Nelson Mandela said that ‘Education is the most powerful tool that you can use to empower the world’. This is what transgender Kalki also believes in. She took to art to support the education of fellow transgender women. Yesterday, on November 19 at a function she handed over funds to four transgender women that she has raised by selling her paintings.
The women will use these funds to support their education. These funds we are told have been raised through crowd funding. This programme was organized at Art Houz, Jenny’s Club and at the same event a candle light vigil was organized to observe Transgender Day. This candle light vigil was organised in the memory to transgender women who have taken the extreme step.
Speaking to the media transgender Kalki said “My journey with paintings started last march on a playful note. Then I took up painting very seriously as time passed. I also participated in expos across the country. My paintings were also put up for sale for a cause. Several people purchased my paintings and I am glad that I managed to collect rupees two lakhs through crowd funding. The token amount of the funds was handed over to four transgender women and we are in the process of identifying one more transgender woman to who can be supported with funds for education.”
“Education is the biggest blessing that any transgender woman can get as they are disowned by their family and looked down up on by the society. Left with no other option, transgender women take to the sex trade and begging to support them. I know the hardships that transgender women go through, so I have dedicated 60% of the funds that I collect by selling my paintings to educate transgender women.”