Break Free Stories: the judgment-free divorce camp
When Syria’s life made a dark turn after an early marriage at the age of 21, he was depressed. After eight years of abuse and gas lighting, he was pushed to the borders, tried to end his life, but fortunately he was rescued by his father. Finally, he escaped from the toxic relationship, continued his work, and found a job as a pharmacist in the UAE.
Although he is now an independent professional, Syria says he’s still working for emotional healing. Recovery is not a flat way for most divorce, and recently found the ideal area to process his grief in Break Free Stories, a divorced collective, a divorced collective initiated by Rafia Afi, a 36 -year -old resident of Malackpuram. “It was a completely new experience for me to share my story with people who really understand my story and listen to the judiciary. It felt much more effective than therapy for years, Sura says.
In May this year, for the first offline camp organized by Break Free Stories, about 20 women united in Vagamon, the Tepe town in the Idukki region of Karala. Until then, the group was largely active in WhatsApp and Instagram. For some women, the camp traveled alone.
The group consisted of divorce, widows and separated women. They stayed in the tents, went for a walk, played games, and participated in ice -breaking sessions where they shared deep personal experiences.
Rafia, “I’m trying to keep the number of participants under the age of 20 because people are opening more easily in smaller groups. In addition, we have a legal consultant to help participants, especially when women deal with long -term legal wars,” Rafia says. “However, I know that many women are facing restrictions that prevent them from participating in these camps. I am trying to carry out online sessions for them, or he adds.
Need a support system
Rafia Ali is the founder of Break Free Stories
Subsequent camps took place in Alappuzha and Kozhikode, and then watched an international session in Dubai. Rafia, “I had to make a personal visit to Dubai, and during this time Vipanchika Maniyan (the 18 -month -old daughter in Sharjah and the dowry harassment of the 32 -year -old Kerala woman) tragic death attracted the attention of the important media,” he says.
He points out that many women choose to leave India after divorce to get rid of trauma and stigmatization. “I was taking many investigations from Dubai and the meeting was planned as a two -day stay. However, that night the women could not sleep as they cried, hugged each other and confirmed that their trauma had no mistakes.
Rafia explains that her wandering experience in the emotional turmoil of the divorce encourages her to create free stories. “I am divorced myself and the process was incredibly difficult for me, even with a strong family and friend support system, or he says. “Later, when I started creating online content, many people started to reach me. I quickly realized that countless women are fighting with the stress of divorce and sorrow without support. This is what makes me organize the first camp.”
Find a common ground
Many women come to meetings with a lot of concern, but quickly discover a comfortable and supportive environment. As a participant, “It is a place where you can easily connect easily. We are besieged by women offering an unmistakable understanding. Interaction with them created a sense of belonging and strengthened myself. It is also a good experience to see that women embrace their real selves for the first time.”
Break Free Stories turned into an Instagram page and then into a community that connects thousands of people with over a hundred women. While notifications about the upcoming camps and videos have gained many opinions, the platform sees negative interpretations, including those related to the “gap”, and argues that women should focus on finding new partners instead. “My Instagram page is really bad, but it’s okay, Raf Rafia says Undertered. “When you find the right person, marriage is good, but the end of a relationship is not the end of life and this is the message I want to spread.”
(Help to overcome suicide thoughts are available in Tele-Manas 14416.)
navamy.sudhish@thehindu.co.in
Published – 21 August 2025 09:49
