Our Mission:
Belong.
Grow.
Thrive.
SAYA aims to foster a strong sense of belonging in youth and provide them with tools to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.
SAYA aims to foster a strong sense of belonging in youth and provide them with tools to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.
SAYA takes a comprehensive approach to youth development - one that believes youth thrive when they have safe spaces to learn, lead, and contribute to their communities.
From visual arts and dance to basketball and volleyball, SAYA youth thrive in various forms of expression and sports. Wellness takes center stage with yoga and meditation sessions, while STEM enthusiasts delve into coding, robotics, and architectural modeling.
We expose high school and college youth to a range of professional paths and origin stories, empowering youth to make informed educational choices and set goals for their future.
Networking, a crucial skill, is honed during mixers where our youth connect with professionals, receiving valuable feedback on resumes and cover letters to enhance their candidacy for internships and jobs.
We offer empowering leadership programs for high school young women and men. In a culturally affirming space, they cultivate personal and social identities, acquire vital skills for mental and physical well-being, and benefit from valuable mentorship opportunities.
We support elementary and middle school youth with homework help, integrating academic skill-building into all projects and activities. High school students benefit from personalized tutoring, college advisement, free SAT prep classes, and enriching trips to explore both public and private college options.
SAYA serves a diverse group of youth, hailing from various ethnic and religious backgrounds - many of whom identify as South Asian, or are first- and second- generation immigrant youth of color.
Shuhao Ren (Senior Cohort, Elmhurst Center)
SAYA equips students for academic and personal fulfillment and to build skills that will help them thrive as adults.
By partnering with SAYA, you support our work toward education equity by providing opportunities and resources to New York City youth, ensuring they are empowered academically, emotionally, and socially to become engaged community members.
Contribute with a purpose.
SAYA offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, which occur at different times throughout the year.
Your support of SAYA makes a difference, and is key to advancing our mission.