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Survivors of Hindu-Muslim riots find healing in women's empowerment
Today Sa is a frequent visitor to Sabaat, a safe space on the outer fringes of Delhi for women survivors of religious hate and violence, where she has begun to heal. “In the last six months, I’ve learnt how to stitch dresses and trousers,” she said, her light-brown eyes kohl-lined. We stitch fabric here, share our traumas and help each other heal.”
25/11/2025

From ashes to independence: How riot-affected women in Delhi found strength in Sabaat
Then came Sabaat, an initiative of the Miles2Smile Foundation. It was created to give women a platform to express themselves and share their trauma. “At first, we only wanted to provide a space where they could talk,” said founder Aasif Mujtaba, a former environmental engineer turned Delhi-based activist who works with and on behalf of riot-affected Muslims in India.
20/11/2025

Shaheen Bagh’s bright legacy
Miles2Smile, a pan-India organisation founded by IIT Delhi alumnus Aasif Mujtaba, who drew inspiration from the Shaheen Bagh protests he helped organise in December 2019 alongside student activist Sharjeel Imam. Iitially inspired by the women-led sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the group began by providing aid to displaced families and distributing food and essentials.
13/11/2025

Jammu Kashmir Grapples with Devastating Landslides and Cloudbursts
Amidst the grief, sorrow, and somber clouds, a silver line shone through a few people—Aasif Mujtaba from Miles2Smile and Yasir from Ababeel NGO are two of them. The two organizations, one from Delhi (Miles2Smile) and the other from Jammu (Ababeel), collaborated together and provided. 
23/09/2025

The Crackdown That Put Gurugram’s Bengali Migrants in Limbo
In Gurugram, hundreds of Bengali-speaking workers, many of them Indian citizens, now live in fear after a police crackdown on “illegal Bangladeshi migrants.” With raids, detentions, and identity checks, entire migrant colonies have been pushed into limbo 
01/08/2025

Sabaat in Delhi is helping women rebuild their lives through skill training
The center also focuses on soft skills like entrepreneurship, hygiene, financial literacy, offering a holistic approach to empowerment and plans to expand computer courses. What makes Sabaat unique is its inclusivity. “We aren’t just providing livelihoods, We’re restoring dignity, reclaiming agency, and nurturing leadership,“ says Aasif Mujtaba, 
01/08/2025

“I accept this honour not in my name, but in the name of those who carry the heaviest of burdens…”, Aasif Mujtaba Wins Second Position at Global Donors Forum
Miles2Smile, an organisation working in the sector of relief and rehabilitation, specially for those affected by Mob lynching, communal Violence, and communal Demolitions has won the 2nd prize in the global donors forum 2025.
17/04/2025

“I Prayed Not to Win the Highest Award”: Aasif Mujtaba’s Selfless Request for Gaza Doctors at Istanbul Forum, Wins Second Position
One of the beneficiaries, Aasif Mujtaba, penned a poignant note, acknowledging that he had made an unorthodox request, not to claim the most valuable award, but for the physicians of Gaza. “For the first time in my life, I prayed not to have the highest award"
16/04/2025

The many demolitions of Shama Begum’s life and property
Amidst the darkness, one sliver of relief came from Aasif Mujtaba of the Miles2Smile Foundation, who offered immediate support. His NGO provided the family with essential relief, offering a semblance of stability in their uprooted lives. Shama expresses profound gratitude for this support that was not just logistical for them at the time; it was a crucial.
31/03/2025

Ten Years in India: Rohingya refugees face an uncertain future
Asif Mujtaba, told TRT World Mujtaba, founder of Miles2Smile Foundation, which works with survivors of hate and communal violence in India, questioned the government’s hostilities against the refugees. He said the narrative about the immigrants has been “factiously created” because the Union government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
08/01/2025

Aasif Mujtaba Receives National Life Empowerment Award 2025 for Humanitarian Contributions
Aasif Mujtaba, the founder and CEO of the Miles2Smile Foundation, on January 4, has been honored with the esteemed National Life Empowerment Award 2025 in recognition of his tireless commitment to social justice and humanitarian causes. Aasif Mujtaba, the founder and CEO of the Miles2Smile Foundation.
05/01/2025

