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Our History

  • 1995: Raksha is founded by Sunita Iyer

 

  • 1997: Raksha helps create International Women’s House and co-founds Tapestri

 

  • 1998: Raksha hires its first executive director, Aparna Bhattacharyya

 

  • 1999: Raksha holds its first annual fundraiser, Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam

 

  • 2000: Raksha receives Gandhi Foundation award

 

  • 2004: Raksha holds its first Break the Silence Symposium

 

  • 2008: Raksha receives Asian American Women Leadership Development Grant from Center for Pan Asian Community Services;

 

  • Raksha joins 30 organizations to form the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations

 

  • Raksha ED, Aparna receives Gender Justice Award (Georgia Commission on Family Violence) and Deborah McDorman Award (DeKalb County Domestic Violence Task Force)

 

  • 2010: Raksha hosts first panel with South Asian faith leaders addressing domestic violence

 

  • 2011: Raksha ED invited to White House Celebration for Asian & Pacific Islander Awareness Month; Hosts meeting with White House Initiative on AAPIsCreates national webinar on religion and survivor empowerment

 

  • 2012 : Raksha receives We Build Community Grant (SAALT); Oak Foundation Grant to begin Engaging Men initiative; Expands individual counseling services; Organizes immigrant survivor rights panel (GA Commission on Family Violence); AT&T APCA school supply partnership (16 children)

 

  • 2014: Awarded Emory University Rollins School of Public Health MLK Community Service Award, 3-year Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) Grant; Raksha ED receives Distinguished Alumni Service Award (Georgia State University); Expands counseling & play therapy services; Launches financial literacy/asset building work (API Institute on DV); Community computer classes begin for client economic empowerment

 

  • 2014-2015: Beneficiary of Salim Sulaiman Conference; Executive Director trains USCIS adjudicators (Vermont Service Center); Raksha ED recognized by Desi Express Magazine; Raksha Youth Group launched; First Raksha Club started at a local school

 

  • 2016: Gwinnett County DA Office Victims Voice Award; Raksha ED recognized as “Smart Woman” (Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund); Launch of Because We Have Daughters curriculum session; Staff faculty participation in Georgia Victim Assistance Academy; Expanded trauma therapy training (Somatic Experiencing)

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  • 2017: Advocacy Success - USCIS implements H-4 Employment Authorization for survivors; Receives Tapestri’s Partner of the Year Award, Community Champion Award (SAPHA); Launches Raksha Radio podcast; Receives Allstate Purple Purse Grant (financial literacy + savings program); Youth clubs launched in multiple high schools ; 2018 Caminar Latino Journey Award

 

  • 2018: Raksha launches the Community Liaison initiative; LGBTQ Immigrant cultural competency training cohort formed; Staff serve on Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Strategic Plan

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  • 2019: Raksha hosts its inaugural Art Show; Recognized by Emory School of Medicine as Outstanding Community Partner; Receives GAPABA grant for legal fees; Funding from United Way & Fulton County provided $54,000 in rental assistance; Manisha completes National CAPACD Community in the Capitol Fellowship; Multiple staff receive professional licensure

 

  • 2022: Raksha’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month campaign recognized in NBC America’s AAPI Action article in May 2022 as #29 in the “100 ways Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and allies have found solutions to racism and violence”.

 

  • 2023: Empower Award from Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Raksha & Welcoming Atlanta :  APD DV Training for Non-English Speakers

 

  • 2024: Raksha celebrates 30-year anniversary

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  • 2025: Raksha Director of Programs, Anjali Guntur is invited to contribute as a speaker at the ‘Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms to Combat Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG)’ workshop series organized in 5 cities across in India by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR); Raksha is featured in several local publications and media, including 11AliveNews, CBS News, 285South.

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