In the crowded lanes of Malvani, Malad, where poverty, social exclusion and intergenerational vulnerabilities often shape a young girl’s future before she has a chance to choose one, a community-led initiative is helping rewrite that narrative.
Implemented by Aastha Parivaar in partnership with Metropolis Foundation, the Hausla Project has reached over 10,000 adolescent girls from communities affected by sex work and related vulnerabilities, equipping them with knowledge, life skills, leadership capabilities and access to support systems that can help them make informed choices about their lives. What makes this story particularly powerful is its focus on prevention through trust and community ownership. Rather than approaching girls as beneficiaries, the project empowers them as changemakers through safe peer-led platforms called Kishori Manch, where girls learn about reproductive and sexual health, personal safety, leadership and decision-making while building a strong support network around them. The results are both measurable and deeply human.
10,000 adolescent girls engaged through the programme, 142 Kishori Manch groups established,75 Hausla Dost developed as trusted community resource persons,1,008 girls supported to disengage from sex work and pursue alternative pathways, 2,925 referrals facilitated for health services, 180 government and social protection schemes accessed. At a time when conversations around adolescent wellbeing, girls’ empowerment and community-led development are gaining prominence, Hausla offers a powerful example of how sustained engagement and local leadership can create lasting change in some of the country’s most challenging environments.
