Short Summary

I’m Harshini Busireddy, founder and CEO of Sahana. I was driven by my personal challenges with PTSD (that started at a very young age of 8 due to various forms of abuse experienced) to create a transformative tool for mental health. Sahana is a web-based app that empowers children and their caregivers with crucial insights into the child’s current stressors and coping behaviors. It teaches effective, evidence-based stress management techniques through fun, interactive storytelling.

Our mission is to nurture lifelong mental well-being, one child at a time. By supporting Sahana, you are not just funding an app; you are fostering a movement towards a healthier future where each child masters the skills to thrive emotionally from a young age. Your contribution will bring Sahana to life, helping children everywhere to thrive in the face of life’s challenges. Find out more about us at www.sahana.inc

We’re aiming for a November launch to ride the waves of the gift-giving season and New Year’s motivation for self-improvement.

Today’s Reality

In our fast-paced, digital age, children face unique mental health challenges. The critical ages of 6-10 are foundational for developing emotional resilience, yet many children adopt maladaptive coping mechanisms due to stress and environmental pressures. Simultaneously, parental stress is at an all-time high, complicating efforts to nurture healthy emotional growth.

Without intervention, these early patterns of coping can solidify, leading to more serious mental health issues in adolescence and adulthood. It is essential to address these challenges early on and provide children and their caregivers (parents or other significant adults) with the tools, resources, and support they need to develop healthy coping mechanisms, emotional intelligence, and compassion for themselves and others.

Future with Sahana

Ages 6 to 10 represent a pivotal time in a child's emotional and psychological development. It's a period when children begin to form their understanding of self, relationships, and how to navigate challenges.

Intervening at this stage offers an unparalleled opportunity to positively influence their trajectory of mental well-being, setting the groundwork for healthier coping mechanisms, emotional regulation, and resilience.

Sahana provides timely intervention during this pivotal development stage, offering tools and resources that nurture emotional intelligence and resilience. By equipping children with emotional regulation skills and providing support systems for caregivers, we're setting the stage for a future where mental well-being is prioritized from the start.

What We Need

We are seeking $85,000 to bring Sahana to life:

User Research Trials: $25,000

This isn't just about building an app; it's about ensuring it works. Your contributions fund rigorous testing with 25 caregiver-child duos, guided by top psychologists, to refine and validate our content.

Development: $25,000

Building Sahana with the latest technology and securing expert developers means creating a reliable and engaging platform that children love and caregivers trust.

Marketing: $10,000

Awareness is key. We're ready to shout about Sahana from the rooftops, but targeted marketing ensures the right people hear us.

Operations & Legal: $15,000

Keeping our operations smooth and compliant is not just necessary; it's essential for our long-term mission.

Contingencies and Miscellaneous: $10,000

We plan for the unexpected, ensuring that Sahana's journey to launch is as smooth as possible.

Impact

Sahana’s unique approach focuses on individual children (starting with 6 to 10-year-olds), providing personalized tools and content that evolve as they grow. This personalized engagement ensures a lasting impact, teaching children not only to cope but also excel in managing their mental health. Every contribution brings us closer to a world where children grow up equipped to handle life's ups and downs with strength and grace.

The ripple effects of your contribution extend far beyond the individual. Empowering one child impacts their family, friends, and community, promoting a healthier, more resilient society. Your support helps us expand this impact, developing age-aligned content that grows with children and ensures they have the support they need at every stage of life.

Risks & Challenges

Risks: Developing a tech-based educational tool involves challenges like ensuring user engagement and securing user data.

Mitigation Strategy: We are hiring a dedicated team of experienced developers, educators, and psychologists to create compelling content and a secure platform. We’re committed to continuous testing with real user groups to refine our approach.

Other Ways You Can Help

Can't donate? No problem! Spread the word, share your ideas, and become part of the Sahana community. Every tweet, share, and conversation opens another door towards Sahana's goal of making mental well-being a priority, one child at a time, a reality.

• Spread the Word: Share our campaign on your social media!
• Feedback and Ideas: Join our community and help us improve.
• Don’t forget to use the Indiegogo share tools to tell your friends and family about Sahana!

Join us today! Whether by contributing financially, spreading the word, or providing feedback, you can play a crucial role in Sahana’s success!