Message from the president
Winter 2020
A year ago, we were not even a pipe dream. Today, we are a family of volunteers and donors from across the United States who believe every woman should be able to raise her voice and determine her own destiny – and who have taken action to make that belief a reality. It is my honor to report on our first few months.
Our guiding stars are the inspiring women and girls in Rajasthan, India who are benefiting from Sambhali Trust’s programs. Facing a gauntlet of discrimination based on gender, caste, and poverty, they are finding ways over, above, and through those barriers to claim control over their lives.
Also inspiring are the donors and volunteers who have joined hands to support them through Sambhali U.S.
Our story so far:
Sambhali U.S. incorporated in the State of Maryland on July 2, 2019.
On October 5th we had our first Board meeting electing directors and officers, adopting bylaws and policies, and establishing committees.
After receiving 501(c)(3) status as a public charity from the Internal Revenue Service in late October, we formally launched our organization on November 15, 2019.
Together we have already raised funds to support the following Sambhali Trust programs:
Fatima Women’s Empowerment Center (full funding for 12 months)
Setrawa Women’s Empowerment Center (full funding for 3 months)
Fatima Primary Education Center (full funding for 15 months)
Shakti, Laadli, Abhaya and Setrawa Primary Education Centers (full funding for 3 months)
Aadarsh (full funding for 3 months)
Sheerni Boarding home (funding for 5 girls for a year)
SOS Helpline (partial funding for a year)
This represents over $35,000 in grants to Sambhali Trust programs. Nearly all of our overhead costs have been covered by in-kind donations enabling funds from donors to go directly to the programs we support. You can learn more about each of these projects here as well as on the Sambhali Trust website.
Led by our Board of Directors, volunteers are moving our efforts forward through six committees: Communications, Development, Executive, Finance, Governance and Board Development, and Volunteer Engagement.
We are on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. And we have begun efforts to recruit and support Americans to volunteer with Sambhali Trust in India.
Our story is just beginning. For those of you who are already a part of Sambhali U.S. thank you for opening your hearts to women and girls you may never meet but whose lives you cherish by your generosity of time, talents and funds.
For those interested in joining us, please let us know here. We welcome your wisdom, your passion, and your willingness to roll up your sleeves. It will make an enormous difference.
With abundant thanks,
Shereen
Shereen Arent
President, Sambhali U.S. Board of Directors
P.S. In late-January, I headed back to Jodhpur where I am volunteering for Sambhali Trust – as well as continue my duties as president of Sambhali U.S. – through mid-March. I look forward to sending you messages from India and maybe bringing us all a little closer together. I invite you to connect with us via our social media and repost our journey this year!