Ms. Juliana Lohar, a fervent social worker with a master’s degree in social work and a Human Rights Activist, proudly bears the title of Ford Global Fellow (2021). She is presently pursuing her Executive MBA from Goa Institute of Management (Hybrid mode). She is a mentor at the economic livelihood alternatives (WISH)  for survivors of Sex Trafficking at Arz. She has been a part of ARZ since 2002 and has steadfastly battled sex trafficking, collaborating with Civil Society and external stakeholders to prevent the victimization of children and young adults.

She has been awarded with
1. Lokmat Sakhi Samman Award – Bravery 2017 , Goa Region

2. Lokmat Sakhi Samman Award – Bravery 2018 Western Region at 7th Lokmat Women Summit

3. Daniele Po International Award 2019, Bologna, Italy – For fight against Devdasis system

4. City of Ferrara, Italy 2019 – For constant commitment in defense of the rights and dignity of

boys and girls who are victims of violence and abuse

5. Ford Foundation Global Fellowship Batch of 2021.

Annapurna has always had an interest in teaching children and working with them. This passion has helped her build confidence and gain valuable learning experience. She enjoys working with all the staff and has a good rapport with the beneficiaries. Additionally, she is keen to acquire more knowledge and learn new things. She has been working at ARZ for 15 years.

Bhima was dedicated as devadasi at an age of 15 years. After her dedication she was forced into commercial sexual activities in the red-light area of Baina, Vasco, Goa in the year 2001. Arz, NGO in collaboration with the crime branch, Goa, rescued her from commercial sexual activity and admitted her at the government state protective home. She stayed at the protective home for a year, where she received counselling, skill training from Arz NGO. After release from the protective home, she shared with Arz, her desire of working to prevent girls like her in Baina, Vasco from being dedicated and forced into commercial sexual activities.

She joined Arz in the year 2003 and worked with the adolescent girls residing in Baina red-light area and neighbouring slum area. Her work involved identifying adolescent girls vulnerable to be dedicated and/or forced into prostitution and educating them and their family members, about ills of  dedicating girls as devadasi and forcing them into commercial sexual activity. She was also an active member of the devadasi self-help group formed by Arz in Baina, to eradicate devadasi practice in Baina, Vasco. Her effort lead to preventing many young girls from being dedicated and forced in prostitution.

Since, last one decade, as an art therapist, she has been visiting government state protective home and providing rehabilitation services to the girls rescued from commercial sexual exploitation and lodged at the government state protective home. She has been successful in bringing positive change in the lives of girls lodged at the protective home.

She also worked  as a supervisor, at Swift Wash Laundry. Swift Wash was a unit of Arz, NGO set up for providing economic rehabilitation to the victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sexual violence in Goa. She has been instrumental in ensuring that victims of CSE join Swift Wash and receive a respectable livelihood at Swift Wash.

Today, as a program manager in our Ankur Program she has transformed the lives of 5000 at-risk girls and women. An ace counsellor and art therapist, Bhimavva has prevented 2500 girls from being trafficked and rehabilitated 1400 women rescued from sex work. 

Ms. Bhimavva Chalwadi is a role model for the victims of CSE. She is a true exemplary, who with her sheer commitment, hard work, discipline has manged to bring change in the lives of thousands of vulnerable and victim of sexual violence. 

Yalguri is one of the founder members of Ambedkar Dalit Sangha, Baina. He was one of the youth group members of ARZ who actively participated in crime prevention, stopping Devadasi practice and child prostitution in the red-light area of Baina. In the last 25 years of his work with ARZ, he has successfully managed to reach out adolescent girls and boys and educate them about child sexual abuse, child marriage, devadasi practice, sex trafficking and prevent their abuse and exploitation

Sailee comes from a Mathematics background and has also completed her Social Work degree from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has always been keen to work on women’s issues and has long been inspired by anti-prostitution theories. She believes that being forced into prostitution is the ultimate subjugation of a person’s body and soul. According to her, the concept of “choice” when it comes to “sex work” cannot exist in a vacuum without providing vulnerable communities with livelihood options to actually choose from. She joined the team after studying ARZ’s work over the past 25 years, knowing that the commitment to end sex trafficking is the ultimate goal. Her shared beliefs and ways of working with the community make it easier for her to fit into the ecosystem created at ARZ.

