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2024 in progress

SAYI brings together more than 600 students from across the United States.

"SAYI 2021 was an incredible experience where I had the opportunity to discuss key issues relating to South Asians both in the US and abroad. I could not be more thankful for a platform that brings to light the voices of many among the South Asian diaspora." 

- 2021 Conference Attendee

WHAT IS SAYI?

The South Asian Youth Initiative at Yale for the past decade has been dedicated to providing a platform for South Asians and South Asian-Americans to engage in activism, meaningful discussions, and foster solidarity in South Asia. It proudly stands as the largest conference of its kind in North America.

 

Earlier this year, Yale successfully hosted our first post-Covid conference, attracting over 500 students from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Brown, and MIT. Our event featured notable public figures including Masood Khan (the Pakistani Ambassador to the United States), Aneesh Chopra (Chief Technology Officer under Barack Obama), Sal Khan (Founder of Khan Academy), Sima Taparia (from Indian Matchmaking), Anirudh Pisharody (Never Have I Ever), as well as numerous grassroots activists, UN consultants, and journalists on our panel discussions.

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We aim to create community amongst young South Asians and South Asian-Americans from all over the US while also serving as a forum for activism, discussion, and solidarity. 

MISSION

 2023-2024 EXECUTIVE BOARD 

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Daliya Habib

Co-Director

Daliya Habib hails from Dubai, UAE, with roots in Karachi, Pakistan. She is involved in directing and producing film and theater productions around campus, performing with the sketch comedy group The Fifth Humour and recently was involved in co-directing the Yale Student Film Festival.

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Keya Gupta

Co-Director

Keya is from New Delhi, India and is majoring in Anthropology and History. In addition to planning SAYI, she is heavily involved with the film and theatre space at Yale, the international students community, as well as dances with Yale Rangeela and the Modern Dance Collective.

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Uma Bery

Treasurer

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Omar Ali

Publicity

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Alina Vaidya Mahadevan

Operations

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Wineth De Zoysa

 Social Events Chair

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Sarah Saleem

Graphics

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Nikita Paudel

Panel Curator

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Devika Kothari

Panel Curator

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Amalya Cleland

Panel Curator

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Pempem Dorji

Panel Curator

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