Rescue trafficked women & children in India

With steady hands, Kanishka grips her tools, carefully looping each delicate gold ring into another. Piece by piece, a stunning necklace begins to take form. Her movements are precise, guided by skill and care—a reflection of her steady perseverance. It’s not easy work, but it’s honest. It’s comforting. It’s secure. Unlike the haunting exploitation she once endured.

Born to a small family that migrated to Mumbai in search of opportunity, her childhood was filled with laughter and ease—until it wasn’t. Her carefree days were upended when illness struck her mother. Blood cancer claimed her mother when Kanishka was only seven. Grief turned her life upside down, snatching away the foundation of her security.

Soon after, her father placed her in a residential school, hoping to protect her and ensure her education. While necessary, the decision left Kanishka feeling abandoned and alone. Her visits with her father became rare, precious moments that brought flickers of comfort during her uncertain life. But even those moments didn’t last. When she was just 12 years old, her father died suddenly in a tragic road accident, leaving her truly orphaned.

From one tragic loss to the next, Kanishka was passed from family to family, only to repeatedly feel unwanted and unloved. Living with her brother and sister-in-law in Mumbai meant enduring constant fights and cruel words. But the worst heartbreak came when her brother took her to a shrine, asked her to wait for him, and abandoned her. He never returned.

Fear consumed her as the hours dragged on. The crowds disappeared, the shops closed, and the once-busy shrine grew dark. Strangers approached her with questions that made her uneasy and ashamed, and their indifferent eyes only reminded her of her vulnerability. Others recognized her situation and fear and exploited it. A police officer found her in shambles and brought her to our partners for care.

Because of you, she was given a safe space, dedicated teachers, and mentors who cared about her well-being. Slowly, she began to heal. Slowly, she began to realize she wasn’t a burden—she was cherished, valued, and capable.

Today, the confidence in her hands as she creates intricate jewelry mirrors the confidence she’s found in herself. Each loop of gold in her necklaces represents a piece of her story—broken, yet mended into something beautiful. The painful memories of her past may still linger, but the love and encouragement she’s received have given her something far more powerful: hope.

Kanishka now dreams of standing on her own feet, of becoming financially independent, of showing other girls like her that they, too, deserve to feel loved and secure.

Her transformation wouldn’t have been possible without you. Because of your compassion, she no longer feels abandoned or unloved. She’s building a future she never thought possible, and she carries your kindness with her every step of the way.