Aftermath of the Bahraich Clash: Muslim Families Left with Nothing
Aasif Mujtaba, Founder of Miles2Smile, a Delhi based non profit that primarily works with the survivors of communal violence , mob lynching, and demolition told FoEJ Media about the.
25/10/2024

‘Where will I go?’: Hindu man dead, Muslims in India’s Bahraich face attack
Aasif Mujtaba runs Miles2Smile, a New Delhi-based NGO that works with survivors of religious violence, mob lynchings and punitive demolitions
24/10/2024

The Bahraich Files
On October 13, 2024, a violent clash broke out in Siswa Maharajgunj, a small town in eastern Uttar Pradesh near the Nepal border, resulting in the death of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra Mishra was part of a mob playing provocative songs outside the Maharajgung Masjid.
23/10/2024

Even as SC questions ‘bulldozer justice’, its victims still live on ruins of their homes, forever in fear
Aasif Mujtaba, a human-rights activist and the founder of Miles2Smile, a non-profit working for the welfare of victims of communal violence.
02/10/2024

سوال پوچھنے کی عادت آپ کو منفرد بناتی ہے“
ملئے آصف مجتبی سے جنہوں نے بطور پروفیسر کریئر کا آغاز کیا اور آج مائلز ٹو اسمائیل این جی او کے بانی ہیں طویل مدتی فائدہ پہنچاتا ہے، مثلاً کسی کیلئے دکان کھول دی، کسی کو سلائی مشین داوادی کسی کو آٹو رکشادے دیا تا کہ یہ افراد آگے کسی کے محتاج نہ رہیں بلکہ ان چیزوں کے ذریعے اپنی روزی روٹی کا انتظام کریں
06/09/2024

India’s Increasing Similarities with Global Islamophobic Practices
“We read about the news of these acts and their survivors but they are more than just news and their suffering are more than just news headlines.” Mujtaba added.
03/09/2024

No Notice, No Mercy: Demolition Of 14 Muslim Houses in Mandla, MP
In a world where humans show brutality and animals show humanity, there still exist a few people and a few organisations that aim to provide relief to people like Mandla who fall prey to demutualization. One such organisation is Miles2Smile, which aims to provide shelter to these families and education to these children.
30/07/2024

Pratibha Samman Ceremony in Ranchi by Ladder Foundation
Mile 2 Smile, while talk- ing to the students said that the students should study and become like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Maulana Abul Kalam for their coun- try and society. The stage was conducted by Abu Nasr. The mem- bers of the organizing com- mittee welcomed the guests by giving them shawls and mementos.
30/07/2024

Religiously Motivated Lynching, Charred Bodies, Shattered Families, and A Smile Shop
The conglomerate of hate and religiously motivated lynching of Junaid and Nasir gave shivers to the diaspora of the Muslim community. Muslims of Ghatmika are still scared to cross their village but then “there are people like Aasif bhai who make life bearable,” Sajid .
18/07/2024

Bricks, debris, and grief left with Muslim families in MP after demolition drive over “beef trading”
In the wee hours of June 15, the district administration bulldozed 14 Muslim houses to the ground in Bhainswahi village, a tribal-dominated area in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.
14/07/2024

From Tragedy to Triumph: How a Delhi-based IITian Empowering Survivors of Violence Through Education and Entrepreneurship
Aasif Mujtaba, a 35-year-old IIT alumnus, took initiative and established his own organization, Miles2Smile.
14/07/2024

Die Angst im eigenen Land
Aasif Mujtaba ist Gründeru and Direktor der Nichtregierungs organisation Miles2Smile, die Opfern von antimuslimischer Gewalt hilft. In den zehn Jahren, die Modi an der Macht ist, seien Hassreden zur Normalität geworden, sagt er. Lynchmorde an Muslimen hätten zugenommen, die Täter würden meist nicht zur Verantwortung
22/05/2024

A Ray Of Hope, An Initiative To Restore Smiles
Aasif Mujtaba, the CEO and founder of the Miles2Smile, a Delhi-based organisation, spoke about the initial despair he encountered in Nuh. He highlighted the resilience of the community and their rich history.
07/03/2024

