The Asian Circle, a network of UK based Asian Women celebrated their 5 year anniversary by hosting a fundraiser “Chai Day” at The Lalit in association with Oxfam India to support women suffering from sexual violence in Chattisgarh, India as part of the UN International Day for elimination of violence against women..
Annie Lennox OBE, Founder of The Circle NGO, specifically sent in a message wherein she said how it was time it is time to bring about social change in attitudes and behaviours so that women are empowered, protected and respected. She also spoke about how women around the world aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, car accidents, war and malaria.
Santosh Bhanot who gave up her professional career for her services to the women and girls lacking opportunities and means to support themselves said-
“It was a huge leap of faith for me...but over the five years we have helped provide support centres for counselling and legal aid, create vigilance networks of women to support each other and training programmes for the police.”
The Asian Circle was formed in the summer of 2013 when 20 South Asian women from the UK came together at the Oxfam offices to work with vulnerable women in South Asia. Over the years, they have raised awareness and funds to support a pilot project amongst the tribal communities of Chattisgarh, India to end domestic violence and empower women and girls. The project, till date, has helped 18,000 women and girls and a further 9000 men and boys in the two states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. This work has also helped influence government policies and ensure women’s rights are met through active campaigning.
As part of their five-year celebration, Rav S Bansal who was the first vegan baker on the Great British Bake Off (GBBO) had baked a vanilla sponge cake especially for this occasion. Bansal said-
“For me, women empowerment is a close subject primarily because of my mom who in my childhood told me that if you are sister has to be in the kitchen then there is no reason for you to not be there.”
