Gurukul &
Livelihood
Initiative
Elevating
LGBTQ Community
Menu
LGBTQ Community
In collaboration with
Moitri Sanjog | Cooch Behar
Moitri Sanjog works with communities who do not fit into socially constructed gender binary and heteronomative sexual behaviour face tremendous violence and discrimination. Members of these communities have limited access to livelihood opportunities and education. Their children also face discrimination, including bullying at school.
Humane Warriors pioneers several initiatives to build equity together with this community. Starting from food relief operations for the community during the pandemic (2020), we have now started longer term programs such as, The Gurukul, an after-school center that provides a safe and supportive environment for these children. Children are provided with educational support, daily meals and other soft skills’ training such as painting, dancing, etc. We have begun a Livelihood Program for adult skills training and income generation for the community so as to develop self-esteem for members and to self-sustain the costs of the Gurukul. We also support the creation & distribution of books on gender awareness & rights.
#togetherwecan
Our New Phase of Work in 2024 has two main components:
Book on Gender Identity and Rights (Bengali edition). The English Edition is being planned to be published with the funds collected.
practice sessions
In India, individuals who are excluded from the socially constructed gender binary and heteronormative system face severe levels of violence and discrimination. They are often unwelcome in large sections of society, leaving them with limited options such as engaging in sex work or begging to sustain themselves financially. Unfortunately, their children also bear the brunt of discrimination within society, including bullying at school. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic had worsened the situation, resulting in school closures and loss of daily wages for parents. Consequently, many children have been forced to abandon their education.
Moitri Sanjog (meaning “a network to connect friends”) Society was set up in 2011 with a vision in the near future where trans-people, hijras, gays and lesbians will live with respect and dignity and as equals in society. The mission of the organization is to reach out to people in Cooch behar who are transgender or gender variant and mobilize them to protest against socio-domestic violence. The mission also includes developing solidarity networks in society to sensitize them to issues faced by these marginalized communities and advocate for social protections such as access to healthcare and employment. Moitri Sanjog services approximately 170 community members in 2 districts, Siliguri and Cooch Behar, in West Bengal.
The complex context within the community and Cooch Behar is challenging. Since 2020, Humane Warriors and Moitri Sanjog have regulary assessed the evolving needs of the community. During the height of the pandemic, the immediate needs were access to food rations, and ensuring quality uninterrupted education for the children. Since then additional needs to empower community members through skill-building and income generation has come into the focus.
In 2020-2021, we operated two emergency campaigns to procure food rations and distribute it to the community members.
In 2021, we also supported the establishment of The Gurukul, a daycare and education center to create a safe and supportive environment for the children. They receive educational support, daily midday meals, and training in various soft skills like painting and dancing. Post the pandemic, as normal schools have reestablished, the Gurukul is now a afterschool care center. The funding of The Gurukul has relied on on patrons who support a child’s education and dietary needs for a year.
In 2023, we are working together with Moitri Sanjog to start a Livelihood Program training members to become beauticians and start their own salon, through which income can be generated for the members and also to sustain the Gurukul.
Join us in our mission to empower marginalized communities in India! We are seeking dedicated monthly patrons to make a generous contribution for a year. Please support us through our fundraiser. Moreover, you can volunteer as we explore avenues on how we can improve education and livelihoods, conduct mentoring and training workshops for teachers, sponsor events, innovate in fundraising, etc. If you resonate with any of our ideas or have one of your own, please contact us.
There are three paid teachers. Two of the teachers are BA graduates and one is a high school graduate.
One of their community members teaches Odissi dance twice a month and another person volunteers to teach drawing.
They work on mental health programs with youth essentially. There is also a livelihood program with a catering center, beauty parlor, cane craft, etc.
© Humane Warriors 2023
