Mercer Island Faith Communities Raising Funds to Help Sons of Sex Workers in India

Urmi Basu, the director of New Light shelter in Kolkata, India, will present a documentary on her work in India helping the victims of sex trafficking and their children at Herzl-Ner Tamid on Mercer Island.

Sarah Stuteville of Seattle Globalist profiled Basu in the Seattle Times (subscription required) and said that Herzl-Ner Tamid and Mercer Island Presbyterian Church brought Basu to Mercer Island to help raise $70,000 to build a boys home for the sons of prostitutes in the Kalighat area of Kolkata, India.

Stuteville writes:

She explains the need to serve boys, as well as girls, by “moving them away from a place where the only role they know for a boy or a young man is that of a pimp, or a trafficker or a procurer or someone that lives off the earning of a prostitute.”

The documentary "Half the Sky" was produced by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

According to Herzl-Ner Tamid's website, the presentation will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sunday May 5, 3700 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island:

AN EVENING WITH URMI BASU DIRECTOR OF NEW LIGHT (www.newlightindia.org), KOLKATA, INDIA & SCREENING of “HALF THE SKY”, the documentary produced by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wu Dunn featuring Urmi and her work with the victims of sex trafficking.New Light provides care and support for over 1000 women and children in the sex trades, including women engaged in sex work, street children and young adults, trafficked young girls and victims of HIV/AIDS. New Light’s mission is to promote gender equality and end the violence and abuse of women and children. Learn about New Light and its newest program, “Khala Gar”, which will be a residential home for the sons of sex trade workers. The purpose of establishing Khala Gar for this vulnerable male population is to break the cycle of sex trafficking, child victimization gender inequality and sexual abuse, by giving boys the opportunity to leave the Red Light District, complete their education, and seek opportunities outside of the sex trades. 

To learn more about New Light, check out their website at www.newlightindia.org, and their Tumblr site at http://newlightkolkata.tumblr.com