Menstrual Hygiene session as part of life skills with young women at our residential centre

KSHAMATA, a registered trust based in Thane (E – 6994). Kshamata works with women and adolescent girls who are vulnerable, survivors of exploitation and gender-based violence including those trafficked– to enable satisfactory psychological, social and economic reintegration. Kshamata, through its various programs and interventions seeks to enable such women and girls to become respected, productive and earning citizens, by providing on-going care and counselling, life skills education, job readiness/work preparedness, appropriate vocational training and various livelihood options, necessary arrangements for accommodation (where needed), continued follow up and support for reintegration in society.

Kshamata’s Beneficiaries - Kshamata primarily focusses on women survivors of gender-based violence including sex trafficking who have been placed with the government shelter homes in Mumbai and Thane, especially those who wish to continue to live in Mumbai and prefer to find jobs/economic activity in and around Mumbai and Thane and with women from brothel and at–risk communities. 

Our Programs:

Kshamata Transformation Program (Internal): In Kshamata’s Transformation program (internal), women stay at the Kshamata Transformation Centre (KTC), a residential training facility, and undergo in-depth learning of life skills and vocational skills, both formal training and on-the-job learning. Typically, 30-35 women can stay at KTC at any given time, and for a period of one year (approximately) or more, till they are placed and find housing, whether on their own or with Kshamata’s support. Interventions include providing/facilitating training in tailoring and embroidery, catering, beautician course, and various job preparedness skills - spoken English, computer skills, functional literacy and also life skills education. Selected women are also supported to pursue further education at school and college levels. The transition towards independent living is done through a unique model of group stay units. This arrangement allows the women to learn the steps that are critical in transitioning towards living independently.

Kshamata’s Outreach Program (External): Kshamata engages with women and adolescent girls in the various (government and non-government run) shelter homes and in brothel/vulnerable communities. Kshamata’s Outreach programme (external) includes conducting a series of activities like art & craft, life skills, etc. for initial engagement followed by counselling, life skills, functional/basic literacy, skills training and where possible, activities for earning income. We have seen that such a kind of intervention raises the aspirations of these adolescent girls and women and makes them willing and ready for long-term rehabilitation.

The program also focuses on survivors (majors) of trafficking / gender-based violence who have been released from the government shelter homes (above stated), especially those who reside locally and are still vulnerable and have training and employment needs or seek to have their own micro-business.