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Impact
“
I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress
which women have achieved.
DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR – INDIAN CONSTITUTION
STORIES OF CHANGE
Stories of Change
STORY OF STRUGGLE, AND COURAGE AGAINST ALL ODDS
Aarti, aged 20 years, belongs to a tribal community and has hearing impairment since her birth. At an early age she had been abducted by a man who forcefully married her. She faced great physical and emotional violence at the hands of her husband and his first wife. Her parents also refused to accept her back fearing boycott from their community and instead brought her to URJA in August 2018. At URJA our holistic interventions facilitated Aarti to become more focused and mentally relaxed. We introduced her to Tata Mumbai Marathon, giving her an immediate goal and objective to work towards. With just two months of training, she stood second in her age group in the marathon. Currently she is working at Mirchi and Mime, a restaurant run by hearing impaired employees. Aarti has moved from crisis shelter home to short stay home. Along with her job, she is also preparing for her 12th exams through distance learning.
COPING BETRAYALS AND MENTAL ILLNESS WITH A WARRIOR SPIRIT!
Zahira, 19 years old came to Mumbai to be with her husband, but he refused to acknowledge her, and hence was brought to URJA in July 2018 by the police. Initially Zahira had a low sense of self worth, deep sense of abandonment and would also experience episodes of psychosis. On psychiatric assessment, she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. At URJA, Zahira was provided with regular counseling and was also referred to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which is a type of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy to help better treat borderline personality disorder. Zahira has not had any episodes of psychosis recently, and is now better equipped to stay calm in situations of conflict and her relationship with others at the shelter has also improved. Zahira is currently going for English speaking classes and is receiving training in beauty and hair by Nalini and Yasmin, a renowned name in the hair and beauty industry.
HOMELESS YOUNG WOMEN AT OUR SHELTER
Most of the young women we work with are malnourished with compromised immunity and, thus our aim was to continue providing adequate nutrition, as well as follow and maintain the sanitation compliances, to prevent anyone from getting infected at the shelter home, putting others at a great risk. The Lock down also had severe implications on the livelihood of many of the young women where several of them lost their jobs, rendering them vulnerable financially and emotionally. Throughout the lock down we have been in regular touch with all the young women, providing them with telephonic counselling, monthly ration, cooking gas and other essentials. In certain cases we also supported them by paying their rent and doing their mobile recharge so that they can be in touch with their friends and family, and not feel isolated and lonely in such uncertain times.
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Home not being a safe space for several women, we saw a rise in the number of young women facing domestic violence reaching out to us. We have supported young women, by providing them with counselling and referring them to police, shelter and other government services.
VULNERABLE FAMILIES
We also identified vulnerable and homeless families of daily wage workers who are not able to access government services or resources because of lack of documents. We have been continuously supporting such families by providing them with essential kits.
We recognise that one time support is not enough for those worst affected by the Pandemic, and there needs to be continued support for all of us to emerge safe and healthy through this. Join us and be our co-traveller in this journey with homeless young women and vulnerable families!
We have started a fund-raiser on Milaap to keep assisting these groups Milaap. To support click here
TESTIMONIALS
Co-Traveller Testimonials
“Working with Deepali and her incredible team at Urja was my first experience in the NGO space in Mumbai. I was able to take part in the outreach programme at Dadar Station, and utilise my social work experience from Australia in a different context. What Urja is able to achieve despite limited resources is a testimony of their commitment to the cause of women’s rights. I hope to work with them again in the future.”
Cherie, volunteer, Australia.
Teresa
Criag
Thomas
Shobha Shelar
Shelter Superintendent
Imen
RECOGNITION
Recognition
02
Urja Trust Selected as one of the partners of Ember Mental Health initiatives in July 2025 out of 1800+ applicants
04
Urja Trust Managing Trustee invited as a panelist to represent marginalised women leadership in UN Women #CSW69, New York, USA
MEDIA
Urja In News
THU, OCT 19, 2023
Unhoused women in India: Overlooked, vulnerable, and in need of support - Missing Perspectives
SUN, JAN 15, 2023
Mumbai Marathon 2023 | मुंबई मॅरथॉन स्पर्धेला तुफान प्रतिसाद आणि उत्साह | Marathi News
SAT, JUNE 6, 2020
Denormalise Domestic Violence : Lockdown Sees Spike in Cases and Calls for Action,
THU, MAR 1, 2018
Once Underprivileged, Deepali Is Now a 'Light for Battered Young Women
SUN, SEP 25, 2016
This Garment Factory Turned Shelter Home Has Supported More Than 250 Women in the past 4 Years
THU, AUG, 11, 2016
This Dalit woman is helping more than 250 homeless women get back on their feet
AWARDS
Awards
We are one of the 24 organisations grantees out of 1100 applications across the country for Yes Foundation, yes! I am the Change Grant, 2018.
Our Co-Founder, Deepali Kamble, was awarded the MUMBAI HEROES TITLE’ – 2019, in the “WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK”, officially observed by UNITED NATIONS and ‘Swayam Siddha Puraskar – 2018,’ for her impact in the social development sector, in the field of women’s rights and creating inclusive spaces in society.
Ms. Chatura Rao was awarded the Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2015-2016, supported by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), for a feature article on Urja Trust.
ANNUAL REPORTS