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Greetings!
The story is told of a man who saw thousands of starfish littered on the beach. A little boy was picking up the starfish one by one and throwing them into the ocean. He asked the boy, "What are you doing?" The boy replied, "I'm throwing starfish back into the water. If I leave them here, they'll dry up and die" The man said, "But look how many there are. What you're doing can't possibly make a difference." As the boy picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean, he said, "Well, it makes a difference to this one!"
Although statistics related to human trafficking are overwhelming, at Oasis, we strive to make a difference to individual lives we come in contact with, believing that every life is precious and priceless and that no one should be bought and sold. |
| Swift Action |
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 Early Encounter
Saddam and Iqbal, aged 9, and Mithun, aged 13 were brought by train into Mumbai from North India by an 'uncle' who promised their families that the boys would get good jobs and be able to send money back home. The 'uncle' was actually a trafficker and made such trips very often, exploiting poor families with promises of unseen wealth. Last month, he was intercepted by Oasis' operatives who keep a close watch at railway stations and bus stands as part of the Early Encounter programme. Sensing danger, he fled leaving the young boys at the station. With assistance from the local police, they were taken to the Child Welfare Committee and are now in a protective home where they will be till a home study is conducted and they're able to go back to their hometowns.
The Early Encounter programme is a part of Oasis India's larger anti trafficking project which strives to prevent trafficking, protect victims and spread awareness among vulnerable groups. Through various initiatives, the project aims to save lives through prevention and rescue.
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| Changing Lives |
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 Reaching out
Salina was 7 when her mother died. They lived in a small town, but her father worked on a ship and was away for most of the year. He married again, and Salina's stepmother abused her physically and emotionally. She wasn't sent to school but was made to do all the housework instead. When she was a little older, she was sold to a brothel in Mumbai.
And so the abuse continued. Salina was forced to take customers and was severely abused. Some time later, a pimp offered to marry her. Thinking this was her way out, she accepted but was shocked when he forced her to continue working in the brothel. After a few months, he left her for another woman.
Salina was broken, miserable and angry with her life and that's when she met social workers from Oasis India's Aruna project. For the first time, she found people she could pour out her heart to, who listened to her and comforted her. She was helped leave the brothel and went to live at Nirmal Bhavan, Oasis' transitional care home for women rescued from situations of sexual abuse.
At the home, she was counselled and was helped overcome her life's hurts. She enrolled in the adult literacy programme and is also being trained in hospitality, cooking and English conversation. Although she has some learning difficulties, she is a keen student and is eager to learn. She aims to study hard and get a job to support herself. |
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Many more, like Saddam, Iqbal, Mithun and Salina get exploited owing to their circumstances and find themselves trapped in situations of despair and hopelessness.
Click here to know how you can make a difference to individual lives because when people act, things change!
You can also help us by giving generously to our work. Communications Team
Oasis India |
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