Actress-turned-activist Somy Ali, founder of the US-based NGO No More Tears, says the organisation is currently witnessing some of the most disturbing and diverse cases of abuse in its 18-year journey.
Speaking exclusively to Downtown Mirror Weekly, she opened up about the survivors the NGO is assisting, how she copes emotionally, and why sustained financial support remains a lifeline for the mission.
Somy Ali on Rescuing Survivors from Abuse and Trafficking
Sharing recent cases, Somy Ali said the NGO is receiving a mix of emergencies from across age groups, genders and regions.
“One of the cases that shook us was of a woman in her early twenties sexually abused by her military husband who used his network to shield himself,” she said. The survivor, isolated and controlled for years, finally called No More Tears in fear that “no one would believe her.” The NGO provided her with trauma-informed counselling, legal protection and a laptop to restart her life.’
In another case, the team helped a Mumbai-based teenage boy who was brutally beaten over his sexual orientation. “He had no adult supporting him,” Somy Ali shared. “In just a few days, we moved him to safety, coordinated with law enforcement, and helped secure his education. Today, he is pursuing a degree in pharmaceuticals.
The third case involved a mother and her two children escaping long-term domestic violence. “She apologised again and again just for asking for help,” Somy shared. The NGO arranged temporary housing, a job and vehicle repairs. “Watching her kids sleep peacefully for the first time reminded me why this work matters.”
Handling traumatic cases daily takes a toll, Somy Ali admitted. “I don’t see myself as a rescuer; I’m a witness and a bridge. Survivors don’t need to be fixed — they need to be believed, protected and supported.”
Somy Ali emphasised the importance of boundaries: “Trauma-informed care applies to survivors, but also to those helping them. I rely on therapy, reflection and a strong team. Empathy means standing beside someone without collapsing.”
What keeps her going is seeing survivors reclaim their agency. “The moment someone realises they are not broken and not at fault — it’s like oxygen,” she said.
The Emotional Impact of Emergency Calls on the NGO Team
Somy Ali also reflected on how her own past led to the birth of the NGO.
- “I didn’t start No More Tears because I healed first — I started it because I hadn’t,” she said.
- “Unspoken pain doesn’t disappear; it multiplies. Transforming trauma into service became part of my healing.”
- Healing, she said, isn’t linear. “Some days are harder even now. Strength isn’t about forgetting — it’s about choosing life again and again.”
- ‘Rescue is only the beginning — funding decides what happens after’
Highlighting the constant need for financial support, Somy Ali stressed that rescue alone cannot change outcomes.
“We offer safe housing, therapy, legal support, relocation services, educational assistance, and long-term reintegration,” Somy Ali said. Without sustained funding, survivors risk returning to the same systems that harmed them.”
Calling support an investment in human lives, Somy Ali added, “Transparency and accountability matter. Governments, private donors and everyday citizens all have a role. When we fund survival, we change outcomes. When we fund healing, we change generations.”
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