By Drishana Kalita | Project Leader, FST
FST participated in the Global Giving September Challenge to raise $5000 for Lalthanzami, who is trying to restart a Safe Home for women surviving domestic abuse, begun by her in Mizoram. The Safe Home had been non-functional due to lack of resources since 2012. FST successfully raised $5977 from 46 donors and completed the Challenge successfully. FST received $5,270.95 from Global Giving during the first week of November 2014. Lalthanzami was informed by FST as soon as the funds for the Safe Home were successfully raised. Gayatri Buragohain, Executive Director of FST also visited the Safe Home during the first week of November. Lalthanzami was very relieved and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to every donor who helped through generous contributions. Even before the funds were transferred, Lalthanzami had began looking for a new house to rent for the Safe Home. She found the perfect premises in Aizawl town. She chose this location strategically, keeping in mind the security of the women who would be staying in the Home. The Home is now right next to an Army Campus and in a populated area. Lalthanzami explained to Gayatri that often women who sought shelter in the Home were followed and harassed by the person abusing them (mostly husbands). With the new location, Lalthanzami is hopeful that it will provide greater security to the women residing in the Safe Home as the offenders would be less inclined to create a ruckus in such a populated area and right beside an army campus. Lalthanzami herself is staying in the Home for added security. Lalthanzami has already furnished the Safe Home with the furniture from the old house. She will soon be equipping the House with all basic necessities needed for the women staying there. Although the Home is not fully functional yet, a woman who was facing abuse had begun staying there. An enthusiastic young Mizo women is now assisting Lalthanzami in daily work of the safe Home. It is indeed a big respite for Lalthanzami who is still recovering from a stroke that left her partially paralysed last year. Furthermore, the women who had earlier received assistance from Lalthanzami have come forward in support of the Safe Home. The Home will become fully operational from December 1, 2014 onwards. The Funds will be transferred to Lalthanzami through equal amounts of monthly disbursements for a period of 12 months. FST will be closely monitoring the work and progress of the Safe Home every month.
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