Mission, Vision, Values

Supporting Survivors. Cultivating Healing. Building Accountable Communities.

 
Adults and children walking across a crosswalk on a march holding API Chaya signs.

OUR MISSION

API Chaya empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.  We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive. 

 
 
Adult and child hold up their art

OUR VISION

API Chaya envisions a just and equitable world free of violence and oppression. We partner and engage with community groups, providing education and organizing towards the prevention of domestic and sexual violence, exploitation and human trafficking. We do our work with an understanding of the cultural norms and stigmas associated with such violence and believe in the inherent strength and potential of our communities to facilitate this change.

API Chaya has served thousands of people and worked with dozens of community groups for community organizing and education regarding prevention of sexual and domestic violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.

 

OUR GUIDING VALUES

API Chaya claims these values as central towards realizing our mission. Each value is practiced and realized on every level including the individual, community and institutional. In a domestic violence situation, factors such as love, family expectations, cultural norms and immigrant status make oppression difficult to recognize and address. Just as expressions of oppression can be diverse and contradictory, we recognize that our responses may be diverse and contradictory as well. Hence we embrace the complexity of our world and resist the temptation to flatten and simplify our experiences.

  • A person with glasses holding an API Chaya sign that says "We believe survivors""

    We value integrity

    Integrity is the practice of making choices that reflect our values as we strive towards realizing API Chaya`s vision of a just and equitable world free of violence.  We at API Chaya believe that when we are open and transparent in our actions, we empower ourselves and the community to think critically and acknowledge the impact of our choices because where accountability is practiced, abuse has no place.

  • A person with a microphone with their left hand held up in a fist. There are people standing behind the person cheering.

    We value equity

    Equity is the principle of ensuring equal access to power, justice and resources. Inequity and abuse in relationships and communities are supported by larger systems of oppression which affects us all. API Chaya works towards the principle of equity and justice through social change

  • We Believe Survivors art

    We value agency

    Agency is the ability to make choices on one`s own behalf within the range or context of choices available. API Chaya strives to promote a world in which the agency of historically marginalized groups such as women, immigrants and LGBTQ individuals is recognized and supported.

  • 15 people posing for a photo with big smiles on their faces.

    We value community

    Communities occur when people are brought together through shared experiences and across differences. We envision communities taking an active role to foster equitable, just and loving relationships between individuals and groups of people.

  • Staff and volunteers speaking to each other

    We value sustainability

    Sustainability fosters strength, well being, joy at an individual and collective level. A strong organization and movement can only be achieved through balance, endurance and self care.

  • Person taking their citizenship oath

    We value dignity

    Dignity is the recognition of and respect for the inherent value of every individual and community, including those who have been victimized and those who have perpetuated abuse.