Stitches Of Hope: Women Survivors of Shiv Vihar •
Sabaat, an initiative started by the women of the neighbourhood & Managed by Miles2Smile in response to the violence, has equipped young women survivors with tailoring skills. Many have achieved financial independence.
04/03/2024

Demoltions: The Old Practice Sees Escalation in the New Year
Aasif Mujtaba, CEO and Founder of a Delhi-based NGO Miles2Smile said, “My first encounter with the people of Nuh was full of despair .The NGO had iniative to help
27/02/2024

नूह हिंसा पीड़ितो को माइल्स२स्माइल ने मकान और दुकान निर्माण कर सौंपी चाभियाँ
मेवात के नगीना में दंगा पीड़ितो के सम्मान में एक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया गया। इस कार्यक्रम में माइल्स२स्माईल फाउंडेशन के माध्यम से मेवात के लिए कार्यों का लोकार्पण किया गया। उल्लेखनीय है की पिछले ४ माह मे फाउंडेशन के तत्वावधान में हुए मेवात में बहुत से जन कल्याणकारी

Amidst Rising Concerns Of Minority Rights In India ‘Miles2Smile’ Founder Aasif Mujtaba Speaks At UN Forum
Mujtaba highlighted the pivotal role of cooperation from the Indian officials in ensuring a heightened sense of security for both life and property. This, he argued, would not only mitigate the prevailing human rights concerns..

Hope and Education Rise in Khargon
In the midst of this turmoil, Miles2Smile, a Delhi-based non-profit organization, emerged as a beacon of hope for the affected families. The organization’s primary focus lies in relief activities, but it also plays a crucial role in livelihood creation, healthcare provision, and educational empowerment

This school in Ghaziabad helps rebuild lives of Delhi’s riot-affected children
Mujtaba decided to start a school for riot-affected children after meeting Arsh, a 14-year-old boy, who was “afraid of returning to school” in the aftermath of the riots. A two-dozen-strong mob burnt down Arsh’s father Mohammad Saleem’s salon".

How the demolition drive in Nuh went against court orders and due procedures
A ground survey by Miles2Smile Foundation, a non-profit organisation working for the victims of violence, disasters and deprivation, puts the number of demolitions at 1,200. In many cases, proper notices were not served before the demolitions.

Nuh: The fall out of bulldozer action at Ferozepur Jhirka
Aasif Mujtaba, the Founder of Miles2Smile Foundation, has been deeply engaged in relief and rehabilitation efforts to support individuals in Nuh who have suffered from unlawful demolitions. Miles2smile is also making efforts to ensure that the affected families in the area are not deprived of basic necessities.

Muslim Families Whose Homes Were Demolished in Nuh Face Added Hardship Amid Heavy Rain
The Miles2Smile Foundation, a Delhi-based organization, is actively involved in a comprehensive response to assist individuals and families impacted by the violence and subsequent demolition of houses.

Watch | House Demolished of Man Who Protected Bajrang Dal Men During Haryana Riots
The accurate enumeration of these dismantled homes has proven challenging. Asif Mujtaba of Miles2Smile, a non-profit, said that his organisation is finding it difficult to locate the victims of the bulldozer action.

Victim of Bihar Sharif violence gets new lease of life with aid from Miles2Smile
Imteyaz lost his source of livelihood during the Ram Navami violence in Bihar Sharif in Bihar’s Nalanda district as he was almost lynched. As Hindutva goons thrashed him, he cried out to his God to spare his life for the sake of his children, Ayat and Rehan”.

Ram Navami Violence: Bihar Police Arrest Scores of Muslim Youth, Minorsl
Miles2Smile, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), is providing rehabilitation and assistance to the affected people, Aasif Mujataba, founder of the NGO and a social activist, told Clarion India.“We are working on the ground and will provide, medical, legal and financial help".

Fire At Rohingya Refugee Camp In Nuh, Haryana, 32 Shanties Gutted
Aasif Mujtaba who runs Miles2Smiles Foundation in New Delhi said his group has started our relief work at the camp after the fire. “We have distributed woollen clothes and 34 good quality blankets to these distressed families".

