Sakhi structured its programming to follow a two-pronged approach in addressing domestic violence within the South Asian community:

1. We provide a safe place, support, friendship, and a full-range of culturally-sensitive, language-specific services to South Asian women facing abuse in their lives; and,
2. We work to inform, actively engage, and mobilize the South Asian community in the movement to end violence against women forever.

We work towards our mission and vision through the following program components.

Domestic Violence Program

The Domestic Violence Program offers a full range of culturally-sensitive, linguistically-appropriate services including: crisis response, safety-planning, and ongoing emotional support; accompaniments, translation assistance and advocacy in court, during healthcare visits, and at public benefits and welfare agencies; monthly support groups; connections to counseling, low-cost or free health consultations and exams, public benefits, and shelter and/or housing. Each year, Sakhi’s Domestic Violence Advocate team supports hundreds of South Asian women facing abuse in their lives.

Economic Empowerment Program

The Economic Empowerment Program provides survivors of violence with opportunities to build skills that strengthen their capacity to be self-sufficient. This program incorporates an economic justice perspective that translates the direct work Sakhi does with survivors of domestic violence to advocacy with multiple stakeholders – from legislators to community leaders to related movements for social justice.  This work is especially critical today as only now are the full effects of the global financial crisis on survivors of domestic violence becoming wholly apparent. We currently provide case management, workshops and trainings, and scholarships to women so that they can access public benefits, jobs, credit, banking and other forms of support so that they can reach their goals of self-sufficiency and safety.

Women’s Health Initiative

We educate and inform survivors – as well as healthcare providers and the larger community – about the effects of violence on women’s mental, physical, and sexual health. Sakhi has transformed the WHI to become a women’s reproductive health and justice-focused program that explores the link between violence and health – particularly focusing on reproductive choices and decision-making. This work is extremely important as there are hardly any resources or studies that specifically focus on the reproductive health ramifications of domestic violence amongst the South Asian Diaspora in the United States.

Community Engagement and Media Program

Sakhi is a social change organization. We believe that in order to build a violence-free society, we must engage all members of our community in the responsibility of condemning domestic violence.

Each year, Sakhi also organizes or participates in forums, meetings, conferences, marches, panels, and other outreach/education events. We also work with community- based partners, the South Asian and mainstream media, schools, universities, religious institutions, and community and cultural centers to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence.