About Us
Have A Look At Our Work!Our Story So Far
Friends of Toto was born from a deeply personal journey. It started when Pragya, a victim-survivor of sexual assault and passionate advocate for gender justice, realized that her own story could be a source of strength for others. She wanted to ensure that no one else would feel alone in their experiences. Pragya is the voice behind Toto!
In the Media!
Awards & Feature
1 - GirlUp Champion of Change Award 2023 :
For the work done to address gender-based violence by Friends of Toto (FOT Foundation), Pragya Sikka - founder/director received the 'GirlUp Champion of Change Award' in the category 'The Future is Safe.' Girl Up is a UN Foundation initiative - a global network of girls and women across 155 countries.
This award was presented to her by Dia Mirza, actor, filmmaker, and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, and Shompi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator India at Girl Up’s first-ever Leadership Summit in India.
2- The Changemaker Award 2024 :
For the queer affirmative safe spaces created for hundreds of survivors PAN India using art-based interventions at Friends of Toto (FOT Foundation), Pragya Sikka received The Changemaker Awards 2024 by The Tale of Humankind. The award was presented to her by Sanjeev Bikhchandani, often called ‘the Father of Indian startups’, Yashveer Singh, Co-founder at Ashoka Young Changemakers, and Pragya Vats, head of campaigns at Outlook Publishing.
3- UN Women, among 75 leaders from India :
From growing up reading about the women leaders UN Women writes about, to becoming one of them herself—our founder, Pragya has been featured by UN Women in their book "हम | When Women Lead," a powerful collection of the stories of 75 women leaders from diverse backgrounds across India as a tribute to their resilience, achievements, and contributions to society.
4- Ambition Accelerator, Semi-Finalist 2024 :
For her dedication to fostering inclusivity and social change, FoT Foundation, represented by our Founder, Pragya Sikka, has been selected as a semi-finalist along with 25 exceptional individuals from 9 states for the 2024 Ambition Accelerator Summit in partnership with Taco Bell Foundation held in Bangalore. This summit celebrates visionary leaders across India, recognizing innovative ideas that promote connection, growth, and inclusion.
5- 1st Asia-Pacific and 3rd National Conference on LGBTQI+ Health 2024 :
Our Founder, Pragya Sikka, was invited to speak at the First Asia-Pacific and Third National Conference on LGBTQI+ Health, held from September 26-28, 2024, at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. During her presentation, she shared poignant stories of familial violence faced by queer individuals, including her own experiences.
5- Justicemakers Mela By Agami :
Pragya's inspiring journey and powerful illustrations were prominently featured at the Justicemakers Mela, held on November 29-30, 2024, at the iconic Kushabhau Thakre Hall in Bhopal. Over 700+ changemakers participated in Mela, united by their passion for social justice and community empowerment. Through her art, Pragya highlighted key messages about justice and solidarity, engaging attendees in meaningful conversations about the struggles and resilience of marginalized communities.
6- Museum Of Rejects by Open Art House :
Our book 'How the World Changes for Sexual Assault Survivors' was featured in the Museum of Rejects, which showcased art, sculptures, poems, zines, and more—all centered around "bad art" by over 30 artists. This event was hosted by Opn Art House and curated by @gaysifamily on February 15th and 16th at the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan in New Delhi. Many attendees were visibly moved as they interacted with the book, with some expressing tears of empathy and understanding.
