Focus Areas
Direct Services - Domestic Violence intervention and assistance
Domestic violence is physical or emotional abuse that takes place in a home. Overwhelmingly, victims are women. South Asia is one of the regions indicted for the deaths of 60 million women due to violence connected with gender discrimination. We act as a resource referral for South Asian victims of Domestic Violence. We provide a sympathetic ear, intervention if the situation is life-threatening,; liason with police; maintain a list of legal resources, help victims find doctors, lawyers, child care, safe homes, and jobs; help them on a daily basis with groceries or transportation; provide moral support through constant contact, and organize fundraisers in the South Asian community to provide for the victim's needs.
By helping women victims of domestic violence, and by organizing fund-raisers within our communities for assisting these victims, SAWERA brings out the issue of violence against women in the open. People in the South Asian community who have never thought about domestic violence, and those who deny that it exists among them, often change their minds abruptly when they realize, through SAWERA's fundraisers, that it has been happening to someone.
Connections to South Asia is also an important part of SAWERA's agenda. We give a voice to women in South Asia who are struggling for a life of dignity. We support them by publicizing their cause through educational events and by organizing fundraisers. Ideas for future efforts toward increasing our outreach in South Asia include adopting a family or survivor in South Asia for one year, connecting with and helping to build women's shelters in South Asia, and placing ads and articles in South Asian news media following violence against women there.
Also in SAWERA's agenda is to Network with local DV agencies and help other Asians (like filipino, Korean, Vietnamese etc) form their own community organizations. Interested people from these organizations are welcome to call us if they need help. We are passionate about affecting social change across cultures