There are several aspects of my job that I enjoy. One is seeing how much someone can change over the course of a short six months. The other joy is to have the privilege of walking alongside people over time. We know most any change takes time. Deep lasting change, the change that is breaking … Read more
“We are seeking a person to help establish and initiate an English tutoring program for a range of ages in our new Learning Center in Kolkata” through the Felix Fellowship was the beginning of a wonderful adventure and opportunity to travel to India. I was awarded the Fellowship in June then the summer was spent … Read more
What a day! What a week! What a great six months! What a year! The training of the first batch of seven women is officially complete! We made it and are here to tell the tales. There are too many stories to capture the nuances, the experiences, the lessons, and the love of the past … Read more
For me, one of the most exciting things about our new Learning Center (in Kolkata’s Sonagachi red light area) is the focus on computer training and digital literacy. Because Our Girls Want IT! In the early years, HFC offered training and employment for trafficking survivors in rescue shelters, mostly in artisan crafts (our name was … Read more
View PDF version of 2023 Trip Report and images here> In February, I traveled to India and Nepal with other staff and members of our community to check in on programs and spend time with the women and girls. This time, unlike the trip report I normally write, I want to share some very personal … Read more
What a month! From day one, we have had such adventures and experiences. From sari clad puja pandal hopping, prepping and serving multiple lunches for 25 American guests, prepping and serving food for 100 guests at the inauguration ceremony for the HFC training center and sending the ladies on a three day Baking Adventure; it … Read more
I have just returned from a 3 week trip to India and Nepal. This was my first chance to visit India in over two years! It was a heart-opening experience that inspired many new ideas and insights. This past year has been a time of tremendous change and growth for HFC. We are all feeling … Read more
Caste and Human Trafficking Caste discrimination affects an estimated 260 million people worldwide, the vast majority of whom live in South Asia. Within the caste system, the Dalits or untouchables are believed to be inherently impure, such that it is unacceptable to be in close physical proximity with them. Touching anything they may have touched … Read more
The Role of Tech in Human Trafficking by Her Future Research Fellow Richa Gupta That technology has made our lives infinitely easier and miles more convenient is an indisputable fact; but with the good must come the bad—with the benefits must come the darkness. Technology is increasingly being employed and abused for the purposes of … Read more
Child Marriage in India – Another Form of Human Trafficking. by Her Future Research Fellow Richa Gupta, Stanford University According to Girls Not Brides, India has the highest number of child brides in the world. The legal age for marriage is 18 for women and 21 for men—so child marriage occurs when people below these … Read more