Hey, my name is Cayla Rodrigues (Indian, 18), a student at UWC Atlantic, Wales.

I will be shaving my head, like I did last year, to raise awareness and funds for Rape Crisis England & Wales, an organisation dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence and advocating for their justice.

By choosing Rape Crisis England and Wales, I want to highlight that sexual violence is not a third world country problem. Public outrage worlwide similar cycles: shock, grief, anger, headlines, promises of reform and then exhaustion. Names trend, vigils are held, statements are issued but eventually attention drifts elsewhere. From Nirbhaya in India to Sarah Everard in the UK and maybe even the Epstein files in the US, they are treated as independant tragedies instead of symptoms of systemic failure. Different countries means different contexts, but they have the same fundamental logic: control over bodies, silencing of survivors, and institutions prioritising their own protection and betterment over accountability

This is experienced by people worldwide, it is humiliating, degrading and a severe breach of their Human Rights(among other things). By shaving my head, I’m taking a stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, using this as a call to action. I want to honour the courage and resilience of those affected, while raising funds to help them access the support and justice they deserve.

By shaving my head, I’m taking a stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, using this as a call to action. I want to honour the courage and resilience of those affected, while raising funds to help them access the support and justice they deserve.

Any amount of donation or even sharing the link to this fundraiser will make an impact! I am extremely grateful for your support to a cause that means so much to me.

More about Rape Crisis England & Wales:

Rape Crisis England & Wales is a feminist organisation that supports the work of Rape Crisis Centres across England and Wales. They raise awareness and understanding of sexual violence and abuse in all its forms and serve as the national umbrella body for a network of autonomous Rape Crisis Centres.