Going back to school is expensive and many Toronto and Montreal families can’t afford to buy everything their children need to start the year off right.
 

That’s why Public Mobile is giving away 5,000 back to school supply kits for elementary and high school students in Toronto and Montreal. Public Mobile’s goal is to provide school supplies to children who might otherwise go without. 

“At Public Mobile we serve the needs of hard-working Canadians,” said Public Mobile CEO Alek Krstajic.  Added Krstajic, “For some parents, purchasing school supplies on top of new shoes, books and clothes can consume a big chunk of their monthly budget. Public Mobile wants to help hard-working families, by giving kids the tools they need to succeed.” 

Public Mobile understands the importance of creating a monthly budget, especially for families on a fixed income. With a Public Mobile phone plan, students and their parents know they’ll get unlimited talk and text and no surprises when it comes to cost. 

Public Mobile identified the most needed items for elementary and high school students and put together specific supply kits for each group. Elementary school students receive a spiral bound notebook and a pencil case containing a pencil, pen and eraser. High school students receive a scientific calculator.

There is a limit of one kit per student and students must come to the store to receive their free school supplies. A store locater can be found online at www.publicmobile.ca.

A GTA-based grassroots campaign, Hope for Pakistan, announced its launch today in an effort to create awareness and raise donations following the devastating flooding that hit Pakistan in late July this year. The campaign has been motivated by the Canadian government’s dollar-to-dollar matching commitment. “We were pleased with the federal government’s announcement and felt the responsibility to let others know in order to maximize its outcome,” said Sadia Qureshi, Hope for Pakistan’s Executive Associate Director.

Running until September 12, 2010, the last date by which donations will be matched, the campaign will drive donations through its website (hopeforpakistan.ca). Its growing team of fourty plus volunteers will also target high-traffic commercial areas frequented by the GTA’s South Asian community, such as grocery and clothing stores. “We will be wearing orange t-shirts, and will be placing orange posters and donation boxes in many of our favourite local spots, so look out for us,” said Saira Sheikh, also Associate Executive Director of the campaign.

According to the 2006 Census, Pakistan is the third largest source country of newcomers to the Toronto area. Pakistan’s national language, Urdu, also experienced the largest growth in Canada of all non-official language mother tongues, from 87,000 in 2001 to 156,000 in 2006. South Asians also form Canada’s largest visible minority community. “We are confident that through a proactive approach, members of our local communities will come through, if even by donating a few dollars each. In Pakistan, one Canadian dollar can feed a family of four for one day so it is no understatement to say that your dollar will really go a long way,” said Qureshi. Key GTA-based media and businesses have committed to spreading the word and will be featured at hopeforpakistan.ca.

Matching commitments made by the federal government in response to global disasters apply only to donations given to registered Canadian charities. Given the need to act within the period of the government’s commitment, Hope for Pakistan chose the Canadian Red Cross and Islamic Relief Canada as the conduits to their mutual cause. “Every minute is crucial, as instances of fatal water-borne diseases and other preventable circumstances are sweeping over many of the approximately 20 million displaced victims, particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces,” said Qureshi.

The Canadian public’s aid response has been far less than expected, even in light of the United Nations confirmation that the floods have affected more people than the Southeast Asian tsunami and the recent earthquakes in Kashmir and Haiti combined. This has been attributed, in part, to an image deficit facing Pakistan. Hope for Pakistan’s website includes photos of displaced Pakistanis, taken by local relatives and friends. These are in an effort to show real images of victims, complementary to the media’s efforts, in order to help alleviate Pakistan’s image deficit. The website also features an official campaign song that aims to do the same.

“Given Canada’s outstanding reputation in providing international disaster relief, we were saddened by the Canadian public’s response to the floods since concerns that may be hampering aid to Pakistan have absolutely no direct link to the vast majority of Pakistani women, children and men,” said Qureshi. “We understand that there are elements out of our control at play, but our team believes that this crisis begs to be seen through more of a humanitarian lens when the World Health Organization itself has concluded that there are at least six million people in need of life-saving assistance.”

Please visit www.hopeforpakistan.ca.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA announced today the formation of an Advisory Board to help the organization achieve its next goal of feeding freshly prepared nutritious midday meals daily to 5 million deserving school children by 2020. Akshaya Patra reached its first milestone of serving one million children daily in 2009, ahead of schedule.

Luminaries Deepak Chopra, founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, N. R. Narayana Murthy, Founder-Chairman of Infosys Technologies, Nitin Nohria, Dean of Harvard Business School and Fareed Zakaria, author, journalist and host of CNN's GPS are the first four to join the Advisory Board. With their global reputations and unique insights, they will be valuable resource as Akshaya Patra strengthens and expands its operations and becomes a “Global Model” that is a catalyst for innovation.

“Magic happens when accomplished leaders come together and challenge each other to raise the aspirations of the organization,” said Desh Deshpande, chairman of the Akshaya Patra Board. The members of this newly created Advisory Board will provide strategic input, endorse the approach, and attract distinguished leaders to be a part of the organization and take it to the next level.

