S2 Ep#06: Zena Chaudhry - “The more we talk about abuse, the more power we give to the victims”

Zena Chaudhry likes breaking hijabi stereotypes. She loves the outdoors and is passionate about camping, kayaking, hunting, sailing, and fishing. She has won several fishing tournaments and proudly states that she has never been ‘skunked’- i.e., come back from a fishing trip without catching any. (She has been at it since she was 3!)

But Zena is also the founder and CEO of Sakeenah Homes- a network of transitional homes and shelters for those who desperately need it. She recognized gaps in the system that leave out some of the most vulnerable members of society. The need for a safe place can stem from multiple reasons- domestic violence, abuse, poverty, homelessness, immigration…

Whatever the reason may be, Sakeenah homes steps in as a salve. Not only do they provide shelters (and the first Muslim foster home in North America),  but they also offer a significant corpus of services like legal, mental health, financial assistance, education, etc.- things that at-risk sections so badly need but don’t necessarily have access to.

One of her proudest moments though? Offering reconciliation counseling to those who want a second chance.

Zena challenges prevalent tropes surrounding abuse-

“Is it better to die than be divorced?’

“Am I just imagining it?”

“Am I a homewrecker if I am trying to escape it?”

Listen to this gutsy CEO discuss the horrific cases she has encountered, how the pandemic brought a 700% increase in calls for help, and how she and her team managed to stay afloat in the deluge.

Link: https://www.sakeenahhomes.com/aboutus

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