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.

Community-driven nonviolent leadership institute uniting donors, changemakers, and partners worldwide

Our Team

  • Andrea Palomo-Robles

    Andrea Palomo-Robles

    Executive Director

  • Abhay Mistry

    Abhay Mistry

    Director of Operations and Technology

  • Mbaye Mballow

    Mbaye Mballow

    Program Associate

  • Ximena Alamilla

    Ximena Alamilla

    Faculty Member, Gandhian Nonviolence

  • Karen Flores Sarabia

    Karen Flores Sarabia

    Faculty Member, Cooperation for Peace

  • Madigan Parga

    Madigan Parga

    Faculty Member, The Arts

  • Carl Kline

    Carl Kline

    Advisor and Founder

  • Clark Hanjian

    Clark Hanjian

    Advisor and Founder

Partners

  • The World House Project Inc.

    The World House Project Inc.

  • NAA

    Nonviolence Advocates Association
    The Gambia

  • Gujarat Vidyapith

    Gujarat Vidyapith University
    India

  • Be Human

    Be Human
    Ludo Training

  • Stylized blue icon of three people with the word 'CCUE' below in bold blue letters.

    Comité Ciudadano Unificador de Esfuerzos I.A.P.

  • OPC

    Organización Para Chicas

  • Yellow banner with black and white logo and the text 'Jornada de Derechos Humanos'

    Jornada de Derechos Humanos. A.C.

  • SutilMind

    SutilMind
    Neural Business Solutions

  • Nonviolence International

    Nonviolence International

  • Dakota Rural Action

    Dakota Rural Action

  • South Dakota Humanities Council

    South Dakota Humanities Council

  • Gandhi Peace Foundation

    Gandhi Peace Foundation

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 DeRiveraPatricia Fishback Anonymous DonorSD Conference UCC

Sustainers | 2,500 USD - 4,999 USD

Carl & Brenda KlineSouth Mountain CompanyChris Klug

advocates | 1,000 USD - 2,499 USD

Suzan R. & Lee GassMargaret DentonMichelle & Dana LosekeAngie GarlingSouth Park United Church of ChristArmen & Vicky HanjianTom & Beverly DobbsJess FahisingCarmen WolfMichelle LosekeRuth Harper, Lawrence RogersAndrea NovotneyKatie LautarCharles & Sarah WoodardHenry KlugThomas D. UnzickerWayne & Sherrie Tellinghuisen

supporters | 100 USD - 999 USD

Laine EvensonAnonymous DonorBrookings United Church of ChristDylan NichollsVikram & Harsha MistryErika TritleFrank PommersheimNick CilekPaul GaillardFrank KartheiserIvan PalmerAudrey J WicksDan & Michele KempJonathan BurnsAngie GarlingLaura RamnaraceAmanda FickesCoy W Yonce IIIDenise C BretonKim MooreAndrew & Susan DrymalskiBarbara ChristwitzFathi HalaweishLaura KennedyPeace IowaSuzanna HardinMike MeyerNathan AroraPatricia & Mark KratochvilEd ValandraSusan & Jim ThompsonSabrina KingVan FishbackLarry OrtBiggi Unger-BrogdenDaria MeshenukElaine ChristensenPhyllis & Jihong Cole-DaiBeth DavisCarol EbelKathy KeffelerTalal AlshehriNgawang TsudueBill ThompsonDavid HartsoughDavid HornbeckIsabella BlasucciRit TranAnonymous DonorAndrea MossDavid HansenDavid KlineGlen A GurnerMauricio Pilar Palomo QuintanillaGraciela Robles RiveraKara HooperNancy & Bill Flynn Anonymous DonorClare HanrahanDan & Patricia GaltDeon SimonLawrence MarinelliMargaret BraggMike SandersonRuby WilsonTara Maria KingAnonymous Donor

friends | 1 USD - 99 USD

Bruce N TeagueDavid HartEnno LimvereLaura BrennemanPatricia LaneRene PfisterWilliam RossPaul S ShaverDoug & Laurie CarruthersCaleb EvensonAna Luisa Ramírez LacorteDeanna MooneyJack Payden-TraversJan SnedigarJanet Grace BurkhartJennifer ArnoldMartin TillmanMarvin KammererMary LinkMatthew JamesPhilip BakerTami HansonVictor ReinsteinChandradhar DwivediJerry D LeggettKate Oliver IrickMaria B GiraldoTania J ChavezAllan C FisherAmeer Jehan JamaldiniAva D. TorresCarmen M RedlinCharlotte KrebsDennis Alan AcreaJulia PerlowskiJustin M NovotneyKaren NicholsLaura E MarshLisa M WagnerMarianne FisherMary C CliffordMckenzie MatternMike MeyerMoona CancinoNebafabs C NwaforPamela E MorganPamela J NaessigRebecca M TerkSandra J. CusumanoSarah RaineSusana Maria Cavazos LazoSuzan M. NolanTamika HolmesAlana LittlebirdAndrew L’AmourSarah R. Warren

explore the power of nonviolence with us