ABOUT
DIKSHA is a rights-skills-building organisation working with marginalised young people , and women. We enable them to challenge pre-determined life roles and author their own life scripts. Children and youth of all genders engage as equal partners to evolve as changemakers for a gender-just world.
MISSION
Creating a safe space for young people aged 2+ to 25Â through building up their inner strength and integrating individual development with community needs
VISION
A gender-just world free from hierarchies and inequalities where all young people can access and exercise their rights
DIKSHA TRANSFORMS LIVES
Meaningful Work. Unforgettable Experiences. Incredible Stories of Change.
DIKSHA AT THE GRASSROOTS
Making Red Light Areas Child-Safe
Direct action with young people living in Red Light Areas remains one of the core functions of DIKSHA to date. Children of all genders growing up in Red Light Areas are vulnerable to being sucked into the sex trade economy: girls and 'feminised' boys as paid sexual service providers, and boys as pimps and traffickers. DIKSHA enables children of all genders to change this pre-determined narrative and write their own life scripts. Gender relations transform in this process of working together as equal partners in change. We currently work in 5 red-light and quasi-red-light areas in Kolkata.
ENSURING SYSTEMS CHANGE
Changing the Ecosystem that Denies Agency to Young People
DIKSHA informs young people of their rights, and builds their skills to identify, challenge, resist, prevent, and redress violations. This enables young people to change abusive situations by themselves. DIKSHA links up emergent youth leaders to local bodies of power such as the councillor, police personnel, school teachers, etc. This facilitates the youth's change-making journey.
Committed to ensuring this ecosystem transformation, DIKSHA influences other relevant players by offering capacity-building support. Also by advocacy through alliances and networks.
DIKSHA & THEÂ SDGS
Empowering Marginalised Youth to Transform the World
DIKSHA works with a focus on Good Health & Wellbeing (SDG#3), Quality Education (SDG#4), Gender Equality (SDG#5), and Reduced Inequalities(SDG#10). As a Catalyst 2030 member, at both the national and the global levels, DIKSHA is now amplifying its Protection-through-Participation approach to youth empowerment at international platforms.
"We can study , we can play ...
Diksha is Our
Very Own Safe Space
To Learn, Enjoy, and Grow!"
