With 21-55% of Asian women in the U.S. experiencing intimate physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime, there has been an unsettling amount of violent crimes perpetrated against Asian American women. One organization in New York City has been actively working to fight against these crimes since 1989.
Sakhi for South Asian women is an establishment that works with survivors of gender-based violence. Created by Anannya Bhattacharjee, Mallika Dutt, Tula Goenka, Geetanjali Misra, and Romita Shetty, Sakhi is a safe haven for struggling members of the South Asian American community.
I had the fortune of interviewing Sakhi’s executive director, Kavita Mehra. She had coveted the role since fall of 2002, and has been leading the program for almost five years. Mehra’s job is to “think about the strategic direction, growth and vision for the organization.”
Sakhi focuses primarily on South Asian survivors of gender-based violence, and their clients mostly identify as cisgender women, though their mission and services are not limited to any particular gender or sexuality. They strive to be a space of healing for people of all different identities. When asked her thoughts on the importance of intersectionality within Sakhi’s activism, Mehra said, “…the survivors that we work with are coming into and experiencing their lives from a multi dimensional lens. And so while they are survivors of gender based violence, they are also individuals of color, they are also, many of them, immigrants to the United States, there are also many representing those who face economic insecurity. Whether that be, you know manifesting through housing insecurity or food insecurity, all of those experiences do not live in silos, they live on top of one another.”
Sakhi also provides a plethora of rehabilitation programs for the survivors. They include a mental health program which provides free counseling; a housing program which organizes free housing for survivors and their families; a food justice program which provides groceries, produce, and meals; and a youth empowerment program which supports young survivors. All of these programs are designed with “the understanding that survivors often have more complicated experiences or layered experiences that live outside of, or live on top of their experiences as survivors of gender based violence.”
Lastly, Mehra offered advice for students who are also passionate about activism.
“Activism can start at any particular moment in life. And so it doesn’t matter if you’re not ready to find that voice, right? In high school or university, you know, at the moment that feels right to you, jump in. Because the movement, any particular movement that will compel you, will need your energy at your fullest… And so something that I would do, especially in the earlier part of my career is compare where other people who are around my age where they are in their lives, and be like, Why am I not there yet? Why am I not fixing global warming or whatever it was, right. But, my time was my time, and I think anyone who is ready to jump in, you know, jump in with their full heart, your full self, but at the moment where you feel your full blast, and don’t put that pressure on yourself, otherwise.”
As AAPI month comes to a close, we must continue to recognize and appreciate all of the essential work that people like Mehra do for the greater community. Their experiences and accomplishments set the example and inspire future generations to become involved, and prganizations like Sakhi for South Asian Women are crucial to helping survivors from marginalized communities safely re-enter society.
Visit their website to follow Sakhi’s journey as they expand their services and presence in the community.