Children & Youth
South Asian children and adolescents face unique challenges created by living between two cultures. We are developing services and referrals based on the following issues:
- Discrimination, bias.
- Acculturation (balancing/merging cultures)
- Model-minority stereotype/ label (cultural expectations placed on a certain minority group)
- Communication issues with family, community, society.
- Cultural and language barriers.
- Perpetual feeling of being an alien.
Ashiyanaa Youth Empowerment Program
The Ashiyanaa Youth Empowerment Program equips young South Asian-American changemakers with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to create lasting, positive change in their cultural communities. By tackling deeply rooted issues such as cultural stigma, intergenerational trauma, and systemic barriers to freedom, our program aspires to break the cycle of interpersonal violence in South Asian communities and inspire a new generation of socially conscious leaders.
The Youth Empowerment Program is supported by Ashiyanaa University Ambassadors, a dedicated group of college students who collaborate with Ashiyanaa experts to organize campus-based workshops on critical topics related to interpersonal violence, gender-based hierarchies, and advocacy in South Asian communities. Our University Ambassadors will lead social impact initiatives on campus to elevate South Asian voices, create safe spaces for open dialogue, and address the unique challenges faced by South Asian youth. In addition to receiving a stipend to plan events, ambassadors will gain valuable training during the program, allowing them to build a deeper understanding of South Asian society at large. Through these combined efforts, we aim to nurture the development of future South Asian youth leaders.
Become a University Ambassador
University students can apply to become University Ambassadors for Ashiyanaa. University Ambassadors will be responsible for coordinating directly with Ashiyanaa staff to organize one workshop series a semester. These workshops will focus on topics related to interpersonal violence prevention and awareness in South Asian communities, including gender-based hierarchies in South Asian communities, healthy relationships, mental health, etc.
Responsibilities of Ashiyanaa University Ambassadors will include:
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Connecting Ashiyanaa with South Asian organizations on campus that are interested in co-hosting workshops.
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Facilitating workshop planning and logistics, including booking campus space and ordering food.
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Promoting workshops widely on social media and mailing lists. Ambassadors will also be tasked with promoting Ashiyanaa and our services to reach students who may be struggling.
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Organizing yearly fundraisers for Ashiyanaa to promote our mission on your college campus.
University Ambassadors will receive a small stipend from Ashiyanaa to support event planning throughout the semester. Ambassadors may also qualify to receive college credit for their work depending on their institution.
Interested in becoming a University Ambassador? Apply today by filling out this short application: https://forms.gle/
