ANNUALREPORT2016
DomesticViolence:Prevention,EducationandEmpowermentEmpoweringSouthAsianwomenandfamiliestoleadsafeandhealthylives
1-866-4SAHELI [email protected] www.saheliboston.org
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AboutSaheliTheword“Saheli”meansfriendinseveralSouthAsianlanguages.Itspecificallyreferstofemale-to-femalefriendshipintheSouthAsianculturalcontext,andconnotesasafe,caringrelationship.
Saheli,acommunity-basedwomen’sorganizationinNewEnglandfoundedin1996,isaDomesticViolenceResponseandPreventionOrganizationinBurlington,Mass.focusedontheneedsofpeoplefromIndia,Pakistan,Bangladesh,Nepal,BhutanandotherSouthAsiancountries.
SahelimaintainsstrictconfidentialityandfocusesupontheprivacyofSouthAsianwomen.Weofferhelpregardlessofreligion,ethnicity,age,genderorsexualorientation.Ourpopularcommunityprogramsserveimmigrantsandfamiliesfromallovertheworld.Allclients’informationiskeptstrictlyconfidential.
SaheliisanaffiliateoftheIndiaAssociationofGreaterBoston,andamemberoftheIndianAmericanForumforPoliticalEducation(IAFPE),andtheIndianCircleofCaring(ICC).
Our Vision, Our Mission
Saheli’s vision is to create an abuse-free environment for South Asians. Its mission is to empower South Asian women and their families to lead
safe and healthy lives in the United States.
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President’sMessageDearFriends,
OnbehalfoftheBoard,staffandvolunteersofSaheli,Iampleasedtooffertheannualreportfor2016.First,wethanktheSouthAsiancommunity,ourfriends,familyandfundersforsupportingSaheli’smissiontomakethelivesofwomensafeandhealthy.Withyourdonationswewereabletoassistonehundredandeightytwowomenandoverthreehundredchildrenandelderlyparents.Weprovided crisis intervention, financial aid, free literacy classes,counseling in seven South Asian languages, and referrals for legal, mental
andphysicalhealth issues.AteamofSouthAsianphysicians,mentalhealthprofessionalsandeducatorssupportedSaheli’seffortstomakethisahealthycommunity.Wethankyouall.
Our domestic violence advocates worked tirelessly tomeet the needs of immigrant familiesfrom India, Pakistan, Bangladesh andNepal, and this year a larger number of teenagers andmales turned to Saheli for culturally responsive assistance. We joined with the MiddlesexDistrictAttorney’sofficeandmadepresentationsatagenciesacrossBoston.
In2016Saheli focuseduponraising funds—wemetwithcolleaguesatpartneragencies,ourown community leaders, and looked at several development programs.We then undertookthree fundraising initiatives: letters toover twohundredfriendsandfamily,anationalonlinefundraisingprogramcalledthePurplePurse,andanappealtotopdonors inMassachusetts.,Thankyouforyourgenerousresponse.
YousupportedSaheli’s24/7helpline,counselling,economicempowermentforfamiliesincrisis.YoungSouthAsiansledgrantfundedprogramssuchasneedsassessment,acollegereadinessprogramfor low incomegirls, revisionsofthedomesticviolencemanualsandcourtand legalaccompanimentservices.
ThisyearSahelireceivedaprestigiousawardfromIndiaNewEngland(INE)MultimediaChoiceAwardsandgrantfundingfromsevenprivatefoundations.WithoutyourgeneroushelpSahelicouldnotoffersomuch.Wewelcomeyouto joinusandsharehowtogetherwecanhelptoeradicategenderbasedviolence.Thankyouverymuch.
GouriBanerjee,Ph.D.,PresidentoftheBoard,2015-2017
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DomesticViolenceinSouthAsianCommunitiesDomesticViolence(DV)hasapowerfulconnotationandcarriesmultipleimplicationsinSouthAsiancommunities.ThesecommunitiesaretraditionalandwithstrongfamilytiesthatmightbeconsideredintrusiveinWesternsocieties.SouthAsianfamiliesareoftennotnuclearandextendedfamiliesoftenliveunderoneroof.Hence,perpetratorscanbenotjustthespousebutalsotheextendedfamily.
