Bylaws

ARTICLE I

NAME AND OFFICE

Section 1. Corporate Name

The name of this organization shall be SICHAM, a community-led nonprofit corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”).

Section 2. Principal Office

The principal office of the Corporation for the transaction of its business shall be located in the United States, as determined by the Board of Directors. The Board may establish branch or field offices globally to facilitate homeland operations.

Section 3. Tax Identification

The Corporation is registered as a nonprofit entity with the Internal Revenue Service under the Employer Identification Number (EIN: 83-3507638). 

ARTICLE II

CORPORATE PURPOSE AND MISSION

Section 1. Mission Statement

To uplift Indigenous communities through cultural preservation, family support, education, and community‑driven programs that honor identity, dignity, and belonging.

Section 2. Core Programs & Objectives

The Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and cultural purposes. Its operations are structurally divided into three core projects:

1. Community Collaboration Projects
   Advocating for the official Collaboration of Champa, Hmong, and other Indigenous peoples in Vietnam and Cambodia by: 
   • Documenting historical records, oral lineages, and distinct cultural identities.
   • Engaging global scholars, community elders, and civic leaders.
   • Building international awareness, policy advocacy, and cross-border partnerships.
2. Family Projects
   Supporting families with immediate resources and sustainable, long-term community solutions, including:
   • Essential Needs: Food distribution, clean water filtration systems, toilets, and modern sanitation infrastructure.
   • Healthcare: Mobile medical clinics, mental health awareness campaigns, and culturally grounded wellness resources.
   • Economic Empowerment: Small farming initiatives, agricultural support, and local micro-shops.
   • Youth & Education: Children’s playgrounds, safe communal spaces, and dedicated education modules for culture, language, and the arts.
3. Cultural Preservation Projects
   Celebrating, documenting, and protecting Indigenous identity through:
   • Champa language preservation and structured curriculum development.
   • Publishing children’s cultural stories, histories, and bilingual books.
   • Archiving indigenous arts, poetry, and oral histories.
   • Hosting traditional food festivals, musical exhibitions, and heritage celebrations.
   • Facilitating intergenerational learning spaces between diaspora youth and community elders

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE

Section 1. Non-Voting Corporation

The Corporation shall have no formal voting members within the legal definition of the Nonprofit Corporation Law. Governance is vested entirely in the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Elder and Scholar Advisory Councils

To maintain its commitment as a community-led entity, the Board may establish non-voting Advisory Councils consisting of Indigenous community elders, cultural scholars, and civic leaders. These councils shall advise on the historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity of the Community Collaboration and Cultural Preservation projects.

ARTICLE IV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. General Powers

The activities, assets, and affairs of SICHAM shall be managed, and all corporate powers exercised, by or under the ultimate direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Meetings & Digital Access

• Annual Meeting: Held once a year for electing officers, reviewing annual tax filings linked to EIN 83-3507638, and auditing project impacts.
• Regular Meetings: The Board shall meet at least quarterly. Given the international scope of SICHAM’s mission spanning the US, Vietnam, and Cambodia, meetings may be conducted via teleconference or digital video platforms.
• Quorum: A simple majority of the fixed number of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS AND CORE MANAGEMENT TEAM 

Section 1. Executive Leadership 

The executive leadership of the Corporation shall be headed by the President, who provides strategic direction across all global initiatives. 

• President & Executive Director: Rizwan Ashraf
• Shall serve as the chief executive officer of SICHAM. The President is responsible for the general management, active supervision, and operational direction of the Corporation’s affairs, including the Community Collaboration Project, global partnership development, and ensuring compliance under EIN 83-3507638. The President shall preside over all board meetings and act as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and the Core Team. 

Section 2. Core Management Team 

To effectively execute SICHAM’s three core project pillars, the following specialized management roles are established. These positions report directly to the President and may be filled by board members, staff, or dedicated community directors: 

• Sicham Community Manager
  Responsible for day-to-day organizational operations, diaspora community outreach, and maintaining structural bridges between the United States and ancestral homelands. This role serves as the central hub connecting volunteers, scholars, and local chapters to ensure programs remain authentically community-led.
• Champa Families and Children Care Coordinator (Ninh Thuan, Vietnam)
  Responsible for the localized execution, field management, and monitoring of the Families Project within the Ninh Thuan province of Vietnam and surrounding regions. This includes overseeing food distribution, mobile clinics, clean water/sanitation infrastructure, playgrounds, and indigenous language/art education directly on the ground.
• Social Media and Events Manager
  Responsible for public relations, building international awareness, and managing digital campaigns for the Community Collaboration Project. This role oversees the planning and execution of traditional food, music, and heritage celebrations, as well as the promotion of bilingual books and oral history preservation across social platforms. 

Section 3. Administrative Officers

The Board shall also maintain standard administrative officers, who may operate concurrently with the Core Management Team: 

• Secretary: Shall keep the minutes of all official meetings, maintain the corporate archive of historical and cultural documents, and give all required notices.
• Treasurer: Shall have custody of all corporate funds, manage project-specific budgets (for field operations, medical clinics, and media events), and oversee tax-exempt financial reporting

ARTICLE VI

PROJECT COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors may designate standing or ad hoc committees to streamline operations. These typically include:

1. Advocacy & Collaboration Committee (Overseeing Project 1)
2. Family Relief & Infrastructure Committee (Overseeing Project 2)
3. Language, Arts, & Heritage Committee (Overseeing Project 3)

ARTICLE VII

FINANCIAL AND FISCAL COMPLIANCE

Section 1. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of each year.

Section 2. Tax-Exempt Compliance

The Board shall ensure all financial dealings, donations, and grants received under EIN: 83-3507638 strictly adhere to the regulations governing tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of private individuals.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

BY DIRECTORS. The Board has the power to make, alter, amend, and repeal the Corporation’s Bylaws. Any alteration, amendment, or repeal of the Bylaws, shall be effective following a majority vote of the Board.

EMERGENCY BYLAWS. The Board may adopt emergency Bylaws which operate during any emergency in the Corporation’s conduct of business resulting from an attack on the United States, a nuclear or atomic disaster, or another force majeure incident.

COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.  Any amendment to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall comply with the respective laws, rules, and regulations of the jurisdictions in which the Corporation operates or conducts business

We, the undersigned, being the designated officers of SICHAM, do hereby certify that the foregoing Bylaws were duly adopted as the official Bylaws of the Corporation on this 15 day of January, 2026.

Syed Rizwan Ashraf
Leadership