OUR STORY

Confronting Misrepresentation, Empowering Sikh Voices, Transforming Society

Are you Aware?

Hate Crimes Against Sikhs Are on the rise!

Sikhs are the second most targeted religious group for hate crimes in the United States, following Jewish Americans.

Ongoing Prejudice and Discrimination

According to the Sikh Coalition and FBI's 2022 report, there were 198 anti-Sikh hate crimes, highlighting the ongoing prejudice and discrimination faced by the Sikh community.

Combat Ignorance

This alarming statistic underscores the need for proactive measures to combat ignorance and foster understanding about Sikhs.
Learn more

Report by SALDEF and Stanford University's Peace Innovation Lab

THE TURBAN MYTH REPORT
Unconscious Bias and the Need for Behavioral Change

The Turban Myths report by SALDEF and Stanford University's Peace Innovation Lab revealed a staggering lack of knowledge about Sikhs among the American public. The study found that 70% of Americans could not identify a Sikh man in a photo, and nearly half associated the turban with figures like Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. This unconscious bias, fueled by the post-9/11 media portrayal of turbans, has led to widespread misconceptions and discrimination against Sikhs.

 

The report emphasized that while traditional advocacy efforts are important, they are insufficient to change hearts and minds alone. Innovative strategies like visual storytelling are essential to achieving meaningful behavioral change. Inspired by these findings, we understood the need for proactive measures to combat misconceptions and promote a more accurate understanding of Sikh identity using the power of Visual Storytelling.

Learning From The Jewish Community

The Jewish community, through organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), has effectively used media to combat stereotypes and promote understanding.

The ADL, founded to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, receives substantial funding to support its mission. In 2019, the ADL reported total revenues of $92 million, primarily from contributions and grants. In Fiscal Year 2023, the ADL secured $305 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and significant federal investments to fight antisemitism and other forms of hate (ADL). This significant funding allows the ADL to advocate effectively for the Jewish community, produce educational content, and combat hate.

Learn more

Birth of Nishkam TV

"We had to think out of the box to scale Sikh visual storytelling because there is a significant gap in Sikhi content based on visual media, and there are very few Sikh visual storytellers."



We realized that creating one or two films a year would not be sufficient to address the significant gap in Sikh narratives. With very few Sikh visual storytellers, we had to think out of the box to scale Sikh storytelling.
1
3
2
6
4
5

OUR SOLUTION

"We decided to train our youth in visual storytelling and media education, who are already learning about our History (Virsa), Language (Boli - Punjabi/Gurmukhi), and Music (Gurmat Sangeet) at Khalsa Schools."



This led to a collaboration with NESSC Khalsa School to teach kids visual media and Sikh visual storytelling, resulting in the birth of Nishkam TV in 2016.
Successful Pilot of Nishkam TV in the Boston Area

For the past 8 years, Sangat ran the Nishkam TV pilot in the Boston area, balancing this Seva with full-time jobs.

The pilot was successful, demonstrating the transformative impact of our program. Our alumni have excelled in various industries and pursued higher education at prestigious universities such as Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts. They are thriving in fields like computer science, marketing, graphic design, human-computer interaction, data analytics, and business.

The Value of Sikh Visual Storytelling: A Skill for Every Career

Storytelling is a skill everyone needs irrespective of the career they choose.

Unique Learning Experience:

Nishkam TV provides a one-of-a-kind program that benefits both students and parents, focusing on developing essential skills through visual storytelling.

Transferable Skills

Our platform empowers students to develop critical, transferable skills such as creativity, communication, and collaboration, preparing them for any career path.

Building Confidence

Students gain invaluable skills and confidence, which enhance their academic performance and professional growth.

Real-World Success

Alumni of Nishkam TV consistently excel in various fields, demonstrating critical thinking, effective communication, and teamwork—key skills in today’s fast-paced world.

Versatility Across Fields

Whether in media, technology, business, or beyond, our graduates are equipped to tackle challenges and seize opportunities with confidence.

Lasting Impact

Our alumni are living proof of the transformative power of Nishkam TV’s education, showcasing the enduring impact of the skills and experiences gained through our program.

JOIN US ON THIS JOURNEY

We are excited to announce that Nishkam TV is expanding its program nationwide across the USA, reaching Sikh youth from coast to coast. This expansion means that more Sikh youth will have the opportunity to benefit from our unique approach, gaining the skills, confidence, and platform to share their stories with the world. We believe that every Sikh youth deserves the chance to be heard, and by taking our program nationwide, we are committed to making this vision a reality. Join us in empowering the next generation of Sikh storytellers across the country!

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube Tiktok

Copyright © 2024 Sikh Colation. Powered by Nishkam TV