Talha was drawn to the organization by a desire to align her passion for empowering lives with a mission that combats trafficking and supports survivors. She saw ARZ as the place where she could truly make an impact, contributing to rewriting the stories of survivors and being part of a team that brings hope, justice, and healing. Talha’s motivation comes from her dream of transforming lives from negative to positive. Having seen fear replace dreams in the eyes of those affected, she is driven by the spark of resilience she witnesses in survivors’ eyes. This resilience reminds her that trauma doesn’t define them—strength and determination do. Seeing victims and survivors rebuild their lives fuels her passion and purpose. Additionally, the collective energy of the ARZ team, united in the healing process, inspires her to remain committed to this vital work, contributing to a larger movement that demands justice, dignity, and freedom for all. Talha has been associated with ARZ for one year and a month.

Celeste wanted to be part of a team that not only raises awareness about the issue but also actively works to rescue and rehabilitate victims, providing them with the necessary support to rebuild their lives. ARZ’s track record of impactful work in this field and its ability to create meaningful change inspired her to contribute her skills and efforts to their mission. By joining ARZ, she aims to help amplify their impact and work towards a future where human trafficking is eradicated.

Arz is an NGO that contributes to transforming the lives of individuals who have suffered severe exploitation and abuse. Arz has been helping trafficking victims rebuild their lives for the past 28 years. Arz also raises awareness about human trafficking and advocates for stronger laws and better protection for victims.

For me, on a personal level, it is meaningful work that provides a profound learning experience, helping me develop empathy, resilience, and a deeper understanding of social justice issues. Being part of Arz means joining experienced individuals dedicated to a common cause, providing mutual support and motivation.

I have been working with Arz for the last three months. However, I have known Arz since 2000, and we have also worked together on social issues.

Meenakshi has been working with ARZ for the past 15 years and feels a sense of satisfaction and motivation to continue applying her skills to a social cause. 

Shruti has been working with ARZ for the past 10 months and she enjoys being a part of a people-oriented organization like ARZ. 

Alisha D’Souza holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Carmel College. She has gained practical experience through internships, focusing on mental health awareness, counseling, and therapy for children.

Her passion for helping victims of sex trafficking began during her internship at ARZ, where she participated in awareness campaigns. This experience strengthened her commitment to the cause. Alisha is proud to have joined ARZ as a team member, where she now uses her skills to support and assist those in need.

Sonam is deeply motivated by the impactful work that ARZ does in supporting women and addressing critical social issues. The opportunity to learn from her team and grow professionally keeps her engaged and eager to take on new challenges.

WISH- Swizel joined ARZ as a Designer in April 2024. She is inspired by ARZ’s work in creating economic livelihood opportunities for victims, giving them a renewed sense of hope. What keeps her motivated is witnessing the resilience of the victims who have endured the worst. Being part of an organization that helps them rebuild their lives gives her a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Manju Kewat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology Honours from MES College. With a deep understanding of how psychology connects with community well-being, she believes mental health plays an important role in building a stronger, safer society.

Manju currently works as a Community Mobilizer at ARZ in the ANKUR program, which aims to combat child sexual abuse (CSA) and the devadasi system. Her role involves working closely with the community, forming groups that take action against CSA, and ensuring these groups stay active and engaged. She also carefully documents the sessions and meetings to track progress and create lasting impact.

Her background in psychology helps her understand the challenges faced by individuals and groups, making it easier for her to connect with people and inspire them to take action. Manju is committed to creating safe spaces where communities can come together to protect children and prevent harmful practices, bringing about positive change at the grassroots level.

Shilpa Madikeshwar completed her Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree from MES College. She is currently working as an accountant for WISH, where she combines her skills with her passion for helping others.

After finishing her studies, Shilpa realized she wanted more than a regular job in finance. She was inspired to work in an organization that helps victims of sex trafficking and sexual violence. She believes that proper financial management is important to support programs that rescue and rehabilitate survivors.

Shilpa joined WISH because she wanted to make a difference. She feels proud that her work helps the organization run smoothly and reach more people in need. With her dedication and hard work, Shilpa is an important part of the team working to give survivors a better future.

WISH- Nagesh Sagdam has been a valued member of ARZ and WISH for many years. He started as a driver and, through hard work and dedication, grew to become the supervisor at the WISH factory. Today, he manages important tasks like providing technical support, handling sales and market outreach, procuring materials, and ensuring smooth daily operations at the factory.

WISH combines professional business practices with a mission to help survivors of sex trafficking by giving them dignified work. Nagesh plays a big role in keeping this balance, showing how hard work can change lives for the better.