Friends of Prajwala

The philosophy of Prajwala evolved based on the need of women and children who are victims of trafficking. Prajwala emerged as an anti- trafficking organization, which believes in preventing women and children from entering prostitution, which is the worst form of sexual slavery.

We proudly support the NGO Prajwala India, in its noble cause of rescuing, rehabilitating and reintegrating into society of the children and women who are victims of trafficking and prostitution.

Dr Sunitha Krishnan is a rare breed of individual who has committed her life as a fulltime volunteer in Prajwala. A mental health professional, she has done extensive research and is essentially a field practitioner. She has been instrumental in rescuing hundreds of children from severely abusive conditions and restoring childhood to them. Dr. Sunitha Krishnan is making it possible for India’s government and citizens organizations to manage jointly a range of protective and rehabilitative services for children who have been trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation. For her efforts in the anti-trafficking she has been awarded Stree Shakthi Puraskar(national award), Perdita Huston Human Rights Award and the World Of Children Award.

CONTACT PRAJWALA

Prajwala works as a team and our team is committed to provide all support to any person who believes in combating trafficking.

To know more about the organization you can contact :

Dr. Sunitha Krishnan
Chief Functionary
Ph: +91 98480 25014
Email : sunitha_2002@yahoo.com

Prajwala
20-4-34, III Floor, Behind Charminar Bus Stand
Charminar, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
Zip/Pin: -500 002
Ph: +91 40 24510290
Fax: +91 40 24410813
Email: praj_2010@yahoo.com

Dr. Sunitha Krishnan on TED:

http://www.ted.com/talks/sunitha_krishnan_tedindia.html

Blog: http://sunithakrishnan.blogspot.com

Prajwala fan page:

Dr. Sunitha Krishnan on Facebook

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT PRAJWALA INDIA

Volunteering Opportunities…

Give a part of yourself and experience social transformation…

• Start ‘Friends Of Prajwala’ wherever you are to spread the message. We need to break the culture of silence. We can send you materials such as films, posters, flyers etc for your discussion group.
• Spread the message to your family, friends, relatives, colleagues, acquaintances through informal discussions and lecture sessions.
• If you are a part of any social networking sites such as face book, orkut etc do start communities to support the cause. You can use our website, blog to raise awareness.
• Support us with your professional skills such as documentation, financial management, governance, marketing, teaching, computers, web designing, photo documentation, and legal aid to further our cause.
• Help us design posters, flyers, brochures to enrich our tool kit on anti human trafficking.
• Give us your time (only make it consistent) and visit our shelters to teach our children and girls life skills such as leadership, conflict resolution, anger management, coping with changing life situations, meditation etc.
• Be a part of our special programs such as national or international conference/consultation as a translator, documentation expert, facilitator or even an observer.
• Be a long-term volunteer/intern (at least for 2 yrs) and contribute your skills, talents and perspectives to strengthen all the interventions.
• Donate to the cause on your birthdays and anniversaries.
• Be  a Prajwala volunteer to collect signatures against demand for prostitution. And if you are a man than register for MEN AGAINST DEMAND(MAD).
• Talk to two friends and convince them to join the fight against human trafficking.

For Financial Contributions…

Contact Dr. Sunitha Krishnan

Visit http://www.prajwalaindia.com/howucan-voluntarily.html

GENESIS

One of the oldest red light areas of Hyderabad city was evacuated in the year 1996. Thousands of women in prostitution were suddenly uprooted and displaced, this forced them to look at their lives very closely and introspect about the insecure status of their children. The plea of the mothers for a dignified future for their children made Bro Jose Vetticatil and Dr Sunitha Krishnan two visionaries to come together and initiate an intervention (Prajwala) for second generation prevention.

The enormity of the situation and the vastness of the task did not stop Prajwala from making a small initiative. At this point of time Prajwala responded and intervened to start a small education program in the form of a transition center with the participation of women in prostitution. The process of interaction with the women posed a threat to the traffickers, the middle-men, and the brokers, which led to a long challenge and struggle for the core team of Prajwala. The founders Dr.Sunitha Krishnan and Bro.Jose Vetticatil were faced with life threatening situations a number of times, which they braved through with the conviction that an alternative is possible.

The journey of Prajwala commenced with full conviction and faith in people’s participation in the process of change. Although women were concerned about the children, they were not ready for partnership. Prajwala initially had problems in convincing the mothers to become partners and participate to bring about a change in their lives. But eventually they saw the logic and got completely involved in supporting an intervention which will help their children integrate in the mainstream society.

As the journey progressed, Prajwala was faced with the challenge of responding to other related issues such as sex trafficking of children. Out of no choice it became imperative to find ways to intervene. As the needs expanded so also the evolution of other interventions such as rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and community based prevention.

OUR PARTNERS

Partnership has been the foundation for all Prajwala interventions. Starting with women in prostitution as mothers over the years as the organization has evolved, many more stakeholders have become partners in the cause.

Through the years Prajwala has received financial support from UNICEF, International Organization for Migration, Government of India, UNIFEM, Catholic Relief Services, UNODC, Misereor (Germany), Leger Foundation (Canada), and Edukans (The Netherlands). These agencies have not only been financial partners but also have played a crucial role in mentoring the organization.

At the field level our network partners have played a crucial role in the growth of the organization. State level partners such as Stree, HELP, Sravanti, CARD, RISE, Mahita, Divya Disha and national level partners such as STOP, Legal Services, Prayas, Sanlaap, Prerna, Rescue Foundation, Vanchit Vikas, Manav Adhikar Kendra, Odanadi have played a vital role in evolving a support system to sustain the cause.

At the international level Friends of Prajwala in United States and Switzerland have played a pivotal role in facilitating a global movement to combat trafficking.

At one end partnership with the community and at the other partnership with the State Government largely in the form of Department of Women Development & Child Welfare and State Police has been the reason for the sustenance and existence of the organization.

ACCOLADES

Prajwala is a member of various national and state level committees to combat trafficking. For its efforts in the sector the organization has been recognized by various national and international bodies like Government of India, World of Children, UNFPA and Ashoka Innovators. Anamika – The Nameless a film produced by Prajwala won two international awards in De Cine De Granada and Action Cut International Film Festival. Of Freedom and Fear a film produced in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh AIDS Control Society was screened in the New York Film Festival, Mini DV International Festival. Dr Sunitha Krishnan the founder general secretary and the chief functionary of Prajwala has been recognised for her efforts in the anti trafficking sector by the following national and international bodies Dr Sunitha Krishnan the chief functionary and co-founder of Prajwala won the ‘Real Heroes Award’ constituted by Reliance Industries Limited and  CNN-IBN Network in April, 2008.  This award is meant to recognize the unsung heroes of independent India. Prajwala won the prestigious AGFUND International award in April, 2008 for its pioneering work to Combat Trafficking of Women and Children through Community Partnership. Prajwala was adjudged the best project in the world for its outstanding efforts. Dr.Sunitha Krishnan, Chief Functionary of the organization was felicitated by Intelligence Business Network, Malaysia in March 2009. This felicitation has had a great positive impact as an entry point was created to sensitize women corporate leaders to be sensitive on the issue of trafficking. Prajwala received the National Award for Child Welfare from the Govt. of India in February, 09 for the exceptional services it renders to prevent child trafficking and its outstanding efforts to rescue and rehabilitate child victims of sex trafficking. Dr.Sunitha Krishnan has been featured as a Real Hero in the Trafficking in Persons Report, released by the US Department of State in June, 2009.  This is an acknowledgment of activists fighting to end modern day slavery – Nine persons from across the world were chosen as 2009 TIP Heroes.