Somy Ali, actor-turned-activist and founder of the non-profit organisation No More Tears (NMT), says her NGO is entering a brand new phase—one that reminds her of the early days back in 2007. “I literally feel like I am back in 2007 when NMT was first initiated,” she says. “These are one of the most challenging times for us.” With all her board members having completed their term limits and donors shifting their attention to other grassroots initiatives, Somy has taken this moment as an opportunity to restructure. One of the first steps has been to amend the board term limits, reducing them from eight to four years. In addition, the organisation is now opening up board membership to individuals across the globe, including South America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. The NMT bylaws require an odd number of board members—between three and thirteen—for voting purposes. She says, “Yes, board members can now be from anywhere in the world,” she confirms. “I’m reaching out to people everywhere, explaining what it means to be part of NMT. It’s a privilege, really. We’ve won two U.S. Presidential awards and many other prestigious accolades. Plus, my celebrity status does help boost the visibility of the charity.” Unlike many other organisations, No More Tears operates on an extremely lean model. Somy states, “No one takes a salary. That’s unheard of. Most people in my position draw salaries of $750K to $900K a year. But here, our administrative costs are less than 1%—because we don’t have a staff. I’m the president and the plumber,” she laughs. “I work directly with victims. That’s my training and that’s what I love—being in the middle of the action. Whether it’s filing protective orders or helping develop recovery plans, I’m there.” Donations for the NGO can come from anywhere, and in fact, they do. “We’ve had donors from Australia, Venezuela, even India,” says Somy. The organisation is also launching a new t-shirt campaign aimed at raising awareness and funds. “These t-shirts come with powerful messages. When someone wears one, they become a walking billboard and a conversation starter for us.”
With the current board having completed their terms, Somy is actively sending out email blasts and exploring new communities to join the cause. “It’s not easy,” she admits. “You want genuinely good people. But nice doesn’t save a nine-year-old from being sold to a sex trafficking ring. Money does. That’s the reality. It’s a Catch-22—we need people with both empathy and the financial capacity to truly help.” As of now, the NGO is working on 12 active cases in its safe house. Seven of those involve human trafficking victims, both male and female—including two minors aged 11 and 14. Two are LGBTQ+ victims of domestic violence. The remaining three are survivors of rape and physical assault. With half the year already over, Somy is looking ahead with fierce determination. “We’ve saved 50,484 lives in the past 18 years. But this is not about counting numbers. It’s about counting people whose lives will never again be sold or abused. I intend to work twice as hard once our new board is fully set up. No matter how many obstacles come my way—and trust me, there are many—I won’t give up. This is my calling.”
