Sakhi for South Asian Women is a community-based organization in the New York metropolitan area committed to ending violence against women of South Asian origin. Recognizing oppression based on class, immigration status, religion, and sexual orientation, Sakhi works to empower women, particularly survivors of domestic violence. Sakhi strives to create a voice and safe environment for all South Asian women through service delivery, outreach, advocacy, leadership development, and organizing.

Founded in 1989 by a group of five South Asian women, Sakhi was created to support and serve survivors of domestic violence, and mobilize and organize the South Asian community. Sakhi, meaning “women friend,” filled a critical need - in spite of an abundance of religious and cultural centers, professional associations, and ethnic-specific groups within New York City’s large South Asian immigrant population, there was no place for women to address the silenced subject of domestic violence.

Sakhi serves women from diverse backgrounds, ranging in age (twenty to sixty-six), religion, years of marriage, ethnic origin, economic and educational background, language ability, and immigration status. Though the South Asian women who contact Sakhi for help are extremely diverse in terms of class and economic background, the largest and most vulnerable group they support consists of first-generation immigrant women - often times low-income women with limited resources who are unaware of their rights, and isolated from family and community support.

In its fifteen-year history, Sakhi estimates to have responded to thousands of survivors of domestic abuse. In 2003, Sakhi received the most new pleas for help from survivors of domestic violence in its history – 515 new calls or e-mails. Sakhi is currently averaging fortyfive to fifty new calls per month, and is expecting to respond to more than 550 women in 2004. With the support of the community and generous donors, Sakhi strives to ensure South Asian women’s safety and ability to achieve a healthy lifestyle and economic selfsustainability. Growing from an organization founded by five dedicated volunteers, Sakhi now has six full-time and two part-time employees, seven Board members, an internship program with two to six interns, and sixty active volunteers.

Additional Resources: View video of the award presentation to SAKHI at the AILF event December 3, 2004, in New York. www.sakhi.com