MainstreamDVagenciesintheUnitedStatesareoftenunabletoprovideservicestoSouthAsianwomen.Thevictimoftenfeelstheycannotreachouttotraditional,UnitedStates(US)-basedDVagencies.Herfamilyoftendoesnotsupportherbecauseofthestigmaofdivorceandpressureshertomaintainthestatusquo.Shame,lossoffaceandthefamily’sneedtomaintain“honor”leadstoextremeisolationofthevictim.
LeavinganAbusiveRelationshipsisNEVEREASY.
Obstaclesinclude:
• Earlymarriageofgirls,immigration,verydifficultsocialandculturaltransitionstoUSculture,whichincludeshomesickness
• Largeextendedfamilieslivinginthesamehouseholdandseriousgenderdiscrimination
• Restrictionsuponwomenonsocialization,educationandfinancialindependence
• Emotionalabuseandthreatsofdeportationbyspouseandfamily.
OurServicesSahelirecognizesthatSouthAsianwomenandfamiliesneedanarrayofsupportservicestorecoverfromcrisesortosimplygetbackonone’sowntwofeet.
WhetheryoucontactSaheliyourself,throughafriend,PoliceDepartment,ore-mailknowthat:Saheliwillcreateasafe,confidential,non-judgmentalenvironmentwitharangeofprobono(free),culturallysensitive,language-specificinformationandsupportservices.
Wewilllistenandeducateyouaboutyouroptions.Ourgoalisthehelpempowerclientstoreachapointwheretheycanbeself-sufficient,healthyandfreefromviolence.
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ServicesSnapshotFromJanuary2016throughDecember2016,Sahelihashelped182SouthAsianWomen.
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2016Accomplishments
Sahelihasexpandedandaccomplishedalot.Herearesomehighlights:
20thAnniversaryCelebration
InSeptemberof1996,threeSouthAsianwomenwerealarmedbyrisingratesofdomesticviolenceinourcommunity,andtheappallinglackofsupportservices.WecametogethertoformSaheli,andoverthecourseof20yearswehavehelpedthousandsofSouthAsianwomenandfamiliestofindsafety,peaceandwell-being.Wearegrowingandlearningeveryyear,andhaveattractedthesupportofapowerfulcadreoftalentedvolunteersandpartners.Nowin2016,ourserviceshaveexpandedtoincludeimmigration,visaandmentalhealthreferrals,economicempowermentprogramsandsupportgroupsforwomen.Sahelireliesuponcommittedvolunteersandoperatesatthegrassrootslevelwhereourservicesaremostneeded.
AwardsandRecognition
InOctober2016,SaheliwastheproudrecipientoftheINEBestNon-ProfitinNEAward.Severalnotablecommunityentrepreneurs,civicleaders,physicians,artistsandmusicschoolsalsoreceivedawards.ThreeBoardmembers,twostaffandseveralvolunteerswerepresentattheawardceremonyheldattheWestinHotelinWaltham.BoardmemberKumkumPareekMalikandAdvisoryCommitteememberLataRaoacceptedtheawardonbehalfofSaheliandweregivenabeautifulplaquebyMr.EricShultzofHarvardPilgrimHealthPlan.
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VolunteerismandCommunityOutreach
Throughout2016,Sahelihasactivelybeeninvolvedinoutreachworkwithinthecommunitytoprovideinformationaboutourservices.SahelijoinedinandsponsoredvariouseventsinobservanceofDomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth.Sahelico-sponsoredaClotheslineProjecteventwithADVISE,adomesticviolenceeducationagencyinShrewsbury,andparticipatedinamonth-longonlinefundraisingchallengecalledPurplePursealongwithdozensofotheragenciesnationwide.
