grant Road, Shweta has admission offers from three American universities where she wants to study for a bachelor's degree in psychology. Watch video>> >>
Watch video >> >>
"Shweta Katti grew up in an environment where abuse and confinement of women was common. Now 19, what kept her going was her intense desire to study. Born and raised in one of Mumbai's biggest red-light areas, Grant Road, Shweta today has admission offers from three American universities where she wants to study for a bachelor's degree in psychology…Things looked up once Kranti, an NGO that works with children in red-light areas, came into her life. Kranti was collaborating with local NGO called Apne Aap when Robin Chaurasiya, one of Kranti's founder members, met Shweta.Read more>> >>
"Shweta Katti is only 18, but she has a lot to boast about when it comes to her achievements. She was recently featured in Newsweek's "Women in The World: 25 Under-25 Young Women To Watch", along with Malala Yousafzai for her efforts to uplift young girls who are marginalized…"When I could not take it anymore, I told my teachers at Apne Aap, an NGO where I used to go for classes. It was they who put me through to Kranti," recalls Shweta.Read more>> >>
"In March, a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw, painted red to represent strength and female solidarity, alighted in Lower Parel, Mumbai signaling the end of a 10-day journey that started in Delhi by way of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and the union territory of Daman. The 1,800-kilometer (1,100-mile) journey, dubbed the Red Rickshaw Revolution… started as a way to raise money for the Apne Aap Women's Collective, which works with sex workers in Mumbai's red-light district, and grew into a much larger project.Read more>> >>
"Growing up in Mumbai's red-light district, Shweta Katti was sexually abused, and her education was limited by her "untouchable" caste. Helped by the group Kranti, she is now applying to college in the U.S. Her goal: to study psychology so she can provide therapy to girls back home. Read more>> >>
"Vodafone's 'Red Rickshaw Revolution campaign' to celebrate achievements of ordinary women, will culminate today in Mumbai. On 9 March 2013, Laura Turkington, Carina Deegan and Sunita Chaudhary began a rickshaw journey from Delhi to Mumbai, travelling over 1500km across five states- Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra. En route, they have been meeting inspirational women in remotest villages of India, who have done extraordinary things and made a difference to people's lives. The campaign also aims to raise funding for three NGOs- Apne Aap Women's Collective (AAWC), Breakthrough and Community Outreach Programme (CORP) India, all working towards women empowerment.Read more>> >>
"To champion the cause of women empowerment, 35-year-old Sunita Chaudhary, the first woman autorickshaw driver in Delhi and NCR, accompanied by Laura Turkington, director of Vodafone Foundation of India, and Carina Deegan, today embarked on a new journey-'Red Rickshaw Revolution--wheels of change'…The journey will culminate in Maharashtra to acknowledge the grit of ordinary women in addition to raising funds for three NGOs-Apne Aap Women's Collective, Breakthrough and Corp India.Read more>> >>
"Celebrating the achievements of ordinary women across the country doing extraordinary things and to raise funds for three non-governmental organisations working in the area of women empowerment, the Vodafone Foundation of India unveiled Red Rickshaw Revolution in the Capital recently. The initiative will see three women - Laura Turkington and Carina Deegan from the Foundation along with the country's first Indian female auto-rickshaw driver Sunita Chaudhary -cover a distance of 1,500 km from New Delhi to Mumbai in a red auto rickshaw in nine days, according to the organisers.Read more>> >>
"Then a young tortured prostitute, now a primary teacher. Then a devadasi who was forced to sleep with her son, now a social activist. Then a domestic violence victim, now minting money as a beautician. These are real women with real stories. The Red Rickshaw Revolution, by Vodafone Foundation kickstarts on March 9 with three women embarking on a 1,575 km journey from Delhi to Mumbai to… celebrate the achievements of inspirational women across the country and raise crucial funds for 3 NGOs which are working to empower many more - Apne Aap Women's Collective (AAWC), Breakthrough and Corp India.Read more>> >>
"Vodafone Foundation announced a 'Red Rickshaw Revolution' (www.redrickshaw.in), to raise money for three NGOs working to empower women. The initiative will see three women - Laura Turkington (director, Vodafone Foundation in India), Carina Deegan and Sunita (Delhi's first woman auto rickshaw driver) traverse a distance of over 1500 kilometres from New Delhi to Mumbai in a red auto rickshaw over nine days. We have three NGO partners - Breakthrough, Apne Aap Women's Collective (AAWC) and Community Outreach Programme (CORP). AAWC is an NGO active in Mumbai's red light area and it works to prevent second generation prostitution. We are raising funds to set up a health and nutrition unit called Nourish to support pregnant women and their infants.Read more>> >>
"On 9th March 2013, Laura Turkington & Carina Deegan will embark on a 9-day rickshaw journey from Delhi to Mumbai covering over 1500 kms spanning five states-from the hustle bustle of India's capital to the deserts of Rajasthan to the spectacular Western Ghats to the bright lights of Mumbai… The Red Rickshaw Revolution aims to celebrate the achievements of inspirational women across the country and raise crucial funds for 3 NGOs which are working to empower many more-Apne Aap Women's Collective, Breakthrough and Corp India.Read more>> >>
"AAWC director Manju Vyas speaks about ending the cycle of enforced prostitution in Mumbai.Read more>> >>
"The director of the Apne Aap Women's Collective is in Australia to raise awareness and funds to tackle the problem of sex trafficking.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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."Read more>> >>
"As the festive season kicks off across India, the bazaar-cum-exhibition materialises across cities. Normally organised in a large space like a hotel banquet hall, a trade centre or open-air venue, this mode of shopping is popular, as multiple vendors display their wares under one roof. It's a win-win for both customer and retailer. Mumbai recently hosted one such event called Design One, showcasing several emerging and established talent… And they mean business: the proceeds from Design One and other events this year go to the Apne Aap Women's Collective, which provides shelter and education to daughters of sex workers.Read more>> >>
"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).Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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.Read more>> >>
"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. Read more>> >>
" 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.Read more>> >>