UNITED SIKHSWinner of the Sikhs and Charities Award
Sep 2, 2011
18th Bhadon (Samvat 543 Nanakshahi)
Community Update
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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
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.”
Sun Kaur
Team On Ground
UNITED SIKHS Director Sun Kaur engaging with the children UNITED SIKHS Sikh Aid team on the ground
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.”
Team Serving Langar
Team Received By Minister Esther
UNITED SIKHS Sikh Aid team serving Langar UNITED SIKHS Sikh Aid team received by Minister Esther Mairugi

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”
Contact Us

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.

OUR MISSION

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.