Not for profit organizations in America making an impact in South Asian communities. Doing their bit for the South Asian community in the USA, these organizations are striving to make a difference. South Asian communities in the USA have their own set of challenges but there are some non-profit organizations who are making an inclusive case for their wellbeing. We list a few of them who are doing pioneering work.
Sakhi for South Asian Survivors
Started in 1989, Sakhi is leading the survivor-led movement against gender-based violence. Among their services are a helpline for trauma, counselling, advocacy, housing assistance, and more so that the survivor has a helping hand as they try to restitch their lives. The way Sakhi works is twofold. One to create an eco-system to dismantle the root causes of violence and two by giving sanctuary and facilities for survivors and their families. Their work has had several positive outcomes including freedom from violence and fear, housing, food, and healthcare security, economic independence, access to education, healing, emotional well-being, hope, liberation, access to happiness and leadership in the advocacy space.
Indian American Impact
On a mission to protect American democracy and empower voices of Indian American and South Asian communities, Indian American Impact ensures that every level of government reflects the diversity and values of the people it serves.
Impact is working to ensure there is a space for all and equity for all Americans to have the same kind of opportunities. They are working to ensure that all the persistent structural injustices to South Asian communities are mitigated by the Government. They work on developing policy ideas in partnership with other communities of color to understand the similar kind of problems being faced. Some of their focus areas of work include pathways to citizenship, innovation and entrepreneurship, racial equity, and inclusion, voting rights, global climate crisis and healthcare equity and access.
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
Empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women to take control of their life, NAPAWF works on reproductive rights, anti-Asian violence, economic justice, and immigration rights and grassroot concerns that bother these communities. They empower women to shape policy and influence cultural change as part of their core mission and have completed over 25 years of doing this. Some of their focus areas of work include the freedom to make decisions about bodies, sexuality, and reproductive health as well as economic Justice and equal pay for AAPI women. They also work on immigrant rights for families to thrive with access to quality and affordable healthcare, and racial justice for AAPIs to live free from hate and racism.
South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)
A not for profit entity, SAADA works to ensure that people from the South Asian diaspora and their stories are showcased through an archival project. They do this through documenting, preserving, and sharing stories of South Asian Americans over the last 16 years. They have an archive of over 5600 publicly accessible Asian American stories and have delivered over 141 presentations and held events at venues across the country. using storytelling projects, exhibits, artistic partnerships, walking tours, lesson plans, and books to ensure that immigrants are central to the story of America’s past, present, and future.
Maitri
Maitri is a non-profit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area, that is a free and confidential service that helps families and individuals from South Asia who are victims of domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, or family conflict. Their helpline which is the first contact method provides responsive crisis intervention and counseling.
They offer transition homes for victims and help survivors find affordable housing after. They offer a legal advocacy service for immigration assistance and represent survivors and train them to be economically independent and partner with organizations for their job placement.
DRUM (Desis Rising Up And Moving)
Founded in 2000, DRUM helps South Asian low-wage immigrant workers and youth in New York City and organizes leadership training for young South Asians. With over 5000 members from the Asian diaspora, DRUM works on daily outreach in schools, workplaces, communities and does monthly workshops, trainings to build the skills in the field of policy change campaigns and social justice issues.
They also run campaigns to reform policies on immigration, civil rights, education, and labor rights at the city, state, federal, and international levels. They also collaborate with diverse communities to ensure there is a social justice movement for change.
SAAFC (South Asian Americans for Change)
South Asian Americans for Change (SAAFC) is a non profit organization committed to dismantling the stigma of mental health and promoting emotional, physical, and social wellbeing through arts, education and community-building events. SAAFC is united by a shared commitment to break down the barriers surrounding mental health discussions within the South Asian community.
It champions the use of arts, education, and community engagement as powerful tools for fostering understanding, support, and healing. Their vision is to build a future where mental health is no longer a taboo topic but a fundamental aspect of our community’s discourse.
