Gender-Based Violence Project Is Expanded

Last October, Sambhali Trust’s Nirbhaya (“Fearless”) project on gender-based violence began a pilot to expand the services it provides to survivors and launch an educational and outreach prevention campaign. Donations made to Sambhali U.S. supported this expansion.

Long-time Sambhali staff member Shyama Tanwar was joined by lawyer Shivani Singh and psychologist Abhilasha Chouhan who spearheaded the expansion that they, along with local volunteers, brought to the streets of Jodhpur.

The result in the first three-month pilot period was stunning: Direct assistance to over 220 women including in-house access to psychological counseling, legal support, and connections to other needed services. The education and outreach campaign included 14 legal and mental health workshops, 10 door-to-door campaigns passing out leaflets and explaining what gender-based violence is and how to get help, and a successful press conference.

The project is now in phase two of the pilot that will conclude in March. In this enlightening video, Abhilasha and Shivani discuss the experience, expertise, and passion they bring to this work.