“Akshaya Patra is a perfect example of what happens when creativity and compassion come together,” said Deepak Chopra. A public-private partnership, Akshaya Patra simultaneously addresses two of the most pressing challenges –hunger and access to education for children in India. One of the world’s largest NGO run midday meal programs, it has scaled its operations exponentially in the last ten years and expanded its reach from 1,500 children in 5 schools to 1.2 million children DAILY in over 7000 schools from 19 kitchens in eight states. These meals serve as an incentive for children to come to school, stay in school and provide them with the necessary nutrients to focus on learning. “Akshaya Patra is a success story of hope, fairness, justice and opportunity for all children. A healthy and educated populace is the real strength of any country,” said Narayana Murthy

Akshaya Patra , one of the largest NGO run mid day meal program is a public-private partnership. Launched modestly in Bangalore in 2000 feeding 1500 children, it has scaled its operations by designing the most innovative centralized kitchens that beckon imagination, combine good management with smart engineering, forge collaborations with government, corporations and individuals, and have brought together all those who share its vision – no child shall be deprived of education because of hunger. Technology and supply chains are leveraged with maximum efficiency to deliver freshly prepared nutritious meals to children at a fraction of the cost of other similar programs worldwide. With government support, $23 feeds two children for an entire school year. “Akshaya Patra is a success story of scale, efficiency and effectiveness,” said Nitin Nohria. “The debilitating effects of lack of schooling and illiteracy need to be addressed immediately. I applaud this public-private partnership that is aggressively addressing this important challenge facing India. ”

The meals provide an incentive for children to come to school, stay in school and provide them with the necessary nutrients they need to develop cognitive abilities and focus on learning. Akshaya Patra is a groundbreaking model that exemplifies how outstanding results can be achieved when the public sector, private sector and civil society work collaboratively. “Akshay Patra model is a global solution to reverse child hunger trends worldwide,” said Fareed Zakaria.

Madhu Sridhar, President and CEO of Akshaya Patra USA noted, “We will continue to add members with a stellar record of accomplishments as well as the compassion to help those who are marginalized in the world.”

For more information, please visit www.foodforeducation.org.
 

Canadian South Asians Supporting Independent Living (C-SASIL), which has been serving the persons with disabilities for years, has officially opened a new office in Brampton on August 10, 2010. The new office, located at 150 Central Park Dr., suite 019 (Lower Level) in the Civic Center building (near Bramalea City Center) will be a base of operation for the organization whose mandate is to promote disability rights and independent living in the South Asian community.

Honourable Mayor Susan Fennell, Councillor Sandra Hames (ward 7&8), Honourable Gurbax Singh Malhi (MP: Bramalea-Gore-Malton), Dr. Kuldip Kular (MPP: Bramalea-Gore-Malton), Regional Councillor John Sanderson (ward 3&4), John Sprovieri (ward 9&10), Baldev Mutta (CEO – PCHS), Noor Din (ED Human Endeavour), Jake Dheer (Station Manager Rogers TV) were present at the office inauguration of Canadian South Asians Supporting Independent Living (C-SASIL). 

 

Honourable Mayor Susan Fennell has cut the ribbon and cake along with Harvinder Bajwa (Founder & President of C-SASIL), Khalid Hussain (Vice President of C-SASIL), Councillor Sandra Hames and Honourable Gurbax Singh Malhi MP.

 

Harvinder Bajwa (Founder & President of C-SASIL) has welcomed the guests and provided information about the organization and services. Ms. Bajwa said, “We were facing many difficulties (meeting clients, starting new programs etc.) without a proper office and we were working hard since the past two years to get a proper space for the office”.   

 

Finally we have this office with the support of councillor Sandra Hames. Now we can provide services to our clients without barriers, said Ms. Bajwa. She also mentioned that we are starting a friendship club for isolated persons with disabilities, and also education, training and employment programs.

 

Mayor Susan Fennell congratulated the board of directors of Canadian South Asians Supporting Independent Living (C-SASIL) for their achievement. “Each individual has a disability; no one is perfect, said Mayor Fennell”. If you see the dedication towards the disabled community and achievements of Ms. Bajwa and her colleagues, how can we say they are disabled, individuals who are working hard to improve the quality of lives of their fellows with disabilities. She also mentioned that the city of Brampton will keep supporting them in the future.               

 

At the end, Ms Bajwa thanked Mayor Susan Fennell, Councillor Sandra Hames and the entire guests for attending. She also thanked the dedicated volunteers, supporters and the media for raising awareness about disability issues.

 

Canadian South Asians Supporting Independent Living (C-SASIL) is first non-profit South Asian disability organization runs by persons with disabilities for persons with disabilities. C-SASIL helps new comers to make right choices to settle in a new environment, provide peer support who acquire new disabilities, assist clients with all types of applications and forms and aid in applying for funding to get assistive devices (such as wheelchairs, scooters and walker etc), book their rides, medical and other appointments, who have language barriers.

 

If you need disability related information or help contact the Canadian-South Asians Supporting Independent Living (C-SASIL) at 905-799-7274 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it