Soma Memorial Girls Home

Since the reopening of the schools after pandemic the residents of Soma Memorial Girls' Home supported by Mundo Cooperante, Madrid and Amistad international, California and have returned to their regular school routine. A number of young residents were moved from New Light main shelter to this safe home post pandemic. At this safe home filled with love and attention, the girls continue to learn Indian classical and modern dance, computer skills, boxing, stitching, craft and cooking. New Light believes that to live a well rounded skilled life many of these should be taught early.

Seventeen year ago New Light Soma Memorial Girls' Home - Hogar Meridional opened its doors as a full-time residential facility for children between the age of 8 and 18 who were believed to be high-risk targets for trafficking or sexual exploitation. For years Soma Memorial Girls' Home received consistent care and support from Mundo Cooperante through its various partner organizations and campaigns. It is a matter of great pride to establish international partnerships in development that stretch over decades.

Over the years, more than a 100 girls have called this facility home, being nurtured with care. Regular counseling and access to quality education, tutoring, and training in sport, yoga, and artistic self-expression that our teachers, staff, donors, and volunteers work determinedly to provide, enrich their lives. New Light is thrilled that so many young girls have embraced these opportunities, excelling in their studies and artistic endeavors, with several Soma Home graduates now actively committed to the pursuit of higher education and vocational training. These young ladies - once socially and financially limited to a life on the streets - now aspire to become social workers, politicians, teachers and doctors.

The license granted by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal, India. Allows Soma Home to provide shelter to minors only. Once the residents reach the age of 18, they can no longer legally receive care under the Soma Home license.

The young residents at Soma Home come from backgrounds that are hugely challenging, some suffering years of abuse and violence. Many of the girls were born in the slums and red-light backstreets of Kolkata, the children of female sex workers who were themselves once exploited or trafficked. The New Light team feared that to abandon its young graduates at the vulnerable age of 18 was not only irresponsible, it was inhumane. Without shelter and support, it would be nearly impossible for them to continue with academic studies or professional training, and many would surely be forced into prostitution or early marriage. Faced with this huge situational challenge the team at New Light supported by a robust group of young professional women volunteers took on the humongous responsibility of setting a safe home for young adult women in pursuit of higher education. Thus was born the next support program for girls, Sonar Tori.