TOGETHER, THEY GROW
However, Miles2Smile is not just an educational beneficiary. It has also been restoring their lost livelihoods, smiles and hopes for their futures. As envisioned by the UNHCR Refugee Education Strategy 2030, released in September 2019, Miles2Smile ensures an approach of inclusion where regional actors and host communities .

Children of The Delhi Violence: Finding Safety in a School
Three years after the northeast Delhi riots left 53 people dead and hundreds injured, homeless and jobless, a school in Ghaziabad is attempting to rehabilitate riot-hit children. Article 14 visited Sunrise Public School, where the first batch of 148 children had grown to 385 students

Three years on, the shadow of Delhi riots looms over children – and their friendships
“Relief and rehabilitation for people who lost relatives or their property is a long-drawn process. It takes years to take them out of the trauma,” said Mujtaba. “But education can’t wait, so we started the school.”.

Being discriminated, difficult to get house help jobs after Jahangirpuri riots, say women from minority community
NGO Miles 2 Smile, which helped families whose makeshift shops were demolished in the anti-encroachment drive, estimates that in areas of C-Block where it worked,

DEMOLISHING MUSLIM PROPERTIES IN INDIA
Aasif Mujtaba, the founder of Miles2Smile, a group working for the rehabilitation of people affected by violence in north India, claims there is no remedy as the state becomes the “perpetrator” of targeting the people.

Jahangirpuri: Muslim women face discrimination in getting house help jobs post riots
NGO Miles 2 Smile, which helped families whose makeshift shops were demolished in the anti-encroachment drive, estimates that in areas of C-Block where it worked, around 70 to 80 women have jobs of domestic helps..

Hindutva Pop Is the New Soundtrack to the Anti-Muslim Movement in India
Aasif Mujtaba, a minority rights activist and founder of Miles2Smile Foundation, a nonprofit organization that serves Rohingya refugees and survivors of religious attacks across the country,

How Businesses Of Three Muslim Men Were Brought Back To Normal In Violence-hit Karauli
Month after communal clashes broke out in Rajasthan’s Karauli leaving 35 people injured, several vehicles and shops set on fire, an NGO has helped people get back on their feet.

'My Husband Was Burnt In Front Of My Child’: Two Years On, Delhi Riot Victims Await Justice and Closure
North-East Delhi resident Mallika will never forget the chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ amid the shrieks of her husband. On February 25, 2020, a mob of rioters entered her..

For children impacted by Delhi riots, a school to help them with trauma
The Sunrise Public School in Ghaziabad's Loni tries to help these children rebuild their lives.When the Delhi riots broke out in February 2020 numerous children bore witness to

Across the divide, children who lost parents in 2020 Delhi violence struggle to move forward
Two years since 53 people were killed in violence that broke out on February 23, 2020, children of families who lost members are still coming to terms with the loss.

School rebuilds lives of kids affected in riots
Sunrise Public School in Loni was started by a PhD scholar from IIT-Delhi. A school for north-east riot victims has been running near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border since November last year.

Wounded, Paralysed, but Still Jailed: Delhi Riots Victim Recounts 17-Month-Long Ordeal
Mohd. Shahid had been healing from a gunshot received in the communal conflagration in North East Delhi last February when he was arrested.

A Chilling Past, an Insecure Future: How Delhi Riots Scarred Kids
Traumatised by the 2020 Delhi riots, children are trying their best to return to studies “Life was fine before the incident But ever since our father passed away.

'Only His Shoes Survived': Victims Struggle to Recover from Horrors of Delhi Riots
Rukshana Bano's husband was among the 53 people killed in the violence. Almost six months later, there has been no progress in punishing the guilty..

Riot victims stitch back their lives by sewing safety gear
The eldest of six siblings, Saina was worried after her father’s e-rickshaw was burnt, home and grocery shop damaged in the riots. Eighteen-year-old Saina, a resident of Shiv Vihar in northeast Delhi, has had little to do since her

India: Fire rips through Rohingya camp, leaving hundreds homeless
Hundreds of Rohingya rendered homeless after a massive fire razes Rohingya camp in the Madanpur Khadar area of Delhi..

