Inspired by Freeset

February 5, 2008

Today I visited another one of TEN's partners in Kolkata, Freeset. Their three-story production unit is located right in the middle of the Sonagachi red light district. Freeset employs between 100-150 women from the red light district who have left prostitution, offering full-time jobs to the women, free lunch, and free day care for their young children. As of now, they do not offer any residential or shelter options because they want the women to live in the community and be the watchguards for abuse, motivate other women to leave, and thus bring change from within.

Walking up and down the building was a true inspiration. Unlike our other NGO partners, which run a variety of activities, Freeset is a for-profit business that is focused on offering real economic opportunity to the women. They are paid a fair wage for their work and the women are so proud to have this job. It has enabled hundreds of women to leave prostitution and become economically empowered to live independently.

Freeset makes a variety of bags made from jute, a natural fiber that is grown locally. Made by Survivors sells two types of these bags, available for purchase online.