Sheroes is a hangout place which is also a reader’s café, a workshop, a community radio hub, and exhibit space. Women who were able to survive acid attacks now continue to live here with their heads held high.
These women have fought back for life and have managed to survive in this unfair world and through heinous chemical burns. These women are ‘fighters with scars’. The scars on the body can go but those on the soul can never.
Sheroes is located opposite the Taj Mahal in Agra. It is an effort of the NGO Chaanv that is working with the Stop Acid Attacks campaign. The initiative was first started in the year 2013 in the national capital. Through this movement, a new wave of feminism can be witnessed at Sheroes.
Women, who are considered the epitome of beauty and love, are now trying to show society that even without so-called physical beauty they can change the world.
Changes are not brought about on empty stomachs, so you can get a variety of eatable to munch and think over the issue at the cafe run by these warriors. While talking to one of the acid attack victims, Anjali, I got to know that majority of acid attack cases take place where literacy is still not much.
‘An attempt to fulfill dreams’
“We too have many dreams and Sheroes is an attempt to fulfill all our dreams,” said Rupa a 23-year-old survivor.
The activism workshop gives computer training to girls and helps them to use social media as an ultimate tool of empowerment. At Sheroes, these survivors have also been taught about legal knowledge, judicial and political awareness as part of the initiative.
We can hope and help in the development of many more Sheroes. The revolution has begun but it is still waiting for us to join hands.
