Banteay Srei
Frustrated by the scarcity of specialized resources and lack of attention to the growing numbers of young women impacted by sexual exploitation, a small group of local service providers and advocates (case managers, health educators, and social workers) responded and began critical dialogue which led to the establishment of a pilot program in 2004, called Banteay Srei (bahn-tea-ay suh-ray). The organization is the only one in the nation that specializes in providing culturally competent services to young Southeast Asian women impacted by the sex trade.
Banteay Srei is a temple in Cambodia built in honor of female deities, representing strength, unity, and safety. This pilot program is now sustained as an organization that provides social support, healing arts, reproductive health education, life skills-building, leadership development to young Southeast Asian women impacted by sexual exploitation in their communities.
Banteay Srei is dedicated to providing the tools and support necessary for young Southeast Asian women and girls to empower themselves. Based in Oakland, Banteay Srei is an organization that works with young women and girls ages 14-19, that are at-risk or are being sexually exploited. Banteay Srei believes that every person is entitled to living a free, happy and healthy life that is full of options. Through programs and events that promote leadership development, cultural awareness and self-empowerment, Banteay Srei is working towards creating a generation of fierce, independent and self-empowered young Southeast Asian women.
In 2012, 2011, and 2010, Banteay Srei received a grant from ACTA's Living Cultures Grants Program to support Southeast Asian Unity through Cultural Exploration, or SAUCE, a program which incorporates traditional Southeast Asian culinary arts with traditional storytelling. Recipes, cooking techniques, and storytelling are shared by grandmothers, mothers, and other matriarchal community elders along with the young women who document the events with oral history interviews of the elders, film, and photography. A final collection of recipes, stories and photography are showcased for the public.
