Our Mission
To support the next generation of South Asian* youth in creating a world of peace, justice, and understanding — within their own lives, within their communities, and alongside their friends of all backgrounds.
Know your roots
Know your history. Know where you come from.
Where you come from shapes where you are headed.
Did you know that Banyan Trees drop baby roots from their branches that hang down? Those roots grow down into the soil until they become trunks, trees, and then forests of their own.
Branch OUT
Explore your passions, self-expression and cultural expression.
All parts of your identity and heritage are important.
Did you know the Thimmamma Marrimanu Banyan in Andhra Pradesh holds a Guinness World Record for the largest canopy spread of any tree, covering over 5 acres? That’s branching out!
Grow Together
Build lifelong friendships.
Caring relationships are the foundation of healthy people and healthy communities.
Did you know the word "banyan" comes from “bania,” meaning trader? The Portuguese saw people gathering and trading under these massive trees everywhere in India, and so named it after the traders. But the Banyan Trees was a place to gather and grow together - not just for trade. Silly colonizers!
*By South Asian, we mean people with an ancestor that originated from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Afghanistan, and the Maldives — including diasporas from the Caribbean, Fiji, Africa, and elsewhere. We know that the term “South Asian” doesn’t roll off the tongue quite like “Punjabi” or “Sri Lankan” or “Guyanese.” We use the term “South Asian” to communicate that we want to be a space for all of us with this shared history and culture.
Our Programs
We fulfill this mission through our camps, clubs, and classes based in Berkeley, CA, designed for the specific needs of each age group.
Youth
Elementary & Middle School
Join our year-round classes and summer camps to build lifelong friendships, and learn about South Asian history/languages with fun, hands-on activities, in a secular, inclusive, equity-rooted setting
Teens
High School
Backpack in California, travel to South Asia, or join the year-round Seed Fellowship to learn about South Asian history/languages while exploring the world around you, building lifelong friends, discovering your passions, and giving back through volunteering
Adults
18+ years old
We know adults are just big kids, so we offer versions of our youth programs for adults through our adult summer camps, classes, and clubs, including our monthly Trivia Night, Book Club, Movie Night, Natural History Hikes, Political Action Circle, and more.
“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.”
Rabindranath Tagore
Our Curriculum
Each of our programs is designed around 6 themes:
1) History: We bring South Asian diasporic history to life through compelling stories and hands-on activities. We make it relevant by tying it to family histories and contemporary issues, so we can see how our world is shaped by the past, and think critically about it.
2) Language: We want diasporic speakers to be able to learn South Asian languages. Losing a language can be a deep loss, yet acquiring a heritage tongue of a parent or grandparent is difficult. Our curriculum is designed specifically for diasporic learners.
3) Outdoor Exploration: Being in nature and being active is essential to young people’s mental health. We help participants learn about native plants, indigenous history and stories, and outdoor safety — so they can enjoy a lifetime of appreciating the earth!
4) Media & Storytelling: We publish stories made by young South Asian voices in our digital magazine, Mausam Magazine. We want our young people to discover the skill and power in using one’s voice across different mediums, and then use that voice to tell stories they don’t see in the media today.
5) Service: We train our youth to mentor their younger peers from the age of 11 onwards. We instill a love of care and service in our youth, so that they recognize that each life has an impact and purpose that exceed ourselves, and that we have a responsibility to live for those who will come after us.
6) Growth: We encourage our participants to take on challenges that are at the edge of their growth - whether that is working their first high school job at our summer camp, or backpacking for 5 days in the Sierras. Through this process, we seek to instill an unshakeable sense of hope and confidence.