About Videsh Mitra
Videsh Mitra is a dedicated initiative of NexGen Foundation focused on supporting Indian migrant workers who face distress, exploitation, abandonment, unsafe working conditions or other humanitarian challenges while working abroad.
Every year, millions of Indians travel overseas in search of employment and better opportunities. While many successfully build better lives, some encounter situations where they are unable to access wages, legal assistance, basic necessities, documentation, or a safe way home.
Videsh Mitra aims to build a support network that connects distressed migrant workers with the right people, institutions and resources at the right time—and supports them beyond their immediate crisis.
Our Vision
Safety, dignity and a pathway to recovery
To create a world where every Indian migrant worker, wherever they may be, can live and work with safety, dignity and access to support—and where those facing a crisis have a pathway from distress to recovery and independence.
We envision a strong cross-border support ecosystem where migrant workers and their families know where to seek help, communities can respond to emergencies, and vulnerable workers are not left alone when they face exploitation or hardship.
Our Mission
Protect, support, and reduce vulnerability
To protect and support distressed Indian migrant workers through rescue coordination, emergency relief, legal and documentation assistance, safe repatriation and sustainable rehabilitation, while promoting safe migration and reducing vulnerability to exploitation, trafficking, forced labour and fraudulent recruitment.
Our mission extends beyond responding to emergencies. We aim to create awareness before migration, provide support during a crisis and help workers rebuild their lives after returning home.
Why Videsh Mitra?
For a migrant worker facing a crisis abroad, the problem is rarely limited to one issue.
A worker may simultaneously be dealing with:
- Non-payment or delayed payment of wages
- Unsafe or exploitative working conditions
- Passport or document retention
- Fraudulent recruitment
- Visa or employment-related problems
- Abandonment by an employer or agent
- Lack of food or accommodation
- Medical emergencies
- Human trafficking or forced labour
- Legal disputes
- Difficulty communicating with family
- Lack of knowledge about available support
- Financial difficulties when returning to India
In such circumstances, knowing whom to approach can itself become a major challenge.
Videsh Mitra aims to bridge that gap.
A Worker Should Never Feel Alone
Distance should never become a barrier to dignity.
A worker may be thousands of kilometres away from home, but there should always be a pathway to seek information, assistance and appropriate support.
Videsh Mitra aims to build that pathway.
Our Commitment
Videsh Mitra is committed to
Dignity
Treating every worker with respect.
Confidentiality
Handling sensitive information responsibly.
Non-discrimination
Providing support without discrimination.
Transparency
Maintaining responsible use of resources.
Collaboration
Working with appropriate authorities and competent organisations.
Accountability
Maintaining responsible processes for cases and beneficiaries.
Part of NexGen Foundation
An initiative of NexGen Foundation
NexGen Foundation works across education, scholarships, community initiatives and support. Videsh Mitra is its migrant welfare, rescue and rehabilitation initiative.