Kerala woman launches first‑ever ‘Divorce Camp’ to help divorcees, widowed and separated women

Rafia Afi, a divorcee herself, sensed the heavy stigma attached to divorce in Kerala.

In a bold move to challenge deep-seated social taboos around divorce in India, Calicut-based content creator Rafia Afi recently organised what is believed to be Kerala’s first-ever divorce retreat — a wellness initiative aimed at helping women who are divorced, separated or widowed find healing, community, and joy.

The camp, named Break Free Stories, took place in a serene natural setting and was designed as a safe space for women to connect with others facing similar circumstances, share their stories, and rediscover happiness. It included a range of therapeutic and uplifting activities, such as dancing, storytelling, group bonding sessions and blindfolded confessions — all curated to foster emotional release and solidarity.

A video of the camp, shared by Afi on Instagram, captured moments of women dancing under the open sky, laughing, singing, and forming new friendships. One particularly poignant segment showed participants sitting in a circle, blindfolded, as they took turns sharing personal experiences, creating a deeply intimate and non-judgemental atmosphere.

The caption accompanying the viral video encapsulated the emotional essence of the retreat: “We laughed like kids. We cried like warriors. We screamed into the mountains. We danced under the stars. We shared stories no one else understood. Strangers became soul sisters. And somewhere between bonfires and breakthroughs… we broke free.”

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The clip quickly went viral and sparked an outpouring of praise from social media users who lauded the initiative as both powerful and necessary.

“These women show amazing courage—deep respect to them!" one user wrote.

“As a Keralite, I feel this is a great initiative. These camps can really heal people,” commented another.

“How fabulous and also so healing,” added a third.

“Nothing beats women helping other women. This was much needed,” said another voice of support.

The retreats so far:

May, Vagamon, Idukki: The two‑day inaugural camp welcomed 17 women who travelled by bus from Ernakulam and camped in tents on a misty tea estate. Activities included team cooking, blindfolded storytelling sessions, treks, games, and fireside chats.

June, Alappuzha: The second retreat offered boating, fishing, local sightseeing and legal guidance from musician‑lawyer Zaki J, who attended both camps. Zaki provided informal advice to those navigating divorce proceedings.

A recent third camp in Calicut included participants from Telangana; the fourth is scheduled for July 19-20, and future plans include camps for single mothers, entrepreneur support, and events in the UAE, according to The Nod. 

Sofiya, from Thrissur, married at 17 due to parental pressures. Following a turbulent union, she separated in 2023 and struggled with clinical depression. She recalled: “After my marriage ended, I couldn’t eat, sleep, bathe or go for work,” and added that the retreat helped her reconnect socially: “The camp was a non‑judgemental space where there were no restrictions… It reminded me of my school trips, and I was so happy after 18 years," she told The Nod.

Afi, a divorcee herself, sensed the heavy stigma attached to divorce in Kerala. Explaining her motivation to The Nod, she said: “I thought I was alone in my grief. But when I started sharing my story on social media, I realised hundreds of women were silently suffering, too. That’s when the seed for the camp was planted.”

Despite supportive family and friends, she recalls the common sympathetic reaction: “And they would always say ‘ayyo’… They don’t have to feel sorry for me as it was my decision," she told The Nod.