Mission Statement

DAYA promotes healthy family relationships in the South-Asian community by providing services that include counseling, referrals, legal advocacy, and financial support to women and children affected by family violence and sexual assault. Daya also promotes awareness on topics relevant to the welfare of South Asian families through educational seminars, publications, and outreach events.

 

History

DAYA was founded in July 1996 by a few determined women who recognized the need for a structured, culture-sensitive avenue of help for South-Asian families in the Houston area.  The founding members chose the name DAYA, meaning “compassion” in Sanskrit.  In September 1996, DAYA made its formal debut as a voluntary non-profit organization by announcing the opening of its helpline.  Since then, DAYA has been striving to help women, children and families in crisis with the compassion and respect they deserve.

 

DAYA client advocates are comprised of South Asian and other culturally competent staff, which allows us to: communicate in the client’s native language; provide counseling; explain legal and immigration laws and information about rights; provide relief assistance and referrals for attorneys, housing, counseling, medical care, education, employment, transportation, ethnic food, clothing, child care and other necessary services; provide transitional housing as necessary; and conduct community outreach and education events.

 

The services Daya provides can engender a sense of empowerment and autonomy critical to the successful self-determination of South Asian women and halt the legacy of generational abuse for herself and her children.

 

Board and Staff Members

» Link to Daya Board & Staff Members

 

Statistics

» Information on global statistics on domestic violence and Daya client statistics