Future Hope Foundation in India

I found a movie on Future Hope, a foundation in India that offers housing and an education for improvished children. Several of the children from the film, Born into Brothels, now attend Future Hope. It is a wonderful organization living up to its name by providing hope for so many youngsters. See for yourself!!!

Update: On Other Kids From Born into Brothels

So, I already informed you that Puja, one of the kids from the film Born into Brothels, returned to the sex trade after the movie in an earlier post. But I wanted to find out some more information on the other children. So I found this update on kids with cameras, one of the official sites associated with the film, and lets just say that this update which is dated November 2006 is a much happier one!

1. Avijit- Is a junior at private school in Salt Lake City.
2. Manik- Is starting his second year at Future Hope, a private school in Calcutta, India that is almost impossible for brothel children to get into. He still flys kites.
3. Shanti- She also attends Future Hope.
4. Tapasi- Attends a local school and her sister still stays at the Sabera Foundation.
5. Suchitra- Lives at home and works for a greeting card manufacturer.
6. Kochi- Is finishing up her education at the Sabera Foundation and hopes to move to the U.S. to continue her studies.



Avijit and Manik
Picture from Kids with Cameras Website

Born Into Brothels Star Returns to Sex Work

I came across an article about Preeti Mukhejee aka Puja, one the children who was featured in the film Born into Brothels. Puja was ten years old when she was in the documentary. Today she is in her teens and unfortunatley she is a sex worker just like her mother, Rakhi. After the film, Puja was given money and the opportunity to come to the USA to find a better home and enter school. She took the money but backed out on the trip to America. After the movie came out, clients in Songachi, the red-light district of India, pressured Puja's mother into having her join the trade. Clients said they would pay more money to sleep with Puja. So her mother defaulted on sending her to America and pushed her to be a sex worker. Puja used the money she was given to buy a car, tvs, and fancy items for herself and her mother. Today she lives in Prem Kamal, one of the most expensive buildings in the red light district.


Photos By: Rediff.com

She is the head of her on sex chain and has even been arrested. Since her mother is to old to get as many clients as she use to, Preeti is responsible for paying her mother's bills as well as her on. Her mother has a room in Prem Kamal too. To read the whole article entitled, An Oscar winner then, a sex worker now, you can visit the website http://www.rediff.com/ or click on the link above.

Born Into Brothels Producers

Born into Brothels was produced in 2004 by then couple Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman. They wanted to raise awareness about the Red Light industry in Calcutta, India, while also helping the children learn photography and hopefully make their way out of the brothels. The film won the 77th Academy Award for best documentary feature. For more information on the film or to make a donation to the cause visit the official website, http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/bornintobrothels/!

Watch Born Into Brothels

Born into Brothels is the documentary that inspired this blog. I suggest everyone watch this film to get a better understanding of the living conditions of sex workers and there children in India. This blog will mean so much more to you if you watch this short documentary. Below is the film's trailer. Check it out!