Saheliisproudtoreportthatwe:
• Finishedin11thplaceoutof160smalldomesticviolenceagenciesacrossthecountry• Received143individualdonations• Raised$8,274forSaheli’sEconomicEmpowermentProgram• Wonover$1,000inbonusprizemoneythatwillgotowardendingfinancialabuse,and• ReceivedagenerousdonationfromMuslimCommunitySupportServices.
DomesticViolenceProgram
Between2012and2015,Sahelidomesticviolenceadvocatesservedover577survivorsofdomesticviolence.Duringthattimeperiod,theseadvocateshavespentcloseto3,000hoursinmeetingswithwomenandfamiliestocounselthem,createindividualizedsafetyplans,andprovidereferralstohousing,legal,economic,immigration,andmentalhealthresources.Saheliadvocatesspenthundredsofhoursassistingdomesticviolencesurvivors(seegraphfortopservicesprovided).SahelialsoorganizedaWomen’sFriendshipandSupportGroupattheendoftheyeartohelpbreaktheisolationthatwomenindomesticviolencesituationsoftenfeel.
TheSaheliMenAgainstViolenceProgram,SahelialsowasaproudpartnerandsupporterofJaneDoeInc.’sWhiteRibbonDayCampaigninMarch2016.
EconomicEmpowermentProgram
Thisyearwe’vealsocontinuedprovidingourComputer101LiteracyCourseinWalthamduringtheSpringandtheFallwhichprovideabasicintroductiontowebbrowsing,resourcefinding,e-mail,andMicrosoftWordandExcel.ThesuccessfulprogramhasnowexpandedtoQuincywherefifteenpeopleregisteredfortheinauguralcourse.Additionally,throughourEconomicEmpowermentFund,Saheliwasabletoprovidefinancialassistancetoninewomentohaveaccesstoeverydayneedslikefoodandtransportation,andformorewomentoenrollindrivingandEnglishlanguagecourses.SahelialsoprovidedascholarshiptoaNepaliwomantocontinuewithNursingSchool,afterlearningthattheearthquakeinNepalhadshatteredherfamily’sabilitytoprovidefinancialassistancefortheirdaughter.
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Herearemorehighlightsfromtheeconomicempowermentprogram:
ProgramInitiative
42graduates FreeComputerLiteracyClassesinQuincy(26+16)
24graduates ComputerLiteracyClassesinWaltham(12+12)
10students CareerMentoringOneOnOne,helpwithapplications,referrals
75attendees CommunityEducation(immigration,self-care,holistichealth)
50advocates DomesticViolenceTrainingforAdvocates(Dove,BethIsraelHospital,Reach,NewtonWellesleyHospital)
CollegeReadinessProgramOnOctober18th,2016,SahelilaunchedaCollegeReadinessProgramforSouthAsianGirls.TheprogramisfundedbyagenerousgrantfromtheWatertownCommunityFoundationtohelpfemaleSouthAsianstudentsinWatertownpublicschoolsprepareforcollegeandtheirfuturecareers.
Overthecourseofthe2016-17academicyearstudentswillbepairedwithvolunteermentorswhowillassistthemwithhomework,choosingcommunityservice,applyingtocollege,andidentifyingtheiracademicandextracurricularstrengthstoprepareforcareersafterhighschool.
Thepillarsoftheprograminclude:
• Matchingstudentswithmentorswhowillguidethemthroughthecollegeapplicationprocess• Identifyingstudents’strengthsandweaknessesandgivingthemtheresourcestohelpthem
developtheirstrengthsandimproveareasofweakness• Hostingcollegesearchandapplicationworkshopsbasedonstudents’interests,experiences,and
needs
EmotionalWellBeingandMentalHealthWorkshops
Sahelihostedaseriesofeventscateringtotheneedforconversationsaboutemotionalhealthinthreedifferenttowns.TopicsincludedResilientTeenager:NavigatingTwoCultures,andMotherhood:ADemandingandInvisibleJourney.ResourcesforaddressingmentalhealthweredevelopedandcanbefoundontheSaheliwebsite.
