Rafa Home | New Generation

Rafa Home for Girls

Rafa Home for Girls cares for vulnerable girls, helping them grow beyond trauma of the past and leading them in transformative journeys.

The story of Rafa Home for Girls

Out of concern for girls vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and stigma, New Generation Trust initially launched two distinct homes: “Courage & Healing Home” (opened in 2012) for girls rescued from trafficking and abuse, as well as a second home (opened in 2013) for girls with special health needs.

Eventually the residents came together under the single banner “Rafa Home for Girls.”

Since January 2012 we have helped over 230 girls begin on the road from brokenness to healing. We strive to create a safe environment to fuel creativity, stir hope, and empower our girls to make good choices in life.

Our Approach

Girls are assigned to the home by the Child Welfare Committee, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of NCT of Delhi. The girls have survived a wide variety of situations, including incest, rape, sex trafficking, bonded labor, abandonment, and neglect. Some live with special health needs. Some are sent to us immediately after rescue by police. In other cases, concerned friends, social workers, or relatives have referred girls to the Child Welfare Committee.

We provide holistic inputs to help girls grow physically, emotionally, socially, mentally, and creatively. Some girls stay with us for 2-6 months and then proceed to other long-term care options. Many others have been assigned to us until they turn 18. Yet for each child, regardless of how much time we have to invest, we aim to impart a love for learning, hope for a better future, and new ways of relating, so that she will be less vulnerable to future exploitation and equipped to help others.

We Provide...

Education

Life Skills Training

Medical Care

Trauma Counseling

Legal Support

Nutrition

Creative Therapy

Career Exposure

"You may trod me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I'll rise."
- Maya Angelou

Disha's Story

Eleven-year-old Disha* lived in a slum in Delhi. Her parents parted ways when she was very young, and she remained with her father and her younger brother. Life was hard: At a very young age she had to take care of the house and look after her brother.

Being the only source of income for the family, her father would come home late at night after long days of work. Disha grew up feeling neglected and lonely. Seeing scant parental protection, neighbors took advantage of Disha’s situation and abused her. This led to her arrival at Rafa Home for Girls.

Sana's Story

In the early days after she came to Rafa Home for Girls, Sana* was violent, self-harming, and would sometimes fly out of control. Abandoned by her relatives after her parents died, she held a lot of unresolved anger towards her family—anger which she often vented against the women in the home.

*All names have been changed to maintain privacy

Surbhi's

Story

Surbhi* was a bright little 6-year-old with the cutest smile when she came to Rafa Home for Girls. She had been rescued from the street, where she lived with her alcoholic mother. Having had hardly any educational background, Surbhi initially struggled when she first joined a regular school.

Though Surbhi was once the youngest in the home, even as a younger child she has shown a lot of leadership. She cares for other children in the home and consistently seeks to help. She loves to dance and play, and she teaches other children how to play games. She is a cheerful girl and can easily strike up a conversation with anyone. She is well-loved by both the girls and the carers.

Teacher helping Aliza to match colors .jpg

Roshni's Story

A special needs child with developmental delay due to chronic illness, Roshni* had suffered from severe malnourishment and had been hospitalized before she came to us.

Yet in her first days at Rafa Home for Girls she was not lethargic: She would scream, hit, and scratch. Bath times were a battle as she resisted brushing her teeth or getting dressed. She refused to eat or take medication. The women on the team struggled to understand what she was trying to communicate.

*All names have been changed to maintain privacy

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