Sahaya International, a Davis nonprofit, took shape after a chance meeting when founder Dr. Koen Van Rompay (pictured), a researcher at UC Davis, was in India for an AIDS conference. Since then Sahaya has grown into a group of friends and donors, many in Davis, who give money to help people in developing countries by relying on local knowledge, trust, and long-term connections.

Sahaya celebrates its 25th anniversary at Veterans Memorial Theater on Nov. 2. Today on Davisville we talk with Van Rompay about how Sahaya began, what it does, and how it operates. Sahaya’s tax return says they raised and gave away about $830,000 in 2023.

“There’s much that we can do if we just join hands together, especially if you find people you trust,” he said. He’s just as happy if Sahaya’s work inspires people to do something useful outside the charity, “close to their heart,” on their own — the ripple effect.