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UNITED
SIKHS Feeds Thousands In the Drought Stricken Region of East Africa
“Whilst I was speaking to the children and asking how they liked their
rice and lentils one child tried to feed me with some rice with her
spoon. It was amazing to see that although they are not getting food
themselves they are willing to offer to others,” said UNITED SIKHS
Director, Sun Kaur, of her moving experience.
Highlights:
- Feed the Campaign Hungry campaign in Kenya
is led by UNITED SIKHS Kenya assisted by the local Sikh Community
aided by Volunteers from the USA, Canada and the UK.
- Northern Kenya is particularly affected and the
government has declared the drought in this region a national disaster.
Up to 3.5 million people are affected by the drought and their plight
has been worsened by high food prices resulting from both local and
global factors.
Nairobi, Kenya:
The UNITED SIKHS Aid team from the USA and UK served langgar, over the
last fortnight, to thousands in Kenyan slums and in an orphanage to
stave off the deadly effects of the famine in the Horn of Africa.
UNITED SIKHS Kenya Director, Jaswinder Kaur, spearheaded this effort
mobilizing the Sri Guru Nanak Food Bank, a project of UNITED SIKHS, in
response to the UN call for “massive action”.
Orphan
Boy eating Langar
Sun Kaur, UNITED SIKHS director from the UK and a California team
consisting of high school seniors worked with local volunteers to bring
hunger relief, especially to children. Over 800 people including many
children were fed daily with langgar constituting of rice, beans,
lentils, chapattis and the local ogali. See the team preparing and
serving langgar at UNITEDSIKHSTV.
Rosedeep Kaur, Kanwar Preet Singh, Navjot Kaur, Mandeep Kaur along with
Gursewak Singh were received by the Minister of Special Programmes,
Esther Mairugi, as they arrived from California to assist in the
effort.
UNITED SIKHS Kenya Director, Jaswinder Kaur, said, “Kenya has been hit
especially hard by the crisis, with a food-insecure population of more
than 3.5 million due to the drought. Close to the three-way border
shared with Ethiopia and Somalia, it has not rained for almost two
years and that there have been no harvests at all since 2009. We were
already on the ground and aware of the fact that due to no rainfall we
would be severely affected by the drought. So we immediately moved to
the drought stricken areas in 2011 and distributed food with the Vice
President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Honorable Kalonzo
Musyoka. Now we must do more, we must move quickly and we must save
lives”.
Esther Mairugi, Minister of Special Programmes, when talking of UNITED
SIKHS efforts in Kenya stated, “I am dearly thankful of UNITED SIKHS
and their support.”
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| UNITED
SIKHS Director Sun Kaur engaging with the children |
UNITED SIKHS
Sikh Aid team on the ground
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On instituting the Gurus message across the world, Gursewak Singh, the
leader of the California team stated, “The experience has been
unforgettable. I have been out here with 4 high school children and
have served Langgar which we not only served but also made ourselves.
If god blesses me I would like to be able to come back again and serve
the people in Africa.”
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| UNITED
SIKHS Sikh Aid team serving Langar |
UNITED SIKHS
Sikh Aid team received by Minister Esther
Mairugi
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The UK and USA team members were guided by the UNITED SIKHS Kenya team
of volunteers, Gurbachan Singh, Jaswant Singh, Kewal Singh, Joseph Kibe
and Lydia, who led visits to the drought stricken areas such as an
orphanage in Tumaini, the slums of Kieni and Gatitu in Central Kenya
and Chua in Eastern Kenya. When serving the Nyeri area, they were
greeted by Mayor David Muteru who was so pleased with the work he
pledged land to initiate a polytechnic center so the region could have
educated youth who may in turn assist the community.
For the campaign page, click here. $50/?30 can
feed a family for one month - Feed The Hungry and Save Lives, become a
sponsor.
For a previous Press Release on our work in Africa see:
www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-03-08-2011-00.html
www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-17-02-2011-00.html
Issued By:
Gurvinder Singh
Director
SIKH AID
UNITED SIKHS
sikhaid@unitedsikhs.org
1-888-243-1690 (USA); +44 870199328 (UK); +254 0 722525659 (Kenya);
1-905-672-2245 (Canada)
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UNITED SIKHS Aid for AFRICA
View our work at UNITEDSIKHSTV
How you can help:
- Volunteer in the field – for
medical aid and serving Langgar. Join UNITED SIKHS at unitedsikhs.org/join and fill
the field volunteer application form
- Volunteer in your city by
organizing fundraising events
- Donate at unitedsikhs.org/donate
$50/?30 can feed a family for one month - Feed the Hungry and Save
Lives, become a sponsor.
You can make a monthly donation or raise money for those in need by
creating your own fundraising page visit www.justgiving.com/unitedsikhs
UK
donors can donate via text by sending text to SIKH13 ? (AMOUNT) to
70070
UN’s Food and
Agriculture Organization
East Africa has suffered from two poor rainy seasons that caused one of
the worst droughts since 1950-51
UNICEF
The current situation represents the most severe humanitarian crisis in
the world today and Africa's worst food security crisis-UNICEF
UN Humanitarian
Coordinator
"The humanitarian crisis that we are facing is huge," said Aeneas
Chuma, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator. "It threatens lives,
particularly those of the most vulnerable. It also threatens
livelihoods and these must be protected as well.
President of Kenya, Emilio Mwai Kibaki
“I call
on the international community to appreciate Kenya's predicament and
the pressure the nation was experiencing by hosting over half a million
Somali refugees”
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| Contact Us |
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You
can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year
by making a financial gift to the UNITED SIKHS, which will provide
immediate relief and support to those in need. You may donate online at
www.unitedsikhs.org/donate
or send your donations to a UNITED SIKHS office nearest to
you, whose details can be found at https://unitedsikhs.org/contact-us/
.
Ordinarily only 10 percent of your
donation is spent on admin costs.
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OUR
MISSION |
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To transform underprivileged and
minority
communities and individuals into informed and vibrant members of
society through civic, educational and personal development programs,
by fostering active participation in social and economic activity.
UNITED SIKHS is also an avenue for
networking
between like-minded organisations to establish and nurture meaningful
projects and dialogues - whether social, cultural or political- to
promote harmony, understanding and reciprocity in our villages, towns
and cities.
UNITED SIKHS is a coalition of
organisations
and individuals, who share a common vision based on the belief that
there is no greater endeavour than to serve, empower and uplift fellow
beings. The core of our philosophy is an unwavering commitment to civic
service and social progress on behalf of the common good.
Accordingly, UNITED SIKHS has sought to
fulfil
its mission not only by informing, educating and uplifting fellow
beings but also by participating in cross-cultural and political
exchanges to ensure that the promises and benefits of democracy are
realized by all.
We at UNITED SIKHS believe that the
development of enlightened and progressive societies can be made
possible by socially conscious groups of people who make a commitment
to develop and direct human potential. Our work, efforts and
achievements stand as a testament to our faith in this vision.
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Winner
of the Sikhs and Charities Award
