In 2004, I began documenting the work of organizations whose focus is the empowerment of women and girls. After visiting dozens of projects and meeting hundreds of participants and staff around the world, I have also come to believe that the most efficient way to alleviate poverty and reduce population pressures in the developing world is to empower women and girls through education, economic opportunity and open discussions about rights.
Here are a few of the extraordinary women I have had the honor to meet. Women who have broken through a cycle of repression or cultural tradition that limited their well-being and that of their communities— women heroes, remote and mostly unknown, on the leading edge of a global movement toward social and economic justice for women and girls.
Dr. Chandini Perera
Plastic Surgeon
I met Chandini in Sri Lanka while doing a film for the nonprofit organization Interplast. Interplast provides support for the victims of severe burns around the world. Chandini created almost from scratch one the most successful burn centers in Sri Lanka.
When Chandini first started working with burns at the main hospital in Sri Lanka’s capital, she was surprised to find that the majority of her severe burn patients were women. They claimed the burns were accidental. However, as she began to treat these women she could not help but notice that the burns followed a specific pattern. The burns were typically on the front of the upper body, arms, neck and face. As she slowly gained the confidence of these women they confided to her that they had set fire to themselves. Realizing that these women needed more than just the physical treatment for their burns, she formed a team that included a psychologist, a rehabilitation specialist, and several nurse practitioners.
Chandini told me that 70% of her severe burn patients are the result of self immolation. I didn’t understand it. Why would someone set themselves on fire? It had to be the most painful way to die.
Self Immolation Patient
As I documented Chandini’s work and met some of these women I began to realize that this terrible problem had its roots in women’s social and economic injustices. Self immolation not only happens frequently in Sri Lanka and India but is prevalent in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Kumari, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Here is a multimedia piece about Chandini titled “Postcards from Heaven”. She is currently working tirelessly to raise awareness and end domestic violence in Sri Lanka.
VanessaLobo
It’s so hard to see it, specially when I am a lucky person, living and working in a free coutry, a free culture, thinking about our next car, our next this and that. World is so huge and more than this, each human being is a unique world and I feel so sad to see these girls suffering at a level I can’t comprehend at the same time I feel so much love and power through the eyes of Dr. Chandini Perera.
I had to write that because it’s a big burden to see this, and to keep in silence.
I think God is it…this love and care for other people, this inteterest in going till the end of the world and document , to don’t omit, to look for justice, awareness.
thanks god for Dr. Chandini Perera.
thanks for sharing with us.
From Brazil
your fan ( since I first saw Yama photograph)
vanessa
Jennifer Gonzalez
I shared my bedroom and home with several interplast girls while in my teens. It is amazing the life they would describe to me. The documentary is fantastic, in bringing this horrid reality to the lives of all.
Phil Borges
Jennifer, thank you for sharing. The interplast girls that you refer to, were they patients or Interplast workers? I would love to hear more about your experience.
John Herzenberg
Does Dr. Perera have a non-profit foundation or tax deductible fund that I could contribute to?
JH
Phil Borges
Thank you for considering helping Dr. Perera. I have been told you can donate to Interplast, specifying that the funds should be restricted to Sri Lanka – Dr. Perera is the only program that Interplast has in Sri Lanka. http://interplast.org/give/index.html
Rick Sieller
Dear Phil,
Burns in women and children is a globally unrecognized story. This piece has great educational value and will help to raise awareness. Chandini contacted me through Interplast and I am preparing a large shipment of medical supplies-materials to open up a comprehensive rehabilitation clinic there. This will be the 4th International burn clinic that I have established through the International Women and Children’s Burn Foundation (www.IWCBF.org). There are numerous requests for assistance (Brazil, El Salvadore, Philipienes, Bolivia and Panama) are on the list of other sites that have requested assistance. The IWCBF is in the preliminary stages of a partnership with rotary international and the Sri Lankan rotary to make Chandini’s dream of improving the lives of these women and chldren a reality.
Sincerely,
Richard Sieller
Founder IWCBF
Rick Sieller
Dear Phil,
The supplies/materials shipped to Dr Perera have finally made it through customs (8 month delay) and are in the burn hospital. I will be scheduling a trip to launch the comprehensive burn rehabilitation clinic there in the Fall. I would suggest that you consider a f/u story thereafter.
Sincerely,
Rick Sieller
http://www.iwcbf.org
Phil Borges
Dear Rick,
Thank you for keeping in touch. I would like to continue to follow the process and please contact me again with an update upon your return. I appreciate the work you are doing!
Phil
paul
I’m at a loss for words Phil. This video and this amazing woman ansd her brave patients saay it all. Great work
Lena Kuster
Dear Phil,
This documentary is such a brave project to put out there for the world to see. I lived in Sri Lanka for over 6 years and the amount of stories the Sri-Lankan public will share with you, if you spend some time getting to know them, is absolutely terrifying. So many women seem to believe they can not speak up if they are being beaten to near death by their husbands. I’ve heard stories of families threatening to abandon and shame their own daughters is they tell anyone their husband even has an alcohol addiction problem, let alone telling anyone he beats her half do death.
I was only around 16 years of age when I first experienced women sharing their stories with me, but when I tried to help them and speak to them I often found myself at a loss for words. It was a catch 22! Most of these women could not win and be part of the society as it stands today, so they did nothing or found ways like burning themselves to escape their own lives.
Having said all that, there are beautiful people and kind hearted communities in Sri-Lanka and I hope fewer women take the red hot escape route and more seek the shelter of the Aid organizations.
Phil Borges
Hi Lena,
Yes, I agree. I hope that more women seek help. I truly appreciated hearing about your experience in Sri Lanka!
Phil
sunayana sarangi
Dear Phil,
I have absolutely no words to express what I feel right now after going through the post and seeing the documentary. I am so terribly hurt and shocked to think that some women are out there burning themselves while I am writing this. The world is blessed to have Chandini Parera and I sincerely thank god for having made someone like Chandini. And thankyou for putting it all out here. Thanks !
Sunayana
Phil Borges
Thank you for your comments.While it is shocking when a woman feels they need to take such drastic action, it is heartening to see that there is also hope. Chansini Parera is certainly a remarkable woman who is able to help them heal and give these women hope.
imran SALAHUDDIN
Dear Madam, my daughter of 18 years recently (3 weeks ago) under went a surgery for breast reduction in India while on our way to Sri Lanka for our annual vacation from Botswana where we live and work. Now the healing process of the stitches have become bit slow as per my wife and would like to consult a female doctor in this regard. Is it possible to make an appointment with you doctor at this moment? Kindly confirm.
Phil Borges
Dear Sir,
You have reached Phil Borges who is a photographer and did a story about Dr. Chandini but we do not have a way to contact her. You might try the organization Resurge who works with Dr. Chandini. http://www.resurge.org/home/home.cfm I am sorry we cannot be of more help.
paul siemering
This is such a great story Phil, and you did a great job telling it.This is a very inspirational woman –
Phil Borges
Thank you very much!
Aysha Perera
I’d like to visit this hospital & the people & see how I could help. Please send me the contact information. Thanks!
Phil Borges
Thank you for your interest. I am not able to give out that information. I would suggest that you contact Resurge (formerly Interplast), the organization that Dr. Perera works with. https://www.resurge.org/