Send Ashwini to NYU

Hi, I am Ashwini. I’m 19 and I’m a fugitive. Seriously. I’ve been running my whole life. When I was five, I ran from my mother (a sex worker) and hid in different brothels so she wouldn’t beat me for stealing her lipstick. At 8, she finally sent me to an NGO shelter home where I spent many years running from the teacher’s beatings. Finally, I ran away from that NGO, and the last two years, I’ve been running from the police, who are trying to take me back to the NGO! But I am finally going to stop running because….I just got admission to a university in New York! And a scholarship! :) 

You know what I want to study? I applied for a program in art therapy, because I want to help marginalized kids use art for healing. When I was running my whole life, I had a very hard time talking to new people and sharing with them. I had so much pain and problems, but I couldn’t bring it out. Even for the last two years, I traveled all of India, learning theater in West Bengal, attending photography class in Himachal, volunteering with NGOs in Gujarat, and working with Dalit communities in Delhi - all while the police were trying to find me!! 

I couldn’t talk to people during these times, so instead of talking and sharing, I learned to draw and paint my feelings. Then at 18 I came to Kranti, an NGO that empowers girls from Mumbai’s red-light areas to become agents of social change. There I had therapy every week and learned about art, dance, and other types of therapy. After I learned all these things, I started volunteering to help other kids. My favorite activity is volunteering at Tata Memorial Hospital, where I bring art activities for children who are waiting for cancer treatment. Together we do art projects that help the kids to express their fears, their problems, their hopes, etc. 

This experience convinced me that I should be an art therapist. So I got admission and a scholarship, but the scholarship does not cover my room and board, which is on average about 25% of the total expenses, and I am trying to raise it on Ketto. My mother died two years ago. And even though she was a sex worker, her biggest dream in the world was that I would go to a “big college” some day. I wish she were here to see me today. I know if she was here, she would do anything on earth to pay for my (and her) dream to come true. Since she is not here, I am asking for your help instead.

The total amount for my Room & Board is $14,900 per year, which comes to almost 10 lacs.

You can also empower Kranti educate more girls like me by making your donation recurring monthly.

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