YouCanFreeUs India in partnership with the French Consul General hosted an event about Women Empowerment on March 5th, 2020, to mark International Women’s Day. Speakers included Ms. Sonia Barbry – Consul General of France in Bombay, Minister Aditya Thackeray, Hon. Minister Yashomati Thankur, fashion designer Nivedita Saboo and Sujo John – Founder of YouCanFreeUs.
To mark the International Women’s Day in Norway, YouCanFreeUs participated in the Nordic Women’s Conference 2020. Our UK Director, Clarissa Drysdale-Anderson spoke at the event about the problem of modern slavery and the work of YouCanFreeUs. We also had an information booth that attracted many participants interested in the organization. We believe that 2020 will be a year of expansion for YouCanFreeUs Norway with many opportunities for collaboration.
Norway visits YouCanFreeUs
YouCanFreeUs India recently received a visit from Dag Inge Ulstein, Norwegian International Development Minister and Ann Ollestad, Royal Norwegian Consul General in Mumbai, along with other dignitaries from Norway for a tour of our facilities.
Meet Falak
Falak was sold into the red-light district as a child by her mother to a brothel owner who raised her. At the age of 15, she met a girl who befriended and took care of Falak. Then, one day the girl sold her to three men who beat her badly and raped her, but she somehow managed to run away and started living under a bridge in Mumbai with street children and rag pickers. In her desperation, Falak became addicted to alcohol and started taking drugs.
During this time, Falak fell in love with a man and became pregnant. He was involved in trafficking and sold her to a brothel in Mumbai. Falak escaped again, but this time she was caught by the police and put in a children’s observation home. After she turned 18 she was referred to YouCanFreeUs along with her 2-year-old daughter.
Falak received counseling at YouCanFreeUs for the trauma she suffered. She also participated in life skills training, spoken English classes, basic education, computer classes and vocational activities like tailoring and making jewelry at the YouCanFreeUs Training Center. She came to us very shy and timid but is now a confident person who believes in herself. She wants her daughter to grow up in a safe environment and get a good education. Recently Falak fell in love, was married and settled in another city. She stays in touch with the YouCanFreeUs staff. Falak dreams of becoming a fashion designer and one day opening a boutique.
Help YouCanFreeUs rescue more lives like Falak and her daughter.
Donate at www.youcanfree.us or www.youcanfreeusindia.org