How Does Depilex Smileagain Foundation Empowers Acid Burn Victims?

Hi!

Ria Sharma (founder of Make Love Not Scars) works alongside volunteers throughout India to collect funds and help acid-burn victims reintegrate back into society. This notable NGO has raised in popularity of the past few years by actively supporting acid attack survivors by providing on-going assistance with legal affairs, handle medical paperwork, provide psychological and moral support. They also give financial support and help educate survivors. They made headlines with their campaign #EndAcidSale. It's a petition which they hope the government will respond to by regulating sale of acid to the common man. (You can sign the petition here.)

It's without a doubt that Make Love Not Scars is doing a commendable job to help young females who tragically became victims of vindication. Unfortunately, acid attack isn't just common in India. It happens commonly in other countries of South Asia including Pakistan and Bangladesh. Acid attack survivors are also found in Africa, Middle East and Cambodia. Acid Survivors Trust International reports that 1500 acid attacks occur yearly around the world! In Pakistan, 150 women are attacked every year. Eighty percent of victims are women between the ages of 14 to 25. They are brutally attacked by men for a variety of reasons including: turning down sexual advances, suspected infidelity, jealousy, and not giving impressive amount of dowry.

Another highly-commendable organization is Depilex Smileagain Foundation. Masarrat Misbah, a renowned beautician, started Depilex in 1980s and after some time, it became one of the leading beauty parlors in Pakistan. It prides itself in its skilled workforce and services that parallels those offered in foreign countries. A few years ago, an acid attack survivor came to her salon and asked for a makeover. She told her heart-felt story which moved the entrepreneur to start the Depilex Smileagain Foundation. 

Acid attack victims  suffer significant burns on their face, neck, and arms. Not only do they suffer from excruciating pain, they have to readjust to life without essential limbs such as eyelids, ears, and so on. Many victims come from lower middle class families and are unable to afford skin reconstructive surgeries. A few sadly end their lives. Somali Mukherjee, for instance, appealed to the Indian Government to allow mercy killing as she could not afford extensive surgeries.

Depilex Smileagain Foundation is doing commendable work by providing medical care and assistance. The NGO goes one step further by helping acid attack survivors become self-reliant members of society. They provide formal beautician training. In a recent interview, Masarrat Misbah states that 600 girls have been trained up till date. Some of these girls have gone on to work as full-time employees at Depilex while others have opened a small beauty parlor at their home. It's respectable that the beauty industry is empowering the less fortunate to become financially independent that would have otherwise been confined to the walls of their homes. I believe other successful entrepreneurs can follow suit and reach out to burn victims for further support.

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