At an age when most take out time from studies to chill out with friends over PS or crazy time to unwind, two Grade 11 students of Pathways School (Noida) have their minds on a different path. Advait Singh and Aditi Jomen Bhardwaj, both classmates, are deep into working for the upliftment of sex workers and their children. How did all this begin, we heard from Advait at his residence, Tower 18 ATS Greens Village.Here are the excerpts from him:
“Our venture, Garbhapaat, began in Grade 8 when Aditi and I learned about the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in school. That sparked deep conversations between us about reproductive healthcare — abortions, contraceptives, and family planning measures. My mom, who is a healthcare provider, helped connect us with gynecologists, allowing us to learn from professionals in the field.
“Later, we watched a documentary on the lives of sex workers in India and the exploitative brothels they are forced to live and work in. That was a turning point for us. We knew we wanted to do something tangible, so we started raising funds.
“What made Garbhapaat truly possible was our community. People in our society stepped up in ways we never expected — offering support, resources, and encouragement. With the funds we raised, we helped renovate Dream Village, a safe house for sex workers, and worked at a schools on GB Road. Later on Saanvi Sehgal, a 9th grader from our school also joined the project. We three became good friends over the work and endeavor to carry on with best wishes and cooperation from the community.
“It was about friendship, about learning together, and about a community that believed in creating change.”
L to R, Saanvi Advait and Aditi
