ABOUT

MISSION

Banteay Srei is a youth development, asset building organization that is non-judgmental of young SEA women who are at risk of or engaged in the underground sex trade. We seek to provide the resources that support their healthy development through self empowerment and self determination.

BANTEAY SREI – OUR BEGINNINGS

In 2004, health counselors, social workers and educators from Asian Health Services, the East Bay Asian Youth Center and Oakland Unified School District, recognized a rising trend of sexual exploitation and recruitment amongst Southeast Asian women and girls in Oakland.  After seeking resources and concluding that the only existing resources to respond to the needs of this population were situated in juvenile hall, Banteay Srei was formed. Banteay Srei was created in order to meet the needs of this specific population with a culturally relevant approach.

Banteay Srei is a safe space for young Southeast Asian and Asian American women, that promotessexual health education, community building activities and leadership development to foster cultural pride, and self-determination for women at-risk of or suffering from sexual exploitation. Banteay Srei provides social, peer and intergenerational support, healing arts, reproductive health education, life skills-building and leadership development. The name Banteay Srei comes from an ancient temple in Cambodia which means “the women’s temple”- built to honor female deities and representing strength, unity, and safety. This name was chosen to inspire a space that would be created to honor women and provide tools for self-empowerment.

BOARD & STAFF

Elizabeth Sy

Board President | Co-Founder


Rany Ath

Board Member


Narinda Heng

Board Member


Mia Nakano

Board Member


Monica Hoang

Board Member


Hamida Yusufzai

Program Manager


Paige Logan

Volunteer Goddess


Rita Phang

Volunteer Goddess


Nyia Luna

Artist in Residence 2023


Kaliyah Greene

Writer in Residence 2023


Jaide Lin

MOVE Fellow


Lea Akima

All Seasons Consultant


Sophie Tran

Bong Srei


Ngoc Ta

Bong Srei


Daisy Okazaki

Summer Consultant


Pei Yi Tam Peng

Summer Consultant


Leilani Prak

Summer Consultant


SUPPORTERS