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Images below - first from bottom: local commuters on a Singapore train. Third from bottom: The team of 20 volunteer youth are given a farewell before they head off to Punjab.

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Sing(h)aporeans Head to Punjab for Seva

by CHITRA BALAGUMARAN

 

 

Twenty young Singaporeans have embarked on a charitable journey to aid underprivileged and needy school children in Punjab from December 9 to 27, 2009.

They are part of the Young Sikh Association's community service project called Project Khwaish IX. The word "khwaish" means hopes or aspirations in Punjabi.

The multi-racial group was given a send-off at the Central Sikh Gurdwara on Wednesday, December 9, 2009.

Mr Zainudin Nordin, Mayor of Central Singapore District and MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, graced the occasion.

While in Punjab, the young men and women will develop a library of 2,500 books and donate four computers to the library. They will also refurbish and paint a school as well as distribute toys and clothes to needy children.

They will also visit cultural and historical places such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Kulvinder Kaur, a participant of Project Khwaish IX and a student from Singapore Management University, said: "One reason I am doing this is because I have done this before, and the sense of satisfaction is so fulfilling that I want to do it again.

"We are also supporting their pursuit of knowledge. We are donating 2,500 books to them; we will also refurbish the library so that we create a conducive environment for them to borrow books, return books, and so in some way, we are supporting this pursuit of education.

"And we are helping them in the community; we are also donating books, toys, souvenirs for children as well as teachers..."

Hernaikh Singh, President, Young Sikh Association (Singapore), said: "The first purpose is to provide an opportunity for young Singaporeans to aid less privileged and needy children in Punjab.

"The second one is that it is an opportunity for them to develop their leadership skills, because they will be required to undertake certain functions while they are in Punjab.

"The third one, which is equally important, is to provide them with the opportunities to look at issues and developments in Punjab, to look at the social, cultural, political, economic challenges facing Punjab and how they can actually use the experiences and contribute to Singapore."

 

[Courtesy: Channel News Asia]

December 9, 2009

Conversation about this article

1: Manpreet Singh (San Francisco, California, U.S.A.), December 09, 2009, 7:04 PM.

I really appreciate the initiatives being taken up by the Singaporeans Sikhs. I have lived in Singapore before and was really amazed at the "seva bhavna" of the Sikhs over there. These kind of initiatives should be taken up in other parts of the world as well. Wish all of you good luck and may Waheguru keep you in chardi kalaa always.

2: Gurinder Singh Johal (Amritsar, Punjab), December 11, 2009, 10:37 AM.

This is real Seva. I would like to suggest to Harneikh Singh ji, please forward a press note to all the local newspapers and media in Punjab so that all Punjabis of Punjab know about your noble endeavour. I came to know of it only through sikhchic.com ... and I'm grateful to it for this.

3: Satwant Singh (Singapore), December 31, 2009, 9:44 AM.

I was the leader of the project and have led 5 out of the 9 projects and am touched by the kind words of Manpreet Singh and Gurinder Singh. Doing seva is part of our Faith and I find it a joy doing it. YSA started this seva in 2003. I am hoping that all Sikhs living abroad can come together and do seva of such a nature so that we can make a difference in the lives of people who need our assistance. We all have been blessed with all the comforts. I thank Guru ji each day for His blessings. Wishing all a blessed 2010.

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