Oasis began work in Mumbai in 1993, and has been established as a registered society since 1994. Oasis India aims to prevent human trafficking and other forms of violence against women and children and assist each person to flourish in the context of their community, thus making India better for women and children. Over last 29 years Oasis has grown and has its projects in urban Mumbai and Palghar district, Bangalore, Chennai and also in rural Manipur, Assam and Meghalaya


The context:
Several of these communities where Oasis currently works are hotspots of existing trafficking activity thus making girls “at risk” further vulnerable. The brothels of Kamathipura and Grant Road in Mumbai where Oasis India has been working for more than 20 years, harbours most girls from the impoverished villages of the different states in the country and neighbouring countries.
With our experience over these many years we realize that traffickers gain control over victims by exploiting their vulnerabilities and that some of the situations are that of environmental disasters and pandemic during which time the traffickers gain control of victims through their need for basic resources such as food, water, and shelter. People may be more vulnerable because they are displaced from their homes (temporarily living in a shelter), separated from family and friends, disconnected from supportive services or unable to safely earn income and be self-sufficient.
Our Interventions: All our interventions aim at Prevention of human trafficking.
Whilst Oasis has been working in largely destination areas, would like to combat human trafficking by venturing into source areas which will include Disaster prone areas and will also explore the digital space which is the latest source of human trafficking.
Alongside the other interventions are:
• Education
• Skill Development
• Social enterprise
• Rehabilitation
• Sports
• Community development
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Climate Change Adaptation and emergency response

The interventions are holistic and strive towards protecting, equipping and empowering victims of human trafficking as well as those at risk living in the red light area (RLA) and in vulnerable communities in the city.
Counselling, health care, life skills play an important role in helping one make right choices and also creating Change agents who work towards their transformation and transformation of others which in turn build communities that are safe for women and children. Other wide range of interventions include night shelter for children in the RLA, residential rehabilitation facility for women who have voluntarily left the RLA to find healing, get trained and develop skills for independent living. And thirdly a group home facility for those young men and women where they learn to manage their time and money and also live in the context of a normal community.

In keeping with the mission, we hope that people we work with move from brokenness to wholeness.

Appeal

Following a comprehensive survey of various locations in Mumbai suburbs, we identified Pragati Nagar in Nalasopara as the focal point for our community development initiatives and commenced our work in March 2023. This area faces numerous challenges, including criminal activity, drug peddling, and addiction, exploitation of women and children, and lack of education. Our mission is to bring hope and positive change to this community, addressing these pressing issues and empowering its members to break free from cycles of poverty and despair.

Objectives:
• Provide informal education for out-of-school children, preparing them for formal schooling.
• Empower parents to take ownership of their children's education.
• Equip youth with computer and tailoring skills, complemented by soft skills development.
• Collaborate with government agencies, non-government organizations, and community members to create a safe and nurturing environment.

Target Group:
Children (ages 4-18) from disadvantaged backgrounds, youth (ages 18-23) struggling to find their footing in life, women (ages 23 and above) who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.

Duration: Three years (2024-2027)

Outcomes:
• Youth empowerment: Annual initiatives driven by young people to create positive change in their community.
• Community ownership: Parents and community members take proactive responsibility for preventing child abuse and ensuring safety.
• Educator training: Teachers equipped to educate students about human trafficking risks and prevention strategies.

Impact:
• 25 youth empowered to raise awareness and drive positive change in their neighbourhoods.
• 40 community members employed with a stable source of income and a sense of purpose.
• 60 children equipped with skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life.
• 40 children enrolled in school, providing a foundation for future success.
• 3 community-based organizations strengthened to plan and implement effective community events.
• Government and non-government organizations equipped to support the needs of the community.
• 6,000 community members educated on critical issues.