Magazine_1

SHALOM MUMBAI MISSION
In the book of Luke, Jesus asks “Which of these do you think was a neighbour to the man
who fell into the hands of robbers?” e expert in the law replied, “e one who had mercy
on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
As Indian citizens of the largest democracy in the world, we have been granted rights and
freedoms that allow us to live with dignity, acknowledging that each and every individual deserves to be
treated fairly and equally regardless of race, caste, religion and gender. Along with enjoying these rights, it
is our bounded duty to ensure that everyone around us also avail of these privileges.
Shalom Mumbai Mission, an urban mission, was conceived with this intention- with a vision to rescue
and rehabilitate our sexually exploited sisters from the red light areas of Kamathipura, create awareness in
them about freedom and liberty, and ensuring their rights to lead a life of dignity. ough a vast majority
of them are in the situation out of compulsion, the abhorrence of the society towards them pushes them
into a traumatic existence. Shalom Mumbai Mission has been working towards the betterment of these
women who have been mentally and physically tortured under the million dollar sex trafficking industry.
Our mission statement states “We affirm our responsibility to uplift the life of our sisters victimized in the
Red light areas of Mumbai city to freedom, liberty, human dignity and equality by creating awareness in the
minds of the victims and among the members of the society and guarantee them a new life by providing shelter,
education, vocational training, moral and social counselling”.
Shalom Mission works for the rehabilitation of the victims of human trafficking on 3 levels - Rejuvenation,
Reintegration and rehabilitation. ese are the pillars of our mission.
REJUVENATION:
e victims face severe physical and psychological trauma. ough counselling sessions are held to instill
a desire in them to lead a life of dignity, social acceptance is most needed to assimilate them into
the mainstream culture. To help them feel socially secure, we have opened the gates of our churches.
We continue to supply medical and rescue kits to the rescued victims through IJM. Every year we conducted
Christmas programme at several juvenile homes and women shelter home in Mumbai.
REINTEGRATION:
Reintegration is the process of re-uniting the victims with their families. One of the crucial steps of
our mission is the process of reintegration. With the grace of God, on 26th May 2019, this year we
were able to reunite two women - aged 19 and 26, (the older a mother to a three-month-old) - with
their families in Mumbai. ey were rescued from a brothel center in Chennai under the leadership
of MCCSS. We pray that they live a blessed and fruitful life in future. In the last 4years 10 girls
reached home from brothel centers to their own house or relatives through Shalom Missions reintegration
programme.
REHABILITATION- SHANTI NIWAS:
Rehabilitation is the action of restoring them to normal life through training and therapy. Radiant Assembly
God Church and Shalom Mission jointly run Shanti Niwas, a rehabilitation centre that works
for the upliftment of rescued workers. e centre currently rehabilitates 12 girls. ey are given moral
counselling and are being empowered through education and employment so that they can lead a financially
independent life. Out of these 12, Shalom Mission has adopted 4 girls who are being given education
and vocational training incurring a monthly expense of Rs. 60,000/. Two of them have passed +2
and after completing a course on Housekeeping, are working at a 5 Star Hotel in Mumbai.
41