Kiran, Inc.

Kiran is a multicultural, non-religious, community based, South Asian organization. We promote the self-reliance and empowerment of South Asian women and men in North Carolina who are in situations of domestic violence. We are the first and only nonprofit in the state to provide culturally appropriate services for this population of over 60,000. We cooperate and collaborate with organizations in the U.S. and elsewhere with similar objectives. Kiran serves clients from the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Though there are differences in language, customs, and religions, these regions share many basic cultural and historical similarities. Kiran's core services include a 24-hour hotline, intensive client management, resource referrals, language assistance and translation, community outreach and education, as well as support groups. Kiran was founded in 1998 when a group of South Asian medical students, lawyers, and social workers realized there was a lack of culturally appropriate resources available to South Asian victims of domestic violence. The organization was initially volunteer-led until receiving grant funding in 2008, which has since allowed Kiran to help clients with the procurement of protection orders, housing and shelter, transportation to and from court, immigration concerns, and child-related issues. For more information, visit our website: www.kiraninc.org.