In existence for 18 years, Asniya is a 501(c)3 non-profit outreach organization that brings medical students to Indian reservations to teach health and science to American Indian children. The medical students serve as “Asniya interns” and are integrated into the school as health and science teachers. They deliver dynamic hands-on classroom presentations to captivate students’ attention, to render health professions less abstract and more tangible, and to provide basic knowledge to increase safety, preventative care, and improved health outcomes. Since our inception, it has been our mission to bring medical knowledge and opportunity to American Indian children, while expanding the cultural awareness of future physicians. To date, Asniya has touched over 1220 American Indian children and 50 medical students.

Asniya is now poised to build on our 18 years of knowledge and experience, and will launch a new program, Health Through Knowledge. This new program will be piloted at Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. We will develop a formalized culturally sensitive curriculum for middle school age students, using our signature active and engaging approach to learning. Medical students will continue to serve as Asniya interns and will travel to the Pine Ridge Reservation, spending 4 weeks at Red Cloud Indian School teaching the curriculum. In addition, we will develop and implement a strong mentorship program, providing guidance and support to each young student who shows a strong interest in pursuing health science careers. Health Through Knowledge will provide the strength and infrastructure to allow us to spread to other schools throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation and eventually to other reservations in South Dakota and in the U.S.

In order to meet the goals of our mission, we depend on the generosity of individuals and businesses for support. Without the assistance of humanitarian-minded individuals just like you, we cannot grow, expand, and launch Health Through Knowledge. We ask that you consider making a commitment to support our cause by making a tax-deductible donation. This year our goal is to raise $25,000 to support a part-time program director and to update and expand our website to support new programming and attract medical student interns.

If you would like to support our cause, please click the red "Donate" link above or mail a check to our PO Box below.