Nearly £2,000 was raised for a million women in India to have self-defence classes to combat sexual violence.

Charities Wishful Smiles and Milaap joined forces to raise £1,700 with an art exhibition entitled Inner Warrior: A Tribute, at the Bhavan Centre in West Kensington last Thursday (11).

Wishful Smiles works with the world’s most disadvantaged communities and partnered with an Indian self-defence group, Red-Brigade Lucknow, based in Uttar Pradesh, which can now provide a million women with self-defence classes from the money raised.

Started in Bangalore, Milaap connects India’s working poor to global investors and philanthropists to access education, clean water and energy, with the money allowing them to ensure women have a life free from the vicious cycle of prostitution.

A presentation by Premila Puri Makh, from Milaap, highlighted the plight of the ex-Devadasis - girls dedicated to worship and the service of a deity or a temple for the rest their lives - who are now trying to build a better future as entrepreneurs using a crowd-funding platform.

Tia Jounija, from Wishful Smiles, said: "This event brought many organisations together to help a cause that should be very important to us all.

"As the motto goes, ‘Healing Hearts through Joining Hands’ shows when like-minded people and organisations collaborate for a bigger purpose they double their efforts and can make a significant difference to those that are in need. And that’s exactly what Wishful Smiles and Milaap achieved on the night.”