Your Support Can Help Feed Hundreds Of Acid Attack Survivors And Their Families

“He threw acid on me because he felt I had no right to reject his love. He called it ‘love’ but I know better. It can’t be love if it makes you hurt someone this bad. I could feel the acid burning my flesh, melting it away. At that moment, I didn’t know if I would ever go back to a normal life…,” - Madhu, an acid attack survivor working in the Sheroes Cafe.  

But Madhu rose like a phoenix from the ashes. Her mother worked as a househelp and managed to afford the surgeries. They had no choice but to use up the meagre amount of pension that they had received after Madhu’s father’s death. And after years of pain and agony, Madhu decided to step out into the world. She faced discrimination and roadblocks, people shied away from her in fear. But she was determined. With Chhanv Foundation by her side, she started working in Sheroes Cafe. 

Chhanv Foundation - its origin and how it is helping acid attack survivors

Way back in 2013, a group of friends started the Stop Acid Attacks campaign against acid violence. Their fight was against the discrimiation that acid attack survivors face at every walk of their life. Finally, in 2014 Chhanv Foundation was formed with the mission to rehabilitate acid attack survivors. 

Chhanv wanted to rehabilitate both the skilled and unskilled survivors and finally came up with the idea of Sheroes Hangout. Today, with two cafes, in Agra & Lucknow, the foundation has employed 30 survivors and added value in the life of hundreds of other girls by providing them counseling, medical help, career and education opportunities.  

How has COVID affected the Cafe?

With the start of the pandemic, the Cafe closed down, leaving all its 30 employees without any work. They were forced to go back home and it became difficult for them and their families. Most of them are the sole earning members with many dependents on them. With no income, these families were struggling very hard to fight the pandemic.  

But that didn’t stop them from extending their helping hand to the ones in need. As word got out and people started helping Sheroes with donations, the wonderful people decided to help the ones in need by distributing cooked meals to the poor and hungry in Agra. 

How can you help

“However, the condition is now dire again. We have identified 150 acid attack survivors whom we want to help with grocery kits so that they don’t go hungry in these difficult times. We have been trying our best but with your help we would be able to reach many more in need. We also want to distribute a COVID hygiene kits to them. Please come forward to help us,” - Alok Dixit, Founder, Chhanv Foundation.

These families are in need, they are starving with their only earning member being out of job. The society is not kind to them and getting a job in these conditions is almost next to impossible for them. This is the time that we need to stand beside these survivors and help them in this hour of need. Let us all come forward to donate groceries and COVID hygiene kits to the ones struggling. 

About the NGO: Way back in 2013, a group of friends started the Stop Acid Attacks campaign against acid violence. Their fight was against the discrimiation that acid attack survivors face at every walk of their life. Finally, in 2014 Chhanv Foundation was formed with the mission to rehabilitate acid attack survivors.