Trade As One

Just a few miles from Ashagram, down winding roads and past rural villages, are situated Jubilee 1, 2, and 4. The Jubilee homes are part of Bombay Teen Challenge’s work with children of women working in the Red Light Districts in Mumbai. Jubilee 4 houses the youngest children, brought by their mothers to BTC with requests to care for them because they cannot. As soon as we entered Jubilee 4, twenty tiny hands clamored to hold ours. We were then literally dragged up and down the stairs, in and out of their large bedrooms, while each of them pointed out their cupboards and beds. As we were in the girls’ bedroom, three young boys simultaneously squealed “This my bed! This my cupboard!” while pointing to a cupboard full of Barbies. When the children had tired of showing us all their worldly possessions, we proceeded en masse downstairs to play games and sing songs with them.

Our time at Jubilee 1 & 2 was a bit mellower, as the children were older. They were excited nonetheless to have guests and each introduced themselves, asking us our favorite color, pop music artist, and movie. Sharing through singing and dancing seemed to be a theme wherever we ventured, and at Jubilee 1 & 2 we witnessed some spectacular break dancing! We also asked the girls to teach us some Hindi dance, which they agreed to, and we proceeded to make complete fools out of ourselves.

Back at Jubilee 4, as the young children settled down for a nap, we were able to spend some time with Sony, the woman who runs Jubilee 4. Her dedication to the children was striking. She works all week long, along with four other full-time staff, to serve and love the forty children who live in the orphanage. From infants to thirteen year olds, these children come to her with a vast range of problems on a daily basis, yet she treats each one of them with compassion as if they were one of her own.

When asked if she gets tired and worn out, she shook her head, “Not really”. She emphasized how much she relies on prayer and on God to keep up her energy. This passion and stamina is evident in all of the BTC staff. Whether due to their own life experience or observations, they are burdened by the havoc that sex slavery is wreaking and are seeking wholeheartedly to fight it and improve the lives of those affected.

This same passion shone through the outreach staff that works seven days a week in the Red Light District. Details of our visit to the Red Light District to come in the next post.