“South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is honored to be a member of the Amplify Her Foundation’s first cohort of grantees. This support will allow SAYA to enhance and expand our well-established Young Women’s Leadership Program - extending our reach to provide targeted, holistic, and much-needed programming to even more female-identifying high school youth throughout Queens. Young women from AAPI and other minority and immigrant communities face numerous barriers to achieving success. Through increased exposure to culturally affirming leaders and learning environments, SAYA makes a meaningful impact on these students’ ability to learn and thrive, increasing their likelihood of excelling in school and beyond. We thank Amplify Her Foundation for recognizing the alignment of our missions and believing in our approach to empowering young women. This funding will be instrumental in helping SAYA’s programming reach many more young people. We look forward to an exciting and fruitful partnership.”
— Sonia B. Sisodia, Executive Director, South Asian Youth Action
MISSION
South Asian Youth Action (“SAYA”) works toward educational equity by providing opportunities and resources to underserved New York City youth, ensuring they are empowered academically, emotionally, and socially to become engaged community members. For 27 years, SAYA has provided vital, holistic, and intentional support and guidance to low-income, immigrant youth throughout Queens and New York City. SAYA remains distinctive by providing year-round, culturally-affirming offerings designed to meet the multiple needs of their participants and their communities. Their work helps young people from all backgrounds build a solid foundation for their educational, personal, and professional futures, while expanding access to and improving the quality of well-rounded educational experiences.
GRANT PURPOSE & IMPACT
Amplify Her Foundation funding will support South Asian Youth Action’s Young Women’s Leadership Program, a gender-based, youth leadership program designed to provide a culturally-affirming third space for female-identifying and gender expansive youth from underserved communities in Queens.
Their carefully designed program enhances critical thinking and decision-making skills; increases the practice of self-care; builds a sense of community and peer support; and helps youth thrive through increasing social and emotional learning capabilities. They provide ongoing, age-appropriate mentorship outside of the classroom, cultivating an inclusive, multicultural environment for their youth.
Programs run throughout the school year, from September to June, with program sessions offered twice weekly, focusing on advocacy and gender equity. For six weeks over the summer, between July and August, SAYA’s Elmhurst Center offerings continue Monday through Friday - with three Young Women’s Leadership sessions scheduled each week. Youth are welcome and encouraged to continue to attend.
Topics covered within SAYA’s Young Women’s Leadership programming include identity through the lens of the four elements of nature (air, fire, earth, water); social justice; community service; period poverty in New York City; and effective personal communication. Alongside these critical forms of self-expression, youth also learn beneficial skills such as personal finance, entrepreneurship, and negotiation to help them grow their autonomy and independence throughout their time at SAYA, in college, and beyond.
With support from the Amplify Her Foundation, 100 female-identifying youth in Queens will receive leadership development programming through South Asian Youth Action’s Young Women’s Leadership Program, covering topics such as building self-awareness and confidence, communication and conflict resolution skills, and self-care practice.
