WELCOME TO SAYVA
Northern VA, MD, DC
SAYVA TEENS: 8th - 12th Grade
JUNIOR SAYVA: 3rd - 7th Grade
Learn more about SAYVA from our Executive Team
SAYVA'S MISSION
Celebrate. Serve. Connect.
With small, and sometimes large, acts of kindness, everyone can make a difference!
WHAT IS SAYVA?
South Asian Youth Volunteer Association
(residing in VA, MD & DC )
SAYVA is a nonprofit, teen-led community service organization (501c3) dedicated to celebrating culture, serving others, and connecting people to make a difference.
Rooted in the Sanskrit word Seva - meaning to serve selflessly and with dedication, SAYVA empowers teens and ambassadors to lead with purpose. Through hands-on service projects, advocacy, and cultural celebrations, SAYVA creates opportunities for young leaders to uplift their communities while fostering meaningful connections across generations.
At SAYVA, we believe that celebrating who we are, serving with compassion, and connecting with one another builds stronger, more inclusive communities.
2020 - 2026
President: Sirisha Durbhakula
Executive Director: Chhavi Arya Bhargava
Cofounded in 2011 by former director Sumedha Mongia, MD.
Registration is now closed for 2025-2026 Year.
Registration will reopen June 2026.
QUICK LINKS:
SSL service hours for your school: Send us an email
Parent Volunteer Signup Genius
Parent Volunteer Roles & Reponsibilities
our 2025- 2026 executive team
CEO: Alisha Durbhakula
Co-COOs: Avni Patel & Shaan Khanna
Co-CAOs: Riya Wedam & Shreya Kella
CMO: Jaiden Bhargava
CFO: Kanav Kachoria
OUr Committee leaders
Editor & Chief SAYVA Speaks Blog + Website: Tara Bansal
Director of Fundraising: Aarav Chawla
Director of Outreach: Devan Charaipotra
Director of Sustainability: Kareena Gupta
VP Senior Friends: Diya Khetan
VP Party Project: Sohan Kilaru
VP Social Media Marketing: Aarav Shah
VP Advocacy Committee: Saanvi Lamba & Kriti Hota
VP Health & Wellness: Aakash Reddy & Arjun Jain
VP Cultural Committee: Nina Krishnan & Aashna Shah
VP Community Service: Kushi Rangnath & Malvika Patel
VP SAYVA JUNIORS: Neera Vyas & Asha Kolluri
Upcoming 2025/26 EVENTS:
SEPTEMBER
9/20/25 SAYVA Launch Event
Vienna Community Center
1:00-4:00 PM
OCTOBER
10/4/25: Kids/Teens Garba (not organized but supported by SAYVA)
NOVA Ernst Community Gymnasium
4-7PM
10/26/25: SAYVA Walk for Johns Hopkins Cancer Resource Center
C&O Canal, Potomac, MD 20854
10/30/25: SAYVA Party Project
NOVEMBER
11/15/25: SAYVA DIWALI Mock Wedding
Time: 6:30-11PM
Stacy Sherwood Community Center, Fairfax, VA
11/20/25: SAYVA Party Project
DECEMBER
12/07/25: SAYVA Holiday cookie and gift wrapping party
Time: 4:00PM-8:00PM
Holy Transfiguration Greek Church
8501 Lewinsville Road
McLean, VA 22102
JANUARY:
1/31/2026: SAYVA Polar Plunge with Special Olympics,
10:00 AM
Sandy Point State Park/ Annapolis MD
FEBRUARY:
Game Night/Day with Grandparents
MARCH:
3/7 or 3/8/2026: RISE AGAINST HUNGER
(TBD)
APRIL:
4/26/2026: Holi and Earth day
MAY:
5/17/2026: End of the Year Banquet and Senior Sendoff
OUR IMPACT 2024-2025
SAYVA teens made a tremendous impact through compassion, leadership, and hands-on service.
Fundraising Excellence
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Raised $30,000 for meaningful causes
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Contributed $10,000+ to the Tyanna Foundation, helping fund a nurse navigator system and a diagnostic imaging machine for breast cancer patients
Hands-On Service
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Prepared 200 sandwiches and 250 snack bags for the Seva Truck and local shelters
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Funded and packaged 17,000+ meals through the Rise Against Hunger Diwali Mock Fundraiser
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Provided groceries to refugee families in need
Donation Drives
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Collected 200 bags of clothing, essentials, and supplies for refugees and unhoused individuals across the DMV area
Human Connection & Outreach
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Organized birthday celebrations at homeless shelters
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Brought joy and comfort to seniors in nursing and group homes
Advocacy & Awareness
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Raised awareness for critical issues including homelessness, wildfires, earthquakes, and climate change
SAYVA youth continue to embody the spirit of service, empathy, and social responsibility, making a lasting difference in their communities and beyond.
PAST IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
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SAYVA teens have created meaningful impact through service, fundraising, and community events:
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College Mentorship: Alumni guided high school students on admissions, study abroad, and the college experience.
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Fundraising & Races: 51 SAYVA teens and families raised $5,311 for childhood disease research through the Race For Every Child.
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Rise Against Hunger: Packaged over 15,000 meals to fight food insecurity.
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Diwali Mock Wedding: A cultural celebration that raised funds to feed 16,000 families.
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Community Service:
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Hosted themed birthday and holiday parties for 30+ children and mothers at local shelters.
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Donated, wrapped, and delivered 60 holiday gifts and 220 snack bags to families in need.
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Collected 250 lbs of shoes for Funds2Orgs and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
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Annual Holi & Earth Day: Combined Olympic-style games with fundraising and sustainability awareness.
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
PAST EVENTS
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Over 116,000+ meals packaged and sent to impoverished countries
$152,800 raised
for our community partners
20,000+ teen service hours and counting!
SAYVA'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS
