Thriving and Eager to Learn

A happy Awanti in the shelter home

Social worker Shelly met Awanti (rescued February 11, 2025 from a guest house in Kolkata). Awanti looked happy. She told Shelly that she is enjoying living in the shelter home and is making friends. She shared that many other girls in the home were survivors of child marriage and that she feels a deep connection to a girl around her age at the shelter home who is expecting a baby. Awanti has enrolled in singing classes and started reading books. She told Shelly that she is eager to attend school and asked Shelly to help her.

Shelly then spoke to a counselor at the shelter home, who shared that Awanti is well-behaved and seems to be settling in well. She also shared a bit of background about Awanti's past. Awanti was sexually exploited by 30 customers. The 33-year-old female brothel keeper, Sarika, offered Awanti to customers for money from the time she was a child. Awanti gave most of the money to her parents, telling them that she earned it through event management; her parents took the money, no questions asked.

The shelter home staff then asked us to conduct a detailed home investigation at Awanti's home.