Letter from the Executive Director
About twenty years ago, I walked into my eighth grade class at PS 127 in the Bronx, newly arrived from Guyana. Like many of today's South Asian youth coming to America, I was daunted by the vastness and complexity of life in New York City and anxious about the opportunities and new experiences ahead.

Before the founding of SAYA! five years ago, South Asian immigrants, like me, had very few organized community resources to assist them in understanding, adjusting to, and succeeding in a new world that seemed so foreign.

Today, thanks to the former executive director, Sayu Bhojwani, our dedicated staff, Board members, volunteers, and community supporters who champion the work of SAYA!, hundreds of South Asian youth now benefit from the many SAYA! programs.

When I joined SAYA! as executive director in September 2001, I realized I had a big job ahead of me. I knew the challenges faced by South Asian youth in New York City were, in many ways, greater than those that I faced twenty years ago. But what I didn't know was that just one week after starting my new job, the community with which I now work would be facing one of its biggest collective crises.

The events of September 11th 2001 had a devastating impact on the lives of South Asian youth and their families. Existing challenges were worsened. Following the initial shock, many South Asian youth and families found themselves subjected to bias attacks, employment and housing discrimination, and racial profiling. Our youth were left feeling isolated and fearful for their future in America. As the only organization providing comprehensive services to South Asian youth in New York City, we had to act quickly. We strengthened and expanded our programs to address the new needs of our youth; we also worked harder to help our youth reclaim their sense of belonging in America.

Every day at SAYA! we see youth who become more confident, more connected, more skilled, and more secure. Our greatest inspiration is to see young people realize their gifts and achieve their dreams. Examples abound-from youth who overcome difficulties at school and get accepted to college, to young women who overcome shyness and learn to express themselves through writing and performance. We witness our young people evolving into community leaders and even reinvesting their newly discovered talents into serving as SAYA! Board members.

Moving forward, we are driven by a vision: South Asian and other immigrant youth will have access to all the supports and opportunities they need to create a bright future for themselves and their new homeland. We look forward to the day when our young people can thrive in America without any barriers. Until then: we are dedicated to creating social change and opportunities for South Asian youth to realize their fullest potential.

We thank our many supporters who believe in our work and provide us with moral, technical, and financial support. And most of all, we thank the SAYA! youth who inspire us every day with their ideas, their energy, and their passion for life. Young people are the foundation of SAYA!-with them we will continue to reach for new heights of achievement in the years ahead.

Annetta Seecharran
Executive Director
September 2001 to Present