When I first arrived at New Light in Kolkata, they were preparing banners for a march through the city to establish the day of December 16th, the day that Nirbhaya Diwas died in New Delhi from a brutal rape, as a day free of rape, a movement to “Respect, Protect, Empower.” I joined them in their march taking photos and videos of their efforts:
Urmi Basu and the march for a Rape Free Day
Today the fastest growing industry is human trafficking. It is our modern slavery, prison, and torture all rolled into one. Not only are children and youth stolen for sex or labor, young women have been found dead with their organs cut out. Sold organs bring a good price. Being a woman, when I heard these stories, I felt the pain in my own body. How could I not do something about it? That is why I bought my ticket to India.
I went to support Urmi’s work with the prostitutes’ children’s education, my contribution being the facilitating of art projects with these young girls to support their self-confidence, emotional health and well-being through artistic expression.