About Manavi
Manavi is a non-profit organization for women who trace their cultural heritage to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Manavi's goal is to increase awareness of women's rights in society and encourage social change to end all violence against women. Our approach is nonjudgmental, non-religious, and nonsectarian. Manavi is committed to the empowerment of South Asian women and thereby, dedicates its major efforts to facilitating women's quest for self-reliance and autonomy everywhere.
Manavi, Inc. (meaning "primal woman" in Sanskrit) is a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization that was founded in February 1985. It is the first organization in the United States to focus on violence against women in South Asian communities. Manavi concentrates on issues of violence against South Asian women who reside in New Jersey.
In 1985, six South Asian women founded Manavi as a consciousness-raising group. Members of Manavi soon realized that although the South Asian community, like other Asian communities in the United States, is considered to be a "model minority", it has its own share of problems. Woman-abuse is prevalent within South Asian homes. In fact, most South Asian American women's organizations now consider family violence to be the most important issue facing its female community. Within a short time, demands for assistance from battered women transformed the mission of this budding organization. Manavi became a pragmatic agency determined to put theory into practice.
Manavi's mission is to end all forms of violence against South Asian women. We believe violence against women begins before birth with female feticide and extends to murder of girls and women. Between these two extremes lie ideas and actions that include classism, racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, incestuous abuse, rape, battering, and lack of opportunities. These attitudes, conditions, and behaviors perpetuate the subordination of girls and women in society and engender the different forms of violence that are committed against them. Manavi's ultimate goal is to assist women in empowering themselves so that they can progress towards self-sufficiency and autonomy.
Manavi provides necessary and critical services to women of South Asian descent during crisis. In addition, Manavi aims to assist women in rebuilding their lives that violence has shattered. We understand that South Asian women in the U.S. are especially vulnerable to abuse due to their cultural socialization and recent immigration. The loss of traditional family support, lack of proficiency in English, as well as unfamiliarity with the laws and services of their adopted land keep many South Asian women captive within their abusive situations. Manavi's mission is to reach out and provide supportive services to these women.
Today, Manavi is the only organization in New Jersey that serves South Asian women in crisis. Manavi's pioneering work to end violence against women has been recognized not only in the U.S. but internationally as well. News media such as The New York Times, The Star Ledger, Ms.-, The Women's Newsletter, India Currents, India Abroad, The Progressive, New Directions for Women, The Times of India, India Today, The Princeton Packet, Manushi, The Village Voice, and The Central Post as well as television networks such as WNYW Fox Television, NJN, Piscataway Community Television, and CNN have enthusiastically reported Manavi's activities. Manavi's work has inspired the formation of more than twenty South Asian domestic violence organizations in the U.S., many of which have sought technical assistance and training from us. Manavi maintains close relationships and a "sister" status with all South Asian organizations that focus on violence against women. This network of South Asian organizations serves as an important resource for Manavi.
Support for Manavi comes from grants, private and corporate donors, and volunteers. Manavi's financial stability comes from its members, donors, and granters. Without their contributions, our organization would be unable to meet the needs of the community. But, the main strength of our organization lies in our volunteer base. We work with a diverse group of volunteers, who reflect New Jersey's South Asian communities. Manavi's dedicated board members are volunteers who contribute their time to the functioning of the organization. Much of Manavi's direct service work is accomplished with the help of volunteers. We have a corps of volunteers who are trained to provide culturally sensitive and supportive counseling to women who are experiencing violence in their lives. Our volunteers also assist the staff with the upkeep of Ashiana, our transitional home for women. Manavi volunteers come from all walks of life and include a large number of immigrants and "second generation" activists who are students, professionals, homemakers, and business owners.
