Jeevan Asha (Life Hope) is a Salvation Army run drop-in centre in Mumbai’s Red Light District, which has been funded by Australians.

Its aim is to rescue minors and children from a life of possible prostitution, to help with the educational needs of children of prostitutes and to show them a life of hope and future.

The Drop in Centre also provides counselling for women on issues such as self care, HIV/Aids education and to help women come out of the work they have been forced into.

Since Jeevan Asha began in 2004, the team have come into contact with over 6,000 prostitutes, they have referred 42 children at risk onto other NGO’s in Mumbai, and have rescued 38 children from prostitution.

Here is one of the stories of a woman rescued:

Anita was sold into sexual slavery in Mumbai from Nepal at the age of 10 for 40,000 rupees ($1,000).

She was tortured physically and mentally by her brothel keeper and was forced into prostitution. For the next 18 years, she saw up to 25 men a day and had very little freedom or hope for a tomorrow.

She came into contact with The Salvation Army’s anti-sex trafficking projects and has now been freed from a life of prostitution after being given vocational skills training and assistance to find employment in other industries.

Her two children were also rescued from the area and have been given a future that Anita could never have thought possible.

One of the biggest problems in Mumbai’s Red Light District is that many of the women would love to leave the work, but they don’t have many other options.

A lot of them were sold or forced into sex slavery at a young age and don’t have an education or vocational skills. The Salvation Army is working towards the end of helping women be set free.

Please contact us to find out how you can help raise awareness and funding to combat the evil of human trafficking.

Peninah Nduke was 3 years old when her mother took her and her little brother to the dump outside the town where they lived in Kenya.When the mother arrived back home without the little girl, the family went looking for her.

The mother was put in a hospital and the little ones were taken to a Salvation Army home where Peninah grew up, was educated and became an accountant.

Peninah had been sponsored right through her education by one sponsor who made sure that Peninah had a hope and a future.

In 2006, the community at Ertuo Village received water supply through a Salvation Army and a government funded project.

A village spokesman said that before the 80’s life was very tough as there was not enough food. With help from TSA in 2006 Ertuo village now has access to clean water.

They now want to undertake income generating activities but the community lacks the resources and knowledge to make it happen.

At the age of 82 I learned in my Self Help Group that there are only seven days in a week. When I borrowed money from my landlord he took daily interest from me each week.

He told me that there are eight days in a week, so he could charge me eight days’ interest. Our group members are helping me to learn many things. Now I can save money, no more borrowing and I am happy”

“We belong to one community and one caste, but we used to fight each other over access to drinking water. Water scarcity is a big problem in our community. After forming the Self Help Group we solved the problem by building a water tank with money we saved and a loan. Now we are united and fight against social evils”

“Once we weren’t considered human. We were seen as animals, we are commercial sex workers, the only source of income for our family. After joining the Self Help Group we are slowly withdrawing from this work. We are earning money through leaf-plate making and petty shops to send our children to school. We are earning the respect and acceptance of our community”