UNITED SIKHS Launches New Projects, Highlighting Educational Scholarships to Empower Pakistani Sikh Community
UNITED SIKHS, a humanitarian aid and civil rights organization, is launching a series of new projects and expanding its existing initiatives in Pakistan, to further empower the Sikh community through education, financial support, and civil rights advocacy. These efforts address ongoing challenges faced by a population striving for security, education, and cultural preservation.
For more than a decade, UNITED SIKHS has been a lifeline for religious minorities in Pakistan, who have faced persecution and targeted violence. The organization’s work addresses critical needs, from educational scholarships for children to legal aid and cultural preservation.
Key Initiatives and Impact:
Educational Scholarship Program: This project, under the CEED (Community Education and Empowerment Development) initiative by UNITED SIKHS, provides educational sponsorships for deserving children from underprivileged backgrounds in Pakistan. By covering school fees, the program ensures access to quality education and opens the door to a brighter future.
In addition to tuition support, the project offers comprehensive assistance by providing essential educational materials such as books, stationery, and school uniforms, ensuring that each child is fully equipped for their academic journey.
Monetary Support Program:
Launched in 2022, this project provides a sustainable monthly income to families of Sikhs who have been victims of targeted attacks that includes activists, politicians and business people. By investing in government saving schemes, UNITED SIKHS helps these families cover essential expenses like household expenses and children’s education. 
Online Punjabi Conversation Classes: Preserving Heritage for a New Generation
In a region where the Sikh community faces the threat of cultural erosion and displacement, UNITED SIKHS has launched a profound initiative to safeguard the community’s most precious asset: its heritage. The Online Punjabi
Conversation Classes are more than a language program; they are a vital lifeline connecting a new generation to their roots. This project directly addresses the risk of losing the Punjabi language, which is central to Sikh identity, scriptures, and history.
Through this pioneering program, youth at the Guru Angad Dev Khalsa Dharmic School in Peshawar and the Punja Sahib Khalsa Dharmic School in Hasan Abdal are engaged in vibrant online learning sessions. Held three days a week, from 3 PM to 5 PM, these classes bridge geographical divides and create a supportive virtual space for children to learn, speak, and embrace their native tongue. This effort is not just about vocabulary and grammar; it is about building a sense of belonging, instilling pride, and empowering young people to become the next custodians of their rich cultural legacy.
By enabling these children to converse in Punjabi, UNITED SIKHS is ensuring that the community’s stories, traditions, and faith can be passed down for generations to come. The success of this program is a testament to the power of targeted, community-driven solutions. See a glimpse of the classes in action here and here. Your support is essential to keeping this vital project thriving and expanding its reach.
Civil Rights and Legal Advocacy: UNITED SIKHS continues to champion the civil rights of religious minorities in Pakistan, leading crucial advocacy efforts that directly impact the community’s daily life. The organization provides free legal aid, offering support to those facing discrimination or injustice, and helps individuals secure access to fundamental civil documentation like National ID cards and paper work facilitation in marriage registration certificates.
A key achievement of this work was successfully advocating with the Traffic Police Department to secure a notification from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, exempting Sikhs from wearing helmets while riding motorcycles. UNITED SIKHS also works to promote acceptance of the Kirpan through awareness campaigns in schools and workplaces and collaborates regularly with law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of the community.
Beyond legal support, the organization takes a holistic approach, assisting Sikh entrepreneurs with labor-related issues, preserving and restoring Sikh heritage sites, and hosting free medical camps to address community health needs.
Looking Ahead: Future Projects for 2025 and Beyond
Building on its successes, UNITED SIKHS has a forward-looking plan for the coming years to further empower the Sikh community:
- Solarization Project: Installation of solar panels in Dharmic Schools and Gurdwaras to combat severe power outages.
- Ambulance Services: Launching dedicated ambulance services in Punja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, to support community members with healthcare needs.
- Heritage Preservation: Continuing the preservation and restoration of historical Sikh sites across Pakistan, safeguarding religious and cultural history.
- Health & Fitness Center: Establishment of a community center at Janam Asthan Gurdwara in Nankana Sahib to promote physical well-being.
- Digitization of Siri Guru Granth Sahib: Digitizing historic manuscripts from the Lahore Museum to preserve and provide wider access to this sacred text.
How You Can Help
Your support is critical to making these projects a reality. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps UNITED SIKHS continue its vital work.
Here’s how you can make an impact:
- Sponsor a Child: An annual gift of $720 USD provides a child with a full year of quality education, transforming their future. A monthly donation of $60 USD can cover one child’s education expenses for an entire month.
- Organize a donation drive at your Gurdwara or local community center. UNITED SIKHS can attend and provide updates.
- Donate Online: Visit our website at www.unitedsikhs.org/donate.
- Send a check payable to UNITED SIKHS (details)
- Host a small fundraiser: Contact us to help organize
“With your help, we can create a lasting legacy of education, security, and cultural pride for the Sikh community in Pakistan,” said Hardyal Singh, UNITED SIKHS Pakistan Director. “Our work is a testament to the power of a community united by faith and a shared vision for a better future.”
For more information and updates on our work, please visit www.unitedsikhs.org or email us at unitedsikhs-pakistan@unitedsikhs.org or contact@unitedsikhs.org
