B R ANCH REPORT
do to avoid this happening further.
More of these seminars are planned
in future.
Regular events at our centre include:
Monthly Senior’s gathering, Yoga
classes, Sai Bhajans, Gujarati Verg,
Youth Club and Badminton.
Culture, highlighting how certain
aspects in our culture have changed
over the last 40 years. Jayshreeben
and Sumiben gave an informative
presentation titled “What is the
Samaj”. Branches delivered dramas
and dances on topics ranging from
work life balance, how multiple
generations used to live in one
house and the shift from women
being house wives to bread winners.
Dr Tina Krishanbhai Mistry gave
a very informed talk on the topic
of Depression, something that
has been at the centre of many
tragedies this year. Dr Tina
emphasised that we should look
out for the signs of depression and
how help can be obtained for those
who are suffering with this difficult
condition. It is common practice in
our culture to dismiss this condition
and ignore the feelings of severe
despondency and dejection. Dr Tina
encouraged the audience to help
those around them who may show
signs of depression and encourage
them to seek professional help.
Talking to someone always helps!
Councillor Arun Photay, Ambassador
of the Sharan Project delivered a
presentation on their project work.
The Sharan project, established in
2008 is a UK based charity which
seeks to provide support, advice
and create a forum for vulnerable
women, particularly of South Asian
origin, who have left home forcefully
or voluntarily. In many cases this
has been as a result of disownment,
forced intercourse and or marriage,
domestic or honour based violence.
The event concluded with a wedding
fashion show. This showcased the
change in wedding attire over the
years and the shift from marriages
being arranged to couples finding
their own lifetime partners.
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The Mahila Samelan was a fun
packed and informative day and
enjoyed by all who attended – our
heartiest thanks to all those who
helped us make this a great success.
In conjunction with the Sai Bhajan
Group, we held Prathna and Bhajans
in aid of the Nepal Earthquake
disaster on Saturday 6th June
2015 which was attended by 200
people. The event was thoroughly
enjoyable and we raised over £3300
on the day. To date, funds are still
coming in. So far we have raised
over £5500. With the funds, we are
hoping to provide a rehabilitation
centre, a school or any facilities that
may provide subsequent help to the
Nepalