Mission

The South Asian River Skills Institute (SARSI) provides training for sustainable, ecologically responsible jobs on the waterways of Arunachal Pradesh to guides and rescue professionals from all of South Asia.

SARSI's three pronged mission is to educate, prosper, and protect.

Educate

Education is SARSI's foundational goal. In collaboration with the government of Arunachal Pradesh, SARSI teaches recreational and emergency swiftwater skills in a supportive environment, stressing practical application of skills over multiple days. Courses include Beginning Guiding, Advanced Guiding, Emergency Swiftwater Skills, Kayaking, Basic First Aid and CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.

Prosper

As a privately functioning entity, SARSI must generate enough income to support itself. Its philosophy is to provide the most advanced river skills training in a commercially marketable manner- thereby generating revenues for itself and not relying solely on outside funding.

SARSI also hopes to contibute to the prosperity of Arunachal Pradesh. By training guides and promoting safety, SARSI aims to develop a reliable rafting industry in a region with huge whitewater potential.

Protect

While river skills form the theme of SARSI's courses, ecological responsibility and environmental awareness form the foundation. All courses are taught with an emphasis on Leave No Trace camping, responsible business practices, environmental stewardship, and protection of rivers against unplanned damming.