For the tenth year, Saheli Commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Annual 5K Walk

On Saturday, September 27, men, women and children will gather at the Burlington Council of Aging, 61 Center Street, Burlington, MA, for a 5K walk to spotlight Domestic Violence month in October. Registration begins at 9 am. The Walk begins at 10 am. The walk is organized by Saheli, Support and Friendship for South Asian Families to empower, educate, and raise awareness to prevent domestic violence and violence against women. Since it is the tenth year, the Walk will focus both on this difficult problem in our community and celebrate the strides our survivors have made. Along with the Walk, Saheli will be hosting a Mela (street fair) at the Council of Aging in Burlington, MA, form 10 am to 3 pm. Vendors selling South Asian food, clothes, jewelry and applying Mehendi (henna) will be present. There will also be a raffle of attractive items, such as Coach purses. This is what the organizers had to say about the Walk:

 Why does Saheli organize a Walk?

 The Walk is a very important annual event for Saheli. As you know, there are many walks held for all kind of causes in the greater Boston area. Oddly, there is no established walk to raise awareness against Domestic Violence and Violence against Women. Saheli has been holding this walk for 10 years to raise awareness both among South Asians and the mainstream. Domestic Violence is not just a South Asian issue. As you are aware, currently there is tremendous media attention on this topic because of NFL player Ray Rice’s domestic violence incident. With the rest of the nation, we are appalled at the inappropriate handling of the case. It is obvious that the incident was not taken seriously. This is exactly the kind of mindset that we want to change. Domestic Violence is regarded as a major public health issue by the CDC. Domestic Violence kills and ruins lives! In order for society to change its attitudes, it first has to recognize that it exists and then be motivated to change it. By having the walk, we help make the problem visible. By our outreach and education efforts, we help try to change people’s minds and make violence against women unacceptable. Domestic Violence is not just a women’s issue, it is a human rights issue.

 Is the Walk a fundraiser?

 Our goal for the walk is three-pronged: Raise visibility about the topic, get people to actively participate in the walk and take a stand against domestic violence, and raise funds so that Saheli is able to continue its work against domestic violence and assist survivors. Unlike our other fundraisers, which might be ticketed cultural events, the focus here is completely on a dark and difficult problem of violence against women.

 How can one help raise funds for the Walk?

 We appreciate every dollar that is donated to Saheli. Without the help of our donors, many women would not be in the process of putting their lives back together. A few dollars donated changes lives! The main ways that people can donate are as follows:

1)      Go to our website saheliboston.org. On our homepage there is a post about the Purple Purse Challenge with a Donate button. This challenge runs through October 3 and the more funds we can raise through October 3 for Saheli, the greater our chances to receive some additional funds from Allstate Foundation who is sponsoring the Challenge. If you donate at least $10, you will be entered for a chance to win a purple purse designed by Kerry Washington. One winner every day. If you donate at least $450, you will be entered to win an expense paid trip for 2 to New York City for the Purple Purse launch with Kerry Washington on Sept 15th, 2014.

2)      You can also go to the Events tab on our website and click on Annual Walk against DV. You will then see our flier that allows you to sponsor the Walk. If you donate a certain amount, Saheli will acknowledge your sponsorship both at the Walk and on the website, with your permission. This is a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to donate and get some publicity.

3)      The other way is to again go to our website and print out our pledge form. You can then ask friends, family and colleagues to donate to Saheli and sponsor you to walk. This is a great way for individuals and school age children to raise funds for the cause.

4)      You can also show up at the Walk and donate there if you wish.

Why are you having a Mela when the topic is such a serious one?

We are having the Mela for the first time. It is our way of celebrating the long way our survivors have come over the past 18 years that Saheli has been around. The Mela is our way of acknowledging the rainbow after the storm: it is a message of hope and joy. Despite the violence and trauma that our survivors experience, they are able to gradually re-build and lead enriched lives. And, of course, it is also a way to draw more crowds to the Walk and raise some funds.

What would you like people to know?

Most importantly, even if you cannot donate, please show up and participate in the walk. Numbers count! The more people walking, the greater the attention it draws to the problem and raises awareness. In the United States alone,

• More than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends each year
• 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner
• One in 4 women has been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while 1 in 7 men have experienced the same.

This year alone, Saheli is currently working with 98 clients. A lot of time and caring is invested by our advocates in helping our survivors. Till the end of August, we have spent 428 hours helping survivors. We obviously cannot do this work without everyone’s help.  Also, prospective volunteers or those in need of help are encouraged to check out Saheli’s website at http://www.saheliboston.org or email sahelihelp@gmail.com

The annual Walk is made possible due to the strong collaboration between Saheli, the Burlington Police Department and Lahey Clinic.

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