This cafe in Agra is the first to be fully managed by acid attack survivors

Twenty-two-year old Neetu can’t see properly, but her eyes were shining with happiness and hope when the Sheroes Hangout opened to brisk business and supportive crowds.
The cafe, located near the Taj Mahal in Agra, is the first in India to be managed and run by acid attack survivors. It is a collaborative effort between Delhi-based NGO, Chaanv Foundation, and survivors who chose the name “Sheroes” as a tribute to their courage.
The place opened for business after a successful two-month trial run, during which the girls got hands-on experience at operations and dealing with customers.
“It’s a dream come true. The café has given girls like us a second chance at life,” said Neetu, who suffered an acid attack in 1992 which left her with limited vision and scars on her face.
“We got tremendous support from locals and learned so many things about how to run an establishment. What really boosted our morale was when many people, who looked strangely at us earlier, came forward to praise the effort,” said Rupa, another survivor, whose creations are displayed at a boutique inside the cafe.
At the café’s inauguration recently, Sapna Bhavnani, a member of the Stop Acid Attacks Campaign, said the girls have proved a point to the world. “People call these survivors ‘becharis’. Today, they have shown that they are no less than anybody else,” she said.
Many tourists visiting the Taj were drawn to the cafe because of the eye-catching graffiti designs on the walls created by one of the survivors.
“This place has amazing music and interior. I happened to visit it by chance, but I am so happy to come here. These are lovely, rave women,” said Alisha Nangia, a tourist from Delhi.
Harshit Raj, another tourist from Kerala, said, “I really appreciate the idea behind the endeavour. The visit to the cafe has made my tour all the more memorable.”
The two-floor cafe, which will rehabilitate five survivors, will also house a reading section with books and journals on women’s empowerment.
Alok Dixit, founder of the ‘Stop Acid Attack’ campaign, said that more such cafes are in the pipeline. “This is our model project. Later, we plan to open cafes like these in Delhi, Kanpur and other parts of the country.”

(Originally published in The Times of India)