Independent (Rupesh Sharma)

Since 2014, I have been helping kids from underprivileged backgrounds. I teach them art and important life skills. Because I come from a lower middle-class family, I had to drop my education in 2016. So, I decided to focus on working with these kids full-time, hoping they would have better opportunities than me. At first, I taught them on the streets, but later I started a free Art Class names Skill Share Art Academy for 83 kids. With the support of a few friends, I also opened a small art gallery to inspire these kids and show them that they can achieve their dreams. In 2017, I became an art teacher in a school, where I continued to teach my students while also working at the school. In 2018, I was offered a job by a film production house, so I moved to a new place in Versova to become a filmmaker. However, during a phone call with one of my students, I realized that while I was living a comfortable life in the city, they were being left behind without anyone to help them pursue their dreams. I made the decision to quit my job and, with only Rs 520 in my wallet, spent a month on the streets trying to figure out my next steps back in Boisar, my hometown. On December 3, 2018, I started my organization, 'An Art Amity' to empower underprivileged kids, not just in Boisar but in different cities as well. I also provided lectures on art in different colleges and university including IIT Bombay and Mumbai University. Later, I also began a project called "An Artist On A Solo Trip," with the goal of teaching art to more than 5000 underprivileged kids while traveling to 25 states across India. Unfortunately, the project couldn't reach its final stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it still made a significant impact. During the pandemic, I worked hard to acquire the skills needed to support these kids. I attended various workshops on art and psychology, and I even resumed my education in Psychology at Mumbai University. In 2021, acting without social or legal support, I rescued a girl who had endured a decade of abuse by her father. This mission was a matter of life and death for both of us. Though I had been addressing child sexual abuse (CSA) before, this incident propelled me to publicly advocate for raising awareness about CSA. Collaborating with a psychologist, we developed modules illustrating how art can elevate awareness, empower victims, and aid their healing. Our modules, designed for individuals aged 12 to 18, address body awareness, responsible behavior, child sexual abuse awareness, and educate them about the available support systems. Over the past two years, I've conducted private sessions and workshops, utilizing art to raise awareness about CSA and body awareness. Presently, I serve as a mental health advocate at Aasmi Psychological Services, while also spearheading the Sarathi Psychological Support Group for young individuals aged 18 to 30.