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“I have seen the worst of the worst. A hard working member of the kinnar community, who was a beautician was killed simply because they chose to be themselves fearlessly. Their neck was slashed and private parts butchered. This is just one of many such sad stories of the transgender community in India that has faced the worst - from being disowned and attacked by their families to being socially ostracised and worse, killed for being true to themselves. I want to change all this. It has been my motive from the beginning,” - Mansi Laxmi
Mumbai-based Aarju Foundation (AF), a non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting marginalised populations and those living with HIV, is calling upon the community to join hands in bringing positive change.
She is Aai to everyone and has sworn to protect her children
Established in 2010 by a group of dedicated social workers and community activists, AF strives to improve the socio-economic conditions of the most disadvantaged populations. Their program interventions encompass a range of crucial areas, including HIV prevention and care, poverty alleviation, non-formal education, adult literacy, health and nutrition, family planning, legal aid support, advocacy, and social protection. The organisation has its operations spread across Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Nashik and Solapur in addition to other locations in Maharashtra.
‘I am a transgender woman who has personally experienced numerous challenges and hardships due to my identity. I have now become a mother figure to transgender individuals and other minorities in need. They are my children - I want to make sure that they have a better life than I did.” - Mansi says, adding that she also strives to promote and restore the human rights of distressed women and children, provide literacy and non-formal education, ensure better maternal and child health, and combat drug addiction among youths.
Mansi is an 'Aai' (mother) to everyone she protects - from elderly Dadas and Dadis to young children who are impacted by the Aarju Foundation. Unlike the larger society which discriminates against people like her, Mansi treats everyone equally and believes that everyone deserves equal rights, opportunities and respect. During the Covid-19 pandemic, with her at the helm, AF distributed more than 9,500 ration kits to daily wagers and sex workers - those who were the worst affected by the prevailing conditions then.
Rising from struggles to spearhead a revolution
Mansi's personal journey has been fraught with exploitation and discrimination due to her gender identity. She was born in a conservative Gujarati Brahmin family that did not accept her - she was left to fend for herself as a result. However, she has risen above these challenges, determined to fight for the rights and social protection that transgender individuals so desperately need. In a society where women are granted some level of social protection, transgenders often remain unseen and unheard, denied even the basic recognition of their humanity.“In 2005, when Aarju Foundation began its operations, Section 377, a colonial-era law criminalising homosexuality, was still in place. The transgender community faced tremendous hardships, with little acceptance from society. We were really struggling. A lot of misdeeds were happening against the community. I wanted to fight against all of this. I envisioned a future where transgenders could aspire to become doctors, teachers, policemen, and successful business people - a future where they have adequate representation in society." - Mansi
She was sexually abused by her neighbors when she was 11
One of AF's key projects, Shivshakthi, is focused on the welfare of the transgender community. However, in order to continue their noble work, they urgently require funding. The funds raised will be utilised for building a shelter for transgender individuals, covering rent and relocation costs, providing medicines for those afflicted with sexually transmitted diseases, establishing a mental health helpline, and offering education and counselling services. Supporters can also choose to sponsor a transgender person's food, healthcare, clothing, or accommodation.
“Our vision to serve a larger audience is being hampered as we are not able to reach out to many transgenders. We intend to raise INR 30 lakhs for accommodating 40 transgenders at our Panvel, Navi Mumbai facility and provide medical facilities to them. As an organisation, we intend to make a strict departure from the current livelihood options available for transgender like begging, singing and dancing and thereby encourage dignified living. That’s what makes Aarju Foundation different from other shelter homes based out of Mumbai and India.”
She needs your help to get them back on their feet in a society where they are denied even the basic recognition of their humanity.
Today, Mansi and the Aarju Foundation need the support of society at large to bring about positive change for the transgender community. By contributing to their crowdfunding campaign, individuals can make a meaningful impact on the lives of marginalised individuals, fostering acceptance, empowerment, and hope.Join us in turning aspirations into reality and building a future where diversity is celebrated, and no one is left behind.
Click here to contribute.
Registration Number - AAOCM6666MF20229
EIN 20-5139364
