Building a better future for children and women in the Himalayas
Sahyog International Foundation (SIF) is an independent U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through education, disability rights, and rural development.
Sahyog International Foundation holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), allowing us to advocate for inclusive development and support sustainable social programs globally.
While working in the National Capital Region, Gurgaon, Dr. Narender Sharma, a clinical psychologist, was moved to see the plight of intellectually disabled children from remote areas of the Himalayas. They did not have any kind of professional support in their rural communities and their parents were too poor, ignorant, or scared to send their kids to big cities.
Dr. Sharma made the biggest decision of his life. He quit his cozy job in the metropolis and started Sahyog Schools for disabled children in the rural Himalayas in 1997 with just five children.
Since then, Dr. Sharma's efforts have changed lives of over 2,000 children through Sahyog's residential and home-based programs. However, there are thousands more disabled children in the region who need professional care and support. Dr. Sharma's dream is to reach out to these left out less fortunate children.
As awareness about intellectual disability grows among people, the demand for support services has risen astronomically. However, there is still hardly any infrastructure and professional staff available in these rural areas. The governments are not in a position to meet their specialized needs and the nonprofit sector is still very weak in this specialized field.
In the small state of Himachal Pradesh, thousands of intellectually disabled children are still living marginalized and neglected. Even in urban areas, the situation is grim, as there is only one special educator per 7 schools.
In recent years, Sahyog has not only expanded its operations for intellectually challenged people but has also started a Half-Way Home for adults who are recovering from mental illness, as well as opened a Women Shelter Home for victims of domestic violence.
To mobilize Indian-Americans and the international community at large, Sahyog International Foundation was established in the United States in 2009 as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Foundation raises funds and provides grant support to partner initiatives, including community development programs operated by Sahyog Bal Shravan Viklang Kalyan Samiti (Sahyog India) and other aligned partners.
The mission of Sahyog International Foundation is to advance the lives of children with disabilities and vulnerable women by fostering independence, dignity, and inclusion through education, rehabilitation, and care in the Himalayas. It mobilizes Indian-Americans and the international community at large in support of this mission.
A world where every child with special needs receives the education and care they deserve, and every woman lives free from violence and discrimination, with equal opportunities for growth and dignity.
We approach every individual with empathy, understanding, and unconditional support.
We believe in building capacity and self-reliance rather than creating dependency.
We work hand-in-hand with local communities to create sustainable change.
Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, you can make a difference in the lives of children and women in the Himalayas.