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 promotes sexual 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


Mia Nakano

Board Member


Monica Hoang

Board Member


Narinda Heng

Board Member


Hamida Yusufzai

Program Manager


Lily MacMillan

Community Health Advocate Goddess


Dani Miguel

Reproductive Wellness Goddess


Audrey Inouye

Indigenous Doctor in Residence


Lea Akima

Youth Ambassador


Leilani Prak

Youth Ambassador


Sasanna Yee

Mindful Movement Instructor


Paige Logan

Research Goddess


Rita Phang

Volunteer Goddess


Saphia Nguyen

Volunteer Goddess


Jamie Gatus

Volunteer Goddess


Nyia Luna

Artist in Residence


Kaylee Dang

Intern Goddess


Melissa Co

Intern Goddess


Mi Luong

Intern Goddess


Myka Soriano

Intern Goddess


Delia Zhou

Intern Goddess


SUPPORTERS