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Asha’sStory–ASaheliSuccessStoryAshametherhusbandwhilepursuingadvanceddegreesintechnology.Onceshebecamepregnantyearslater,herhusbandstartingphysicallyabusingher.Hewouldapologizeprofuselyagainandagainandshewouldletitgo.Asha’shusbandtoldherhedidnotwantchildrenandtheonlywaytheycouldkeeptheirbabywasifhismothercametolivewiththemforawhile.HismotherwouldthentakethebabytoliveinIndia.
Oncehermother-in-lawarrivedafterthebirthofherbaby,thesituationonlygotworse.Hermother-in-lawconstantlyinsultedandberatedAshawhileherhusbanddidnothingtosupporther.Thephysicallyabusecontinuedtoescalate.
Afteronehorrificincident,Asha,broken,bruised,andbleeding,reachedouttoaneighborforhelp.Theneighbortookherin,soothedherandtookhertothehospital.ShealsohelpedhercontactSaheli.WithhelpfromSaheli,thedoctorsatthehospitalandthepoliceshewasabletoobtainarestrainingorderandherhusbandwasarrested.Ashaandherbabywereplacedinashelter.ShestayedinconstantcontactwithSaheli,whoworkedwithhertorebuildherlife.
Saheliprovidedemotionalsupport,mentalhealthservices,andfinancialandlegalcounselwhileAshaandherbabyhealedandsheplannedanewlifeafterherdivorce.Today,Ashaandherchildhaverelocatedtoanundisclosedlocationwheresheisworkingatagoodjobandprovidingforherselfandherchild.Shestillneedssupportandreassuranceasshebuildshernewlife,butAshaisasurvivor!
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FinancialReportSaheli’sprimarysourceofrevenuearedonationsandfundraisingevents.Cashistheonlyassettheorganizationhastoassistourclients.Therearenofinancialliabilities.ThecostofarentalspaceincreasedSaheli’s0peratingcostsin2015-2016.Priorto2015theorganizationdidnotpayrenalfees.
HistoricalFinancialInformation
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GovernanceandOversightSahelireliesonthetirelesssupportofdonors,volunteersandfourpart-timestaffmembers.Manymenandwomendevotevaluabletime,knowledgeandresourcestoSaheliandhelpwithgovernance,strategicplanning,administrativework,eventsmanagement,fundraisingandprogramimplementation.Wethankourvaluablevolunteersandstaffshownbelow.
2015-2017GoverningBoardBarinderAhluwalia
GouriBanerjee,Ph.D,PresidentoftheBoard
TanviDevimaneMalaKrishnamurthy
DeepikaMadan,VicePresidentoftheBoardKumkumPareekMalik,Psy.D.
LataParwani
ManishPatel,TreasurerPradipTandon,Secretary
UshaVakil
Staff
RitaShah,FamilyServicesCoordinatorSalitaMehta,SeniorDomesticViolenceAdvocate
VandanaSharma,SouthShoreCoordinator
KatyHurley,ProgramsCoordinator
AdvisoryCommitteeRameshAdvani
AnuChitrapu
DavidS.LudwigMD,Ph.D.SwetaMepani
TruptiPatel,EsqLataRao
RanjaniSaigal
ManjuSheth,MDRajendraTrivedi,MD
JayaVorugantiNeelamWali
Thankyoutoourdonorsandvolunteers.
Copyright©2016SaheliBoston,Allrightsreserved.
InAppreciationYouarekindness!
Youaregoodness!
ASahelimostsincere
Adedicatedvolunteer.
Ahelpinghand,agoodFriend
Likeastraightline,thatwillnotbend
Helpingtheneedytilltheend
Afountofcompassion
Andrelevantinformation
Aguidinghand
Andlovingarms
Wrappinginwarmth
Awholecommunity
Frominsideout
Foreverworkinghard!
GivingofyourselffornoGain
Notforriches,notforfame
Notevenforcommunityacclaim
Butfrombeliefinabetterworld
Ahaven,freeofpain!
-APoembyaSaheliClient
SaheliHelpline866-472-4354
Writeto:info@saheliboston
P.O.Box1345Burlington,MA01803Office:11BedfordStreet,Burlington,MA01803
