Walking in the footsteps of Asian-Indian women

5K Walk/Run to Stop Violence Against Women
Saheli, Friendship for South Asian Women
Sept. 29, 9 a.m.-noon
Begins at Burlington High School, 123 Cambridge St.
$10, seniors and children free
1-866-4SAHELI, saheliboston.org

While Saheli, Friendship for South Asian Women in Burlington, has taken major steps, many miles remain in the fight against domestic violence, said cofounder Gouri Banerjee.

That is why after weeks of planning, the nonprofit organization of more than 200 members will be pleased to clock in 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) toward their vision of peace in the fourth annual Walk/Run to Stop Violence Against Women on Sept. 29.

Representing Burlington's burgeoning Asian-Indian population, one of the highest concentrations in the state with more than 1,570 Indian residents, according to the Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, the walk will be held to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday and Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

With restaurants offering delectable Indian cuisine and Indian residents participating in town government, "Burlington is a magnet community for Indians. It's the right place to hold such a walk," said Banerjee, who lives in Winchester. "Certainly Gandhi and Saheli share a commonality of mission that holds strong in this area."

That mission is to empower communities by eliminating all forms of violence, which in the case of Saheli (pronounced suh-HAIL-lee), focuses on domestic violence against women. The walk, which has raised about $5,000 in recent years, serves as a sign of hope for South Asian women in need of support, community, and opportunity, said Banerjee. Registration forms, which include pledge sheets, are available to download on Saheli's website.

Saheli volunteers, along with Burlington police officers and residents from surrounding towns with sizable Indian populations such as Woburn, Lexington, and Acton, will take to the suburban streets with open arms.

"Women who are ashamed, humiliated, or afraid must know there is an organization out there that can help. We have nothing to gain except the reward of helping others," said Banerjee.

For 11 years, Saheli has lived up to its name, which in Hindi means "a female friend; a shoulder to lean on," explained Rita Shah, director of Saheli, who lives in Burlington. "We will take someone in need or someone in a bad situation into our care and provide all the resources we can."

The organization's focus is specific to the needs of South Asian culture and traditions, which are often at odds with the American model, said Banerjee. For example, unlike in the United States, arranged marriages are common in India, while divorce is not. When immigrants need help but find themselves in unfamiliar territory, they can turn to Saheli, where members will understand the context of their situation and not demand they go against their family, which is prohibited in Indian culture.

"While domestic violence is a huge problem in all cultures, Saheli is here to understand what Indian and South Asian people are going through," said Banerjee.

"We are particularly valuable to a newcomer who needs help navigating her way in a new place. We can talk with people and help them make decisions. We won't tell these women they are irrational for the choices they make."

Other issues Saheli tackles include language barriers, which played a role in Shah's most recent case involving a woman suffering from a brain tumor and her 13-year-old daughter. Shah helped the woman communicate with her doctors, who claimed she was "not of the sound mind to make decisions," Shah said.

"She was indeed of the sound mind, but there is a cultural expectation that everyone here understand the English language perfectly," said Shah, who, like most Saheli members, is fluent in two or three languages.

The group's success has allowed it to introduce new programs, including literacy classes, driver's education, and citizenship classes, free and open to the public. "The idea is to make these women more employable," said Banerjee.

Health forums, immigration information sessions, language lessons, guest lecturers, book discussions, and movie viewings make up the education element of Saheli, which also contributes to empowerment.

"In order to make these programs possible, we put a lot of energy into fund-raising," said Banerjee.

The Walk for Non-Violence was planned to raise money for the Saheli Women's Assistance Fund, which assists women on an emergency basis without requiring committee approval. The program has assisted 23 women this year, including a woman who needed immediate medical help after her husband slashed her wrists.

"Small amounts of money keep this fund alive. We try to keep $5,000 available at all times," said Banerjee. "We are walking to let the community know violence will not be tolerated."