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Welcome to the November 2005 issue of the SAHELI e-Newsletter!
In this edition:
(1) From the Executive Director
(2) From the Family Advocate
(3) From the Community Educator
(4) Training offered by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
(TAASA)
(5) Arts for Change: A talk by Mallika Sarabhai
(6) A review of an Evening of Dance by Mallika Sarabhai and the Darpana Dance Troupe
(7) Volunteer Kudos
(8) Upcoming SAHELI Events
From the Executive Director
One of the greatest joys of working for a non-profit is the daily interaction with dedicated volunteers who share a common vision. As a former volunteer manager, I have a special fondness for the folks who tirelessly work for victims/survivors without any expectation of compensation. Fortunately, I’ve landed in an agency founded on the sheer power of volunteerism.
Whether it is through driving a client to an appointment, holding a mother's hand in a court room or helping out at a fundraiser, volunteers generate a dynamic force in eradicating domestic violence and abuse. As we all know, volunteers are the very heart of SAHELI -- it was the dedication and compassion of volunteers that initially provided the foundation for the agency.
Every year, our volunteers provide thousands of hours to our cause. The latest report from the Independent Sector, a non-profit and non-partisan coalition of 500 different organizations, estimates that each hour of volunteer time is worth $17.55. This translates into tens of thousands of dollars contributed as in-kind donations from our own SAHELI volunteers. Although the figures are quite impressive, I truly believe that no number can really quantify the impact that each volunteer has on our clients’ lives. How can we put a dollar-value to something so powerful as a survivor beginning a life free from violence or finding their own voice for the first time?
Winston Churchill eloquently captures the power of volunteers by stating that “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. With that said, I would like to thank and applaud all of the volunteers who have made SAHELI a part of their lives.
For more information about volunteer opportunities with SAHELI, please visit our website at www.saheli-austin.org.
Linda Phan
Email: lphan@saheli-austin.org
Tel: 512-356-1634
From the Family Advocate
During October 2005, SAHELI received 33 calls for assistance, including calls on the helpline, as well as calls/emails directly to SAHELI advocates and staff. Calls are usually from victims/survivors, existing clients, family members or friends of victims, advocates from other agencies, potential volunteers, and others who want more information about SAHELI.
Out of these calls and emails, 7 were new client cases, 4 of whom received one-time referral assistance, and 3 received ongoing advocacy services. Furthermore, SAHELI staff and advocates provided 31 face-to-face sessions for 15 clients in the month of October.
From the Community Educator
Every year in the month of October, events and outreach activities are held around the United States for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).
To commemorate DVAM SAHELI's Community Education Program conducted two outreach campaigns: SAHELI Apartment Outreach Campaign and SAHELI School Outreach Campaign. These were designed to build awareness in Asian communities about the issue of domestic violence and offer these communities knowledge of SAHELI services. SAHELI developed DVAM campaign materials and sent them to 25 apartment managers and 41 school counselors in and around Austin, TX. These apartment communities and schools were those that were identified by SAHELI's research as having high densities of Asian/Pacific Islander residents and/or students. A survey was included in the DVAM campaign materials which will be followed up by SAHELI in November.
A SAHELI Volunteer Orientation was also held in October and 5 new people became SAHELI volunteers. SAHELI has been establishing new volunteer policies which were implemented with our new volunteers.
This involves a post-orientation interview which helps volunteers build a closer connection with SAHELI, and enables our staff to learn more about the skills and motivations of our volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering for SAHELI please contact the Community Educator at 512-356-1565 or email saheli@saheli-austin.org.
Training offered by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
(TAASA)
In order to better equip ourselves to assist sexual assault survivors, SAHELI staff attended a 2-day training called "Fundamental of Sexual Assault" conducted by TAASA. The training covered a wide range of topics, such as: the history of adovcating for survivors of sexual assault, trauma and crisis intervention, medical and legal options for victims, ethics of advocates, differences between domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as sexual assault laws and resources in the community.
SAHELI staff are eager to continue to learn about issues surrounding sexual assault, and are currently pursuing opportunities to partner with TAASA in order to provide culturally relevant services and outreach in the Asian community. For more information about sexual assault, feel free to visit TAASA's website: www.taasa.org.
Arts for Change: A talk by Mallika Sarabhai Contributed by Vandara Agarwal
On October 21st, The Association For India’s Development (AID) and SAHELI presented a talk by Indian social activist Mallika Sarabhai at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Mallika is an impressive speaker who spoke with infectious enthusiasm about her reform work, which is actually the brainchild of her mother, Mrinalini Sarabhai. More than 40 years ago, Mrinalini was touched and saddened by the plight of married women in Gujarat, India, who committed suicide as a result of the abuse they suffered at the hands of their husbands and in-laws. Mrinalini decided to use the talents of her newly formed dance academy to inform and educate people about this issue through the medium of dance and drama. This developed into a program espousing a variety of women’s issues, and ‘Darpana for Change’
was born.
In addition to their own troupe of 75 performers, Darpana trains itinerant village performers and other talented locals to return to their villages and educate their peers about issues that need to be addressed in a particular community through local performances. These issues include domestic abuse, dowry, abuse and neglect of female children and alcoholism. Another issue poignantly depicted through drama, is the proliferation of, and desensitization to violence among people all around the world.
Mallika discussed how Darpana’s work, which empowers women, benefits not only the women, but also their families and the community at large.
Her pride in her work and in the accomplishments of these women was obvious to and a great inspiration to the audience. It was apparent that not only is Mallika passionate about her reform work, but that she derives a genuine joy from the positive changes that occur as a result of it.
A review of an Evening of Dance by Mallika Sarabhai and the Darpana Dance Troupe Contributed by Sabina Peerbhai, SAHELI Intern
After Mallika’s talk at UT Austin, the evening of October 22nd, saw Westlake High School’s transformation into Darpana’s performance stage.
The diverse audience was a mixture of young and old, families and students, and vast ethnicities, capturing the range of interest in the Austin area. Entitled “Hot Talas and Cool Rasas” Mallika wove traditional Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi classical dances with contemporary social awareness pieces after the intermission.
The small dance company, lighting experts, music innovation and creative choreography meant that there was something for everybody. A solo and then a group performance highlighted the skills of classical dancing. The dancers wore a multitude of colors in their traditional outfits with music from Ravi Shankar.
After the intermission, Mallika introduced her contemporary pieces and her inspirations. Ranging from the treatment and emotions within a mental institution to feelings about politicians, the music and lighting created the tone to the dances. Another piece on diversity was upbeat and included Mallika as a dancer. The passion and energy exerted by all the dancers conveyed Darpana’s mission of exposure and education of social injustice.
To find out more about Darpana for Change or to make a donation, please
visit: http://www.darpana.com
Volunteer Kudos
Big Big Kudos for all of those volunteers that do such a great and consistent job turning in those Volunteer Hours, on time, every month.
SAHELI appreciates your timeliness tremendously.
SAHELI's Community Education Program would like to express its appreciation to Shubh Schiesser. Shubh participated in two collaborative presentations in October with SAHELI and SafePlace.
Shubh's continuous contribution to SAHELI by speaking has helped audiences to learn how important SAHELI's work is and the need for our services. Thank you, Shubh!
Upcoming SAHELI Events (View flier)
Please mark your calendars for two fun SAHELI events! The 4th Annual Bollywood Bash, which is a great fundraiser for SAHELI on Saturday, 19th November, and our Annual Holiday and Staff Appreciation Potluck on Sunday, 4th December.
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