Who we are
The Satyagraha Institute (SI) began in 2013, inspired by the vision of creating a Nonviolence training center in South Dakota. While the original plan to acquire a Benedictine Abbey evolved into a different direction, it sparked meaningful conversations between co-founders Clark Hanjian and Carl Kline. Their shared vision culminated in the first SI training program in 2015, held in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where over 40 participants from six nations gathered for two weeks of Nonviolence training.
Building on this success, the Institute expanded to Mexico in 2016, with a second gathering in Cuetzalan, Puebla. Annual trainings have been held ever since, and the demand for shorter workshops in local communities led to the creation of more flexible training options. Meanwhile, the U.S. programs continued to grow, with diverse participation in subsequent sessions in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
SI’s reach further expanded into Africa in 2017, when the first training was held in Lagos, Nigeria. This was followed by additional programs in Nigeria and Ghana, with an overwhelming number of applicants, underscoring the growing interest in nonviolence training. In 2019, SI introduced a Training for Trainers (T4T) program in Ghana, empowering participants to share their knowledge and spread the work across Africa. In recent years, SI led efforts to train young leaders in The Gambia.
SI has also partnered with Gujarat Vidyapith in India, offering a four-month immersion in Gandhian theory and practice. Alumni from this program have taken on leadership roles within the Institute.
With a vision of creating global change through Nonviolence, SI continues to grow organically. Under the leadership of Andrea Palomo-Robles, the institute is planning new activities in Africa, Europe, and The Americas, empowering individuals worldwide to become agents of peace and social transformation.
Our Team
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Andrea Palomo-Robles
Executive Director
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Abhay Mistry
Director of Operations and Technology
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Mbaye Mballow
Program Associate
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Ximena Alamilla
Faculty Member, Gandhian Nonviolence
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Karen Flores Sarabia
Faculty Member, Cooperation for Peace
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Madigan Parga
Faculty Member, The Arts
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Carl Kline
Advisor and Founder
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Clark Hanjian
Advisor and Founder
Partners
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The World House Project Inc.
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Nonviolence Advocates Association
The Gambia -
Gujarat Vidyapith University
India -
Comité Ciudadano Unificador de Esfuerzos I.A.P.
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Be Human
Ludo Training -
Organización Para Chicas
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SutilMind
Neural Business Solutions -
Nonviolence International
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Dakota Rural Action
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South Dakota Humanities Council
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Gandhi Peace Foundation
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South Mountain Company
Donors and grant providers
People who believe in the transformative power of Nonviolence. Thank You.
Grant providers
A.J. Muste Memorial Institute - 2015, 2017, 2020
Larson Trust Manufacturing Co. - 2021
Allegra SD - 2019, 2020
benefactors | 5,000+ USD
Joe DeRivera – Patricia Fishback – Anonymous Donor – SD Conference UCC
Sustainers | 2,500 USD - 4,999 USD
Carl & Brenda Kline – South Mountain Company – Chris Klug
advocates | 1,000 USD - 2,499 USD
Suzan R. & Lee Gass – Margaret Denton – Michelle & Dana Loseke – Angie Garling – South Park United Church of Christ – Armen & Vicky Hanjian – Tom & Beverly Dobbs – Jess Fahising – Carmen Wolf – Michelle Loseke – Ruth Harper, Lawrence Rogers – Andrea Novotney – Katie Lautar – Charles & Sarah Woodard – Henry Klug – Thomas D. Unzicker – Wayne & Sherrie Tellinghuisen
supporters | 100 USD - 999 USD
Laine Evenson – Anonymous Donor – Brookings United Church of Christ – Dylan Nicholls – Vikram & Harsha Mistry – Erika Tritle – Frank Pommersheim – Nick Cilek – Paul Gaillard – Frank Kartheiser – Ivan Palmer – Audrey J Wicks – Dan & Michele Kemp – Jonathan Burns – Angie Garling – Laura Ramnarace – Amanda Fickes – Coy W Yonce III – Denise C Breton – Kim Moore – Andrew & Susan Drymalski – Barbara Christwitz – Fathi Halaweish – Laura Kennedy – Peace Iowa – Suzanna Hardin – Mike Meyer – Nathan Arora – Patricia & Mark Kratochvil – Ed Valandra – Susan & Jim Thompson – Sabrina King – Van Fishback – Larry Ort – Biggi Unger-Brogden – Daria Meshenuk – Elaine Christensen – Phyllis & Jihong Cole-Dai – Beth Davis – Carol Ebel – Kathy Keffeler – Talal Alshehri – Ngawang Tsudue – Bill Thompson – David Hartsough – David Hornbeck – Isabella Blasucci – Rit Tran – Anonymous Donor – Andrea Moss – David Hansen – David Kline – Glen A Gurner – Mauricio Pilar Palomo Quintanilla – Graciela Robles Rivera – Kara Hooper – Nancy & Bill Flynn – Anonymous Donor – Clare Hanrahan – Dan & Patricia Galt – Deon Simon – Lawrence Marinelli – Margaret Bragg – Mike Sanderson – Ruby Wilson – Tara Maria King – Anonymous Donor
friends | 1 USD - 99 USD
Bruce N Teague – David Hart – Enno Limvere – Laura Brenneman – Patricia Lane – Rene Pfister – William Ross – Paul S Shaver – Doug & Laurie Carruthers – Caleb Evenson – Ana Luisa Ramírez Lacorte – Deanna Mooney – Jack Payden-Travers – Jan Snedigar – Janet Grace Burkhart – Jennifer Arnold – Martin Tillman – Marvin Kammerer – Mary Link – Matthew James – Philip Baker – Tami Hanson – Victor Reinstein – Chandradhar Dwivedi – Jerry D Leggett – Kate Oliver Irick – Maria B Giraldo – Tania J Chavez – Allan C Fisher – Ameer Jehan Jamaldini – Ava D. Torres – Carmen M Redlin – Charlotte Krebs – Dennis Alan Acrea – Julia Perlowski – Justin M Novotney – Karen Nichols – Laura E Marsh – Lisa M Wagner – Marianne Fisher – Mary C Clifford – Mckenzie Mattern – Mike Meyer – Moona Cancino – Nebafabs C Nwafor – Pamela E Morgan – Pamela J Naessig – Rebecca M Terk – Sandra J. Cusumano – Sarah Raine – Susana Maria Cavazos Lazo – Suzan M. Nolan – Tamika Holmes – Alana Littlebird – Andrew L’Amour – Sarah R. Warren
