When Dutchwoman Laurien Meuter visited Mumbai in 2005, she realised that she wanted to do something for India, which would make a difference to the locals. But as a non-Indian, it was impossible to start an NGO in India without Indians.

She heard of NGO Hamara Foundation, in 2010, “One of their projects was to support girls of the Pardeshi community who live on Foras Road near the red light district) in south-central Mumbai. We collaborated, and my dream was to draw this 700-strong community out of poverty (according to UNICEF norms) in 10 years and make them self-supporting,” says Meuter.