As the malaise of domestic abuse has gripped the country, an organisation has set about fighting it. CHAYN, a bold new initiative, launched its first event in Pakistan and made it abundantly clear that it’s here to challenge the alarmingly common phenomenon of domestic violence.

The very meaning of the word CHAYN, peace and solace, is what the organisation strives for. It aims to address this rising issue around the globe, but more particularly in Pakistan, by creating an entirely digitised network of awareness and support. The initiative operates primarily under the motto of ‘knowledge is power’ and wants to arm the public with the weapon of awareness; the identification and acknowledgement of abuse is the first step.

The event was held at the Nairang Gallery in Lahore and attracted an audience consisting of individuals from every background imaginable. What the CHAYN initiative lacks in social grandeur and “A-list” affiliation, it makes up for in accurate research, enthusiasm and confidence in the future of the cause. The atmosphere of the occasion was alive with the movement for a greater good.

A self-proclaimed ‘humanitarian cause’, CHAYN was originally founded by a bright young adult with the proverbial desire to make a difference. In the days that ensued, virtual strangers came together for a common cause and the organisations’ executive team was formed. In the three months since it has been active, it has developed into a platform for the faceless and voiceless. It encourages abuse victims to post their experiences anonymously on their website and help others escape similar situations.

The team outlined the fundamental purpose of CHAYN at the event and explained that the point of having an entirely web-based operation was to target the demographic of the middle classes and upward. The organisation aims to help women who have access to the internet and are at least partially tech-savvy. This may seem a little elitist and narrow at first glance, but when delved into deeper, one learns that the organisation has to start somewhere, so why not in cyberspace?

The team admits to being at ‘step zero’ right now and the entire objective of the launch and online sphere was to get the ball rolling. It is functioning right now solely with the intention of creating awareness and sharing information about domestic abuse in both its physical and emotional form.

As the organisation is officially funded by the Oxford Jam, it was officially instated in London and debuted there on this year’s Independence Day. It is fundamentally targeted towards victims of Pakistan however, so its campaign is more centered towards the citizens here.

According to the statistics of CHAYN, four out of every five women face the pain and suffering that comes with abuse; aside from the obvious physical turmoil one has to face, there is also no end to the social stigma and marginalisation these victims endure. The entire evening at the launch was spent on brainstorming ideas to put an end to this violence and the primary need for this innovative effort right now is volunteers and civic contribution. CHAYN has an up-to-the-minute website and is extremely active on Facebook and Twitter. Help it fight the darkness of abuse and restore CHAYN to our world.