Mosque in Indian capital’s Rohingya camp bulldozed: Refugees
Rohingya living in a camp at New Delhi’s Madanpur Khader area accuse authorities of demolishing the makeshift mosque.

Unlocking hope in the face of a lockdown
Service to humanity is the only motivation for Aasif Mujtaba Thirty-one-year-old Aasif Mujtaba is often mistaken for a lawyer, and sometimes a doctor. .

India contradicts its own Constitutional 'Right to Live' by depriving basic rights for Muslim Rohingya refugees
The exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar has been filled by exceeding violence. With a proportion of the community now seeking refuge in India, the marginalised community now faces double discrimination, as both a refugee and a Muslim in BJP India.

Rohingya refugees in India fear deportation
Indian officials have called for the deportation of nearly 40,000 Rohingya refugees, many of whom live in dire conditions. The government claims they are a threat to national security, but critics say it is a campaign of discrimination.

Delhi violence: Students and humanitarian groups reach to heal wounds and end starving
After days of carnage in northeast Delhi which took nearly 50 lives, relief groups reach the riot-affected regions with food, medicine and supplies. Numerous groups and students from universities have started initiatives which are trying to the extent all forms of help to the..

Muslim survivors of Delhi riots develop COVID-19 PPE kits
Muslim women who survived the communal riots of North East Delhi – which killed over 50 – are now the “khalasis” of Personal Protective Equipment kits for COVID-19.

A year after Delhi pogrom, this school brings hope to survivors
Aasif Mujtaba, runs the school under his relief group called Miles2smile. Life overturned for Mohammed Saleem when violent Hindu mob torched his juice shop in Shiv Vihar, a place worst hit in the 2020 Delhi pogrom.

“Life without our papa isn’t the same”: Children of Delhi pogrom
Asad (11) and his brother Ayaan (9) sit on their terrace in Loni, Ghaziabad, their second home; they are playful but reserved. Both brothers had just arrived home from a school function.

Of Nightmares and Dreams: Children Deal with Aftermath of Delhi Riots 2020
Their fathers snatched away, the children who lost it all to the 2020 Delhi riots are struggling to move on Even the slightest commotion takes Khushi back to the afternoon of 24 February..

'हमारे सामने हमारे पापा को मार दिया था, उनकी बहुत याद आती है'
दिल्ली दंगों को दो साल से ज़्यादा वक़्त बीत चुका है, इन दंगों में कई लोगों ने अपनी जान गंवा दी थी, उन लोगों के बच्चे आज किस हाल में जी रहे हैं. बीबीसी संवाददाता बुशरा शेख़ की यह रिपोर्ट देखिए.

Blinded in Delhi pogrom: Shahrukh says “no hope for justice”
Shahrukh, a cloth seller, was dragged out of a moving auto and brutally thrashed by a Hindu mob in northeast Delhi’s Shiv Vihar on February 24, 2020, the day Delhi anti-Muslim pogrom erupted.

Social activists meet anti-Muslim violence victims in MP, to provide legal aid and relief
A delegation comprising Fawaz Shaheen (National Secretary, SIO), Nadeem Khan (National Secretary, Association for Protection of Civil Rights) and Asif Mujtaba.

Social excellence awards for 'Changemakers of Year' in India, AMP holds function in Delhi'
Miles2Smile Foundation, Delhi, Manappat Foundation, Kerala and M S Education Academy, Telangana Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, Hammad Ahmad, former Union minister and the President

RELIGIOUS POLARISATION SURGES IN INDIA AHEAD OF ELECTIONS.
Organisations like Miles2Smile are actively involved in providing relief and rehabilitation to individuals who lost their homes in the government's demolition drive.The NGO has initiated fundraising efforts to supportThe NGO has initiated fundraising efforts to support.

Teachers’ Day 2022: Meet Islamuddin, a Delhi riot victim who teaches at school started for child victims of the February 2020 violence
Teachers' Day 2022: He teaches Hindi as well as Social Science and tries to help students work through their own trauma at Sunrise Public School, Ghaziabad..

