A successful businesswoman and philanthropist, Dr. Malini Saba has been at the forefront of women's rights and positively impacting the lives of low income and at-risk women and children worldwide. Growing up in South East Asia, her biggest interest was in the empowerment of women struggling for human rights, health and economic stability. She saw the value of small efforts and spent time in helping at the shelters, buying clothes and schoolbooks as well as teaching children. In 2001, Dr. Saba started a nonprofit organisation, SABA Family Foundations. As the Chairman of 'SFF' she started multiple initiatives on changing the way women in poverty viewed themselves and their role in society.
Saba Family Foundation was involved in several critical projects over a period of few years. Some of these were: Emergency Medicine Fellowships: SFF worked extensively with the Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California to fund and train Emergency Care Physicians from developing countries, such as India and Tashkent. Under this initiative SFF trained emergency care physicians in the US to go back with skill sets needed for their countries.
SFF extended the Emergency Medicine Fellowships by continuing support to physicians and staff in developing countries to help develop emergency care in rural districts, to disperse preventive health information to underserved population via media and Internet, lend a hand to preventive practices for HIV/AIDS and promote SFF’s existing mobile programs for preventive health practices for immunisations, gastric and reproductive health.
SFF provided funds and mentorship to Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA), Mumbai in 2002. YUWA is a voluntary development organisation committed to enabling vulnerable groups to access their rights and address human rights violations. The organisational practice is anchored in the belief that by strengthening the capacities of communities they can be empowered to respond effectively to local development issues. The organisation was also involved in funding CARE International in Togo, West Africa. CARE is actively involved in providing health, hygiene, and vocational education for women. CARE began its operations in 1986. Since then, CARE Togo has been involved in programs in health, water infrastructure, prevention of child trafficking, and capacity building for community organisations.
SFF supported initiatives while collaborating with Concern Worldwide Program in Somalia.
In 1997, Vital Voices was created to make space for women to be heard. The founders knew ‘that women are essential to progress in their communities’. SFF and Dr. Saba joined hands and funded women leaders from India to visit DC to gain insights into leadership for changing the world.
Between 2001 and 2005, Dr Saba provided significant support for the, the Cancer Center at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, California. She worked with President Clinton on many global initiatives and was jointly featured in multiple newspapers and magazines.
Dr. Saba received the Kalpana Chawla 2005 award for ‘Outstanding Woman Of The Year’ from the friends of Indian community of Los Angeles, the Mother Theresa award in 2004 from the friends of Indian community of Los Angeles, the 2007 Ambassador Of Peace award from the federation of peace in London, the 2001 Entrepreneur Of The Year - Business Women's Network Washington D.C., and the 2005 Philanthropist Of The Year award by “Pratham’ an NGO promoting education.
