merges design and business to empower women and children living in Kalighat red light destrict, Kolkata, India

About us

Who

We’re four Rhode Island School of Design graduate students. Our names are Devon Miller, Atisha Varshney, Colleen Clines & Joann Lee.

 

What

 In March 2009 we started an initiative called Anchal with an intention to promote alternative livelihoods & lifestyles for sex workers and their children in the Kalighat red light district of Kolkata, India.

 

Where:

Kalighat is one of the largest and oldest red light districts in the city of Kolkata with most of the sex workers coming from outside Kolkata; some from as far away as Nepal and Bangladesh.  Regardless of their origins however, their reasons for being in the profession are mostly the same: they were tricked, forced, or sold into the trade since when they were teenagers or younger.

 

Why:

 The chances that the children of sex workers will be forced to earn their living similarly is very high.  In partnership with Urmi Basu and New Light, we want to help change that.  Anchal’s goal  is to merge design & business to empower women & children living in the Kalighat red light district of Kolkata, India.  In so doing, those at risk of being forced into the sex trade can realize their potential beyond prostitution.

 

How:

After a visit to Kolkata in March we started a line of kantha inspired journals, greeting cards and bookmarks that we’ve sold at  local art sales.  On November 15, 2009 we’re  hosting a launch event to continue to raise awareness & funds.  Our guest of honor,   Urmi Basu, founder of the NGO New Light,  will be giving a special presentation about her work in Kolkata India.  In April 2009,    Ms.Basu was honored as an ‘Unsung Hero of Compassion’ by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and was documented in Pulitzer Prize   winners, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's, new book, ‘Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’ (2009).

 

Now:

 In December 2009 Devon  & Colleen will travel to Kolkata for 2 weeks to develop the kantha textile business currently underway.

Anchal project