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Partners

Aawaaz-e-Niswaan

Aawaaz-e-Niswaan (AeN) was founded in 1985 with a simple but powerful vision to amplify the voices of Muslim women and build solidarity among all women resisting patriarchy and violence.

What began as a small grassroots effort has grown into a vibrant, women-led collective that stands at the intersection of gender, religion, and class, working towards justice, dignity, and equality.

Over the years, AeN has developed a holistic approach to empowerment, offering crisis counselling, legal aid, education, and livelihood support to women navigating difficult circumstances.  Their survivor-led model not only helps women access justice and healing but also encourages them to become peer counsellors, using their own experiences to guide and support others.  Through programs in digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and vocational training, AeN helps women build financial independence and confidence.

Deeply rooted in local communities across Mumbai, particularly in Kurla and Mumbra, AeN conducts legal literacy workshops, para-legal training, and awareness campaigns on domestic violence and women’s rights.

Project with MHI: Expanding Community Mental Health and Gender Equity Initiatives

Recognising how deeply gender-based violence affects mental health, especially in the wake of the pandemic, AeN is expanding its community mental health work in Mumbra and Kurla.  This initiative focuses on prevention, early intervention, and accessible mental health support through culturally sensitive and expressive forms of healing.

The program includes creating mental health materials in Hindi, hosting residential workshops on well-being and self-care, and offering creative therapy sessions in music, dance, and art for women, adolescents, and children. AeN will also conduct gender-sensitisation sessions with youth, teachers, and community leaders to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusion.

To strengthen its counselling network, AeN will collaborate with mental health professionals to train community counsellors in areas like parenting, adolescent care, and family therapy. Altogether, these efforts aim to reach over 5,000 women, youth, and frontline workers, offering them not just support but pathways toward healing, resilience, and collective transformation.