I am running my FIRST half-marathon (21km) this January, and have chosen to run for Aangan Trust, an organization that prevents sex-trafficking of adolescent girls and rehabilitates adolescent victims of sex-trafficking across West Bengal, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The Problem: 60% of the 3.3 million women trafficked into sex work in India are adolescent girls 1) Under the facade of marriage, girls are sold for as little as Rs. 3,000 and are trafficked by their husbands or sold to other traffickers 2) Rescued adolescent victims of trafficked are housed in government-run shelter homes, which lack basic facilities, are a source of further exploitation and are often a front of other illegal activities. Aangan's Unique Approach: 1) Works with rescued victims placed in government-run shelter-homes through one-on-one counselling and group sessions, which help the girls overcome mental trauma. Aangan also works with home-staff, government officials and NGO partners to deliver protective services (legal, health etc) 2) Works with vulnerable girls in high risk urban and rural communities to prevent trafficking by creating girl groups to empower and create protective peer networks through workbook sessions and community projects. It also activates protective institutions in communities (e.g. anti-trafficking units,community mother vigilant groups). Please donate to Aangan in order to stop trafficking of young girls into the sex trade !!