Check Out Somy Ali’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Somy Ali.

Hi Somy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I initiated my nonprofit organization in 2007 with a mission to rescue and empower victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. I grew up in a home of severe verbal and physical abuse to my mother, and I, myself, was sexually abused by the help from the age of 5-9 years old. At 14, I was raped in a park by a 17-year-old boy who attended my high school. From the age of 16-24, I was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of my boyfriend/actor in India. All this trauma brought me to where I am today and made me a strong survivor to fight for many others who are suffering all that my mother and I endured. This is the reason behind the birth of my charity called No More Tears, which has saved over 45,000 women, men, and children since its inception. Initially, I used all of my savings to save lives via my nonprofit, and once those were depleted, I relied on donors to keep No More Tears alive.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all smooth. In fact, quite the contrary, as I have been attacked eight times by abusers and traffickers verbally and physically because I accompany law enforcement when we rescue the victims. However, I know this work comes with many risks, but I am willing to take those risks as nothing gives me a better purpose to exist than saving those who are enduring what I suffered, and seeing them thrive is an indescribable emotion. It’s a reward worth every minute of my time and every risk I willingly take to transform the victims into survivors like myself. The biggest struggle is funding because our society, even as we approach 2024, does not comprehend the complexities of why domestic violence can’t just get up and leave or an LGBTQ victim being trafficked can’t simply escape their plight. There is an enormous stigma attached to domestic violence and victim blaming, which is why it’s been unbelievably difficult to get donors and more board members who believe their duty is to bring in funding. Nonetheless, somehow or the other, we have been sustaining ourselves by the few who believe in our cause because if it weren’t for them, we would not be in existence anymore.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a trained victim advocate with an educational background in psychology, film, journalism, and social work. My day-to-day work involves rescuing victims with law enforcement and providing them shelter. Once they are safe, I have to come up with a plan to get them therapy and, most importantly, financial independence along with a way to live in the U.S. legally. Many of the victims we rescue are undocumented, as they are trafficked from various countries and brought to the U.S. to be sold to human/labor traffickers. Many others who are married suffer the same predicament as the abusers never file for their immigration status to keep them under their control. These women have children, and they are almost always under threat. If they even think about seeking help, they will be deported and lose their children. Thus, they keep getting abused for years until they can’t take it anymore or a neighbor calls the police to help them. That’s where I come in with law enforcement and try to put together the pieces of a broken individual who has suffered unimaginable abuse. My proudest moment was when our very first victim we rescued was able to obtain her Ph.D. in through our organization’s help in 2011 after she was beaten for ten years by her husband solely because she wanted to get an education. What sets us apart is that whoever is a part of No More Tears checks their ego at the door before entering our domain. No one is a boss, and we are all one and in it for the same reason. I am the president and the plumber, and no one takes a salary as we are all volunteers, including our exceptionally proficient board of directors and volunteers.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Unfortunately, I do not have one as I grew up in severe chaos, which I am still healing from, and I have taken measures to enhance my healing process. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and severe trauma, and I take medication to curtail it, as well as get therapy a few times a month to continue healing, as it will be a lifelong process. One can’t just snap out of it. This is why certain victims we rescue take longer to heal while others take a shorter time to stand on their own feet. It’s all individual-specific.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nomoretearsusa.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomoretearsusa/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoMoreTearsUSA.Org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nomoretearsusa?lang=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZN6013lpiCvqIkzYtwX__A
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/realsomyali/?hl=en

Image Credits
Somy Ali