How Aasif Mujtaba And His Miles2Smile Is Rebuilding Lives Of Kids Affected In Delhi Pogrom
The 2020 Delhi Pogrom displaced scores of people from their homes and the children could not go back to school..

दिल्ली: माता-पिता को खोने के बाद किस हालात में जी रहे हैं बच्चें?
दिली में घटी भयावह घटना को दो साल हो चुके है. इस दौरान जिन बच्चों ने अपने परिजनों को खोया आज वे बीती बातों को भुलाने की कोशिश के साथ आगे बढ़ने की कोशिश में हैं.

‘Can’t sleep at night, constantly worried’: Widows of Delhi riots are ‘abused, abandoned’ by in-laws.
Miles2Smile Foundation to help these children pick up the pieces of their lives. Mohammad Danish, principal of the school and board member of the foundation, told Newslaundry the school also gives jobs to women widowed by the riots.

Nuh demolitions: Bulldozer might is right
A ground survey by Miles2Smile Foundation, a non-profit organisation working for the victims of violence, disasters and deprivation, puts the number of demolitions at 1,200. In many cases, proper notices were not served before the demolition.

‘People call us rioters’ — a year after demolitions, fear & stigma still haunt Jahangirpuri’s lanes.
One such organisation is Aasif Mujtaba’s Miles2Smile, which works to rehabilitate Muslim victims of communal violence. Vendors who lost their businesses in the demolition were given.

Aasif Mujtaba rekindles hope for riot-affected children
Aasif, a Delhi-based campaigner, launched his mission by imparting skills to stay-at-home Muslim girls skills that could become their source of livelihood.Aasif Mujtaba is the founder of the NGO Miles2Smile Foundation which works out of Southeast Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh Miles2Smiles has since turned into a social movement to improve the lives and future of Muslim children.

Karauli Violence: Twitter Users Raise Funds For Man Who Was Inconsolable After He Lost His Shop
Hours after Aasif Mujtba took to Twitter to share the ordeal of a man who lost his only livelihood in Karauli violence, the journalist tweeted that over Rs 3 lakh have been raised for the man.

Fire At Rohingya Refugee Camp In Nuh, Haryana, 32 Shanties Gutted
Aasif Mujtaba who runs Miles2Smiles Foundation in New Delhi said his group has started our relief work at the camp after the fire. “We have distributed woollen clothes and blankets to these distressed families

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Miles2Smile Supports Students at Institute Imaam ul Bukhari During the Cold Season

Miles2Smile organised a winter relief distribution at the Imaam ul Bukhari learning center earlier this month, providing jackets and blankets…

M2S 3 Min Read

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Miles2Smile Brings Winter Relief to Students at Learning Center Miftahul Quran

A blend of splendid beauty and warm gratefulness was sketched with laughter, cheerfulness, and mesmerizing memories as the Miles2Smile winter…

M2S 6 Min Read

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Miles2Smile Foundation in Collaboration with Shaagird Foundation Celebrates Annual Day of Its Learning Centers

The annual day of Miles2Smile’s learning center, Gerda Philipsborn Center, and Bi Amma learning center unfolded as a vibrant celebration…

M2S 10 Min Read

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Miles2Smile Brings Winter Relief to Students at Institute Sirajul Uloom

On a winter morning, when the breeze was strong enough to wake the skin even before the eyes could fully…

M2S 4 Min Read

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How Sabaat Showcased Women Survivors’ Craft and Resilience at the Aurangabad Education Expo

As students walked through the vibrant banners and brochures at the Aurangabad Education Expo, the Sabaat stall chose a different…

M2S 7 Min Read

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How Miles2Smile Turned Winter into Comfort for Nuh’s Children

Dear Readers, Happy Winters! As the cold breeze sweeps through the country, it carries with it the happy memories of…

M2S 4 Min Read

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Miles2Smile & Sabaat Set Up Stall at Rekhta for Communal Violence Survivors

It all started with an idea that was ignited four years ago, when Miles2Smile sowed its seed at Rekhta Stall,…

M2S 11 Min Read

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