The Birth of SHEWISE: From Lived Experience to Collective Empowerment

When I co-founded SHEWISE, my vision was simple yet profound. To create a space where women, particularly those from minority ethnic and migrant backgrounds, could feel seen, heard, and supported. As a South Asian woman living in London, I have witnessed multiple barriers and how cultural expectations and systemic inequalities can trap women in silence. Many of the women we support are survivors of domestic abuse, isolation, or poverty and yet what unites them is resilience.

SHEWISE Charity was established with a single goal to empower women to live independent, confident, and fulfilling lives.

A mission and vision to: –

• To empower women and young girls to activate their innate ability to be the primary agency of their own lives and change their mentality from “can’t do it” to “can do it.” To provide a safe, confidential, and welcoming space for minority ethnic women at our Shewise women’s resource hub (SWRH).
• ​To challenge and transform societal attitudes and beliefs, paving the way for future generations to break the cycle of abuse. We accomplish this by actively engaging with communities, particularly where knowledge and understanding are lacking. To raise awareness and provide valuable training programmes to communities and professionals
• To create a world where women and girls are free from all forms of violence and abuse.  Where all women have access to quality education, economic opportunities and social support that enable them to thrive and lead to their full potential.

We support all women but have a strong focus on supporting women from South Asian, Middle Eastern background, many of whom face barriers such as language, isolation, and cultural stigma.

Our work includes:

• Domestic abuse
• Health & Wellbeing
• Skills Development
• Employability
• Youth support
• Prison and Criminal Justice system

We believe that empowerment begins when women feel safe, supported, and seen. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that women are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect, helping them rebuild not just their lives, but also their sense of identity.

In the past year, SHEWISE has supported over 150 women directly and reached hundreds more through workshops and community events. Each story represents courage and transformation.

Over the years, we’ve grown from a small grassroots idea into an award-winning organisation, recognised for our community impact by the London Borough of Hounslow and the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce. But awards are not what drive us, it’s the women who walk through our doors every day, seeking not charity but dignity, hope, and opportunity.

Creating Spaces Where Women Belong

At SHEWISE, we’ve built more than programmes.  we’ve built safe spaces. Our Women’s Resource Hubs provide a sanctuary for women who have nowhere else to turn. Here, they can access bilingual advocacy, health and wellbeing support, employability training, counselling and peer mentoring.

What makes SHEWISE special is our cultural sensitivity. We understand that for many South Asian and Middle Eastern women, seeking help can be seen as shameful or taboo. That’s why our approach is rooted in respect and understanding. We meet women where they are emotionally, culturally, and linguistically and walk alongside them as they rebuild their lives.

Over the past year alone, we’ve supported hundreds of women survivors of abuse, mothers navigating the justice system, young girls seeking role models, and older women rediscovering their confidence. Each story reminds me why this work matters. It’s not just about service delivery, it’s about transformation.

My Personal Journey: Balancing Roles, Breaking Barriers

Behind every project, policy, or event is a human story and mine is filled with lessons learned from juggling multiple roles: a wife, mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, and leader.

Managing SHEWISE alongside my family life has not always been easy. There were days when I would leave meetings with funders only to rush home to cook dinner or help with homework. Nights when I was finalising reports while holding my grandchild in one arm. Times when financial uncertainty made me question everything.

But what kept me going was the reminder that the women I serve face far greater challenges and if they could find the courage to rebuild their lives, so could I. Every obstacle became a lesson in resilience, and every setback an invitation to realign with purpose.

Running a charity requires not just vision but endurance. Funding challenges, administrative, operations, pressures, and constant demand for services can easily lead to burnout. Yet, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being unshakable, it’s about staying human, vulnerable, and compassionate, even when things get tough.

Lessons from Leadership and Life

1. Empathy is strength, not weakness.
   True leadership begins with listening, really listening to those you serve. Empathy allows me to connect deeply with the women who come to SHEWISE, to see beyond their circumstances, and to remind them of their worth.
2. Boundaries are essential.
   As women, we often give endlessly to our families, communities, and work but we must also protect our own energy. I’ve learned to pause, delegate, and remind myself that self-care is not selfish; it’s necessary.
3. Faith in purpose sustains everything.
   There have been moments when funding fell through or partnerships dissolved, yet something greater always guided me back. SHEWISE isn’t just an organisation, it’s a movement of healing and empowerment that continues to unfold.

A Mother’s Reflection: The Legacy of Nurture and Strength

Being a mother and grandmother has deeply shaped how I lead. I see the world through the eyes of the next generation, and I want to leave behind a legacy of compassion, equality, and empowerment.

My daughters and grandchildren remind me that change begins at home. When we model kindness, strength, and authenticity in our families, we raise a generation of women and men who value equality and respect. The home is our first classroom of empathy and if we can transform homes, we can transform communities.

The Weight of Stress and the Power of Purpose

There’s a silent truth about leadership; it can be lonely. The responsibility of running an organisation, supporting others, and maintaining personal wellbeing can be overwhelming. There were times I felt exhausted, questioning whether my efforts made a difference.

But through each challenge, I discovered that purpose is the antidote to pressure. When your work aligns with your soul, no hardship is wasted. Every late night, every difficult decision, every tear shed becomes part of something bigger a story of resilience, compassion, and faith.

My Call to Action: Join the Movement

As I reflect on this journey, I realise that empowerment is not a one-person mission, it’s a collective one.  If you are reading this, whether you’re a policymaker, funder, professional, or someone who simply believes in equality – you have a role to play!

Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Partner with us. Help us expand our services and reach more women across London who are struggling in silence.
• Fund our work. Your donations directly sustain our counselling, advocacy, and skills development programmes.
• Volunteer or mentor. Share your expertise, your time, or your story, because lived experience changes lives.
• Advocate. Speak up about the barriers faced by minority ethnic women and girls. Your voice can open doors for others.
• Practice compassion. Whether at home, work, or in your community, kindness and understanding are the foundations of a more inclusive society.

My journey with SHEWISE reflects every woman’s story.  A story of struggle, strength, and transformation. It reminds me daily that healing and empowerment go hand in hand.

As a leader, mother, and grandmother, I hold a simple belief: when women rise, communities heal. Every act of support, big or small has the power to change a life.

SHEWISE is not just my work; it’s my purpose. It’s a promise to every woman who has ever felt unseen: you are loved, you are worthy, and you are capable of creating a life beyond survival a life of meaning, joy, and freedom.

So, let’s keep building together a world where every woman is empowered, every voice is heard, and every life is valued.

Visit http://www.shewise.org to support, donate, or volunteer.  Follow our journey on social media and help us spread awareness about empowering women and girls.