Serving a World of Hope at Sheroes Hangout

In a small café located just a few blocks away from the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, a group of remarkable women unite for a common cause. The employees of this café are leaders, victims-turned-heroes that sparked a worldwide movement against horrific attacks happening in India and across the world.

Each employee of the warm and welcoming Sheroes' Hangout (a name created with "she" and "heroes") is a survivor of an acid attack. These attacks generally leave victims disfigured but not disabled, which means that while many are physically able to return to work, they are unable to do so without facing discrimination.

Operating the café helps survivors rebuild their confidence, and develop the professional skills that were halted by their attacks. Sheroes volunteers assist the café in providing many exciting opportunities, like lessons in computer science, fashion design and dance. Thanks to the incredible communal bond of Sheroes Hangout, survivors are empowered to move forward with their careers-and of course, form friendships that will help them beautifully weave the future chapters of their lives.

The magnificence that is the Taj Mahal provides the perfect backdrop for the hopeful, powerful and inspiring nature of Sheroes' Hangout. This café may be the perfect place to grab lunch after your tour of the Taj Mahal, but it's so much more than that. It's an art gallery, a hip hangout, and a place of refuge for acid attack survivors, their families and friends, and even visitors who have come to hear their stories.

Sheroes' Hangout may be run and operated by heroes, but even these heroes need our support to keep their business thriving! Search the hashtag #StopAcidAttacks across all social media platforms to see how this movement is already changing the world, or learn how you can contribute to the cause by visiting www.sheroeshangout.com. If you've been to Sheroes' Hangout while on an India vacation, please share your memories with us here. We'd love to hear about your journey.