The Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) provides medical treatment and other forms of support to the survivors of violent acid attacks in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Uganda and Pakistan.

ASTI is currently seeking funding:

  • To send voluntary teams into the field. This includes surgical, physical rehabilitation, psycho-social rehabilitation and management support teams.
  • To cover the start-up costs for burns violence projects in India and Nepal, and maintain running costs here in the UK.

Can you help?

Contact us about supporting ASTI

ASTI helps victims of violent, premeditated attacks involving acid by treating the survivors and training local medical staff. As well, they support the victims, who are frequently young women but also men and children, and their families as they deal with the psychological, emotional and economic impacts of an acid attack.

ASTI also works in the longer-term, with a network of partners who, through lobbying, education and the prosecution of perpetrators, aim to eradicate acid violence.

Our assessment:

  • ASTI, the only international organisation addressing this difficult topic, works effectively with local Acid Survivor Foundations, and takes a particularly sensitive approach to the emotive cultural issues involved.
  • The use of committed and highly skilled volunteers, including plastic surgeons, not only has a huge effect on the survivors of these devastating attacks but also makes use of their specialist experience to enhance the skills of local partners.
  • ASTI's success is evident; since the charity was founded in 1999, the number of acid attacks has dropped steadily.

Quick facts

Location: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Uganda and UK
Sector: Health, Education, Women
Annual income: £65,674 (2008)
Annual expenditure: £54,858
Number of paid staff: 3 Part Time
Registration: UK Registered charity 1079290.
Registered 7th February 2000.
Date of most recent contact with Prospero: Information update: August 2009