Gauri Sawant — Co-Founder

I am India's first transgender woman to have adopted a child. Born as a male, I always used to find more happiness in my femininity. From Ganesh (my name till schooling in Pune) to Gauri (my new identity after coming to Mumbai), I have come a long way from recognizing and acknowledging my individuality to now being recognized as a public figure in India. I am a Transgender Activist and a Social Worker. The Vicks commercial of 2016 gave me overnight recognition in society. Suddenly, I became a public figure. My motherhood journey started when I rescued Gayatri (then, a 4 years old girl), from a sex worker’s house in Mumbai. Her biological mother was a sex worker and died from AIDS. After her mother’s demise, Gayatri was being sold to India's leading red-light areas in West Bengal. This was unacceptable to me. A voice inside me said I have to rescue this child. That was a defining moment in my life and gave me a purpose of living. It was then when I decided, I will not let young children, specifically girls born out of sex workers enter into this business of child trafficking or sex trade. I decided I will take care of them. And with the help of my fellow transgender community members, I will raise them and provide them a safe environment for growing up. Being a transgender, society has always looked down upon us. But, I am confident that with the help and support of some noble souls, my dream of making a house for these kids will come true. And I would like to request your support in this endeavor and would just quote Robert Ingersoll here - “We rise by lifting others.” You can visit my website - https://aajichaghar.com/ for more details.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in the Non-Profit sector focused on LGBTQ rights and social work.

Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Experience: 29 yrs 1 mo