"Smile Goal Hai"-Bringing Smiles on the faces of Acid Attack Survivors

Introduction:
The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty. Chhanv Foundation too is not untouched by the monstrous effect of COVID 19. The pandemic has been affecting the entire food system and has laid bare its fragility. It is having a negative and de-motivational impact on the psyche of the human race. 

The pandemic has decimated jobs and placed millions of livelihoods at risk. This catastrophe has drastically affected the small community of acid attack survivors who were already cornered by the society full of taboos. The year 2020 brought an abundance of challenges for the survivors. They have been fighting for their survival, medical needs, employment, social hurdles and mental wellbeing. They are in an annihilating situation and require our urgent attention.

SMILE GOAL HAI
Thus in 2021, the foundation has come up with a campaign ‘SMILE GOAL HAI’ to rejuvenate the lost smile and happiness of all the acid attack survivors through a mass audience.  

About Organisation
Chhanv Foundation, a non-for-profit organization based in India, over the years, has relentlessly worked for the rehabilitation of acid attack survivors and aspires to do the same in future. Chhanv Foundation has been running a rehabilitation project Sheroes Hangout cafe in Agra and Lucknow. Our aim is to empower the acid attack survivor by fulfilling all their needs which includes advocacy, medical treatment, their education along with the education of their toddlers and the most imperative employment. We are to deploy the best methodology to provide rehabilitation, healthcare, to practice and promote good governance.

Unlike other NGOs, Chhanv Foundation has a unique self sustainable model in the form of SHEROES HANGOUT CAFE. It is the first cafe run by acid attack survivors in India. The first outlet was inaugurated in 2014 in Agra followed by the other one in Lucknow in 2016. It not only provides employment opportunities to the survivors but it also works as a bridge between society and the survivors. The survivors get to a stage where they can portray their personality with dignity and confidence.  

CHHANV AND THE PANDEMIC

• Both the cafe outlets were shut down due to nationwide lockdown which in response affected the revenue majorly.
• Routine Checkup and medical treatments came to a halt
• Regular reach-outs affected
• Rehabilitation centres were closed
• Education & Training projects were cut off

With the collapse of the cafe model, our revenue plummeted by 80% which made it difficult for the Foundation to run steadily. But even in this ordeal, we didn’t abandon our duty. We undertook a handful of projects and fundraisers:

1. Ensured a basic survival amount to onboard 30 survivors
2. Assisted 30 new survivors with the fellowship amount of ₹5,000 per month for almost a year.
3. Medical Treatment Drive initiated to kickstart the halted treatments. 
4. Organised Skill Development sessions for the all-round personality development. 
5. Hosted Live sessions to interact with our well wishers. 

But our efforts helped us stay afloat for only about 7 to 8 months. We are back in a situation similar to the start of the pandemic, we are gradually sinking because of a financial crunch. We are running low on funds and resources and are on the verge of collapsing.

We are in need of your generous assistance to revive this model.

What are we raising funds for?

We were dependent on sales from cafes which amounted to 75% of the total revenue and the rest 25% were generated from donations and fundraisers, but now it’s vice versa. The 80% dip in revenues has completely shaken the roots of our model.

-      Considering the statistical figures of this year to last year, they are poles apart as the new challenges came along with new rules of social distancing, our cafe being a heavy footfall business started suffering.-      The bottom line is, to ensure the livelihood of the staff and the survivors associated with the organization as their lives are at stake.
1.    Need to ensure beneficiary salaries, which is pending for 6 months
2.    Need to ensure support staff salaries which are pending for 6 months.
3.    Extend fellowship to 30 new survivors to secure their livelihood.
4.    Need to pay pending rents and utility bills for Sheroes Home: Rehabilitation centre and the cafe outlets
5.    Renovation of Sheroes Hangout as their resources are not in proper condition.
6.    On average, the organization used to provide medical assistance to around 10 survivors a year. This could not be fulfilled this year. We are aiming to increase our number to at least 20 this year so that we could benefit more survivors and bring about a change.


Budget 
COVID 19 has brought huge financial gaps in the organization. We required a more than sum of Rs. 2 Crores but till now we are only able to raise 1/3rd of our total needs through our small projects and fundraisers.

Through this campaign, we aim to raise the remaining amount. In the first phase of the campaign, we will raise 1/10th of the total amount i.e. Rs 20 Lakhs.

S.No.	Particulars	Amount (Annual) (INR)
1.	On Board Survivors Salaries	60,78,024
2.	Fellowship to new Acid Attack Survivors	18,00,000
3.	Rents & Utilities	30,82,272
4.	Sheroes Hangout Staff Salaries	34,77,600
5.	Chhanv Salaries	26,88,000
6.	Sheroes Hangout Renovation	15,00,000
7.	Medical Treatment (15 Survivors)	37,50,000
	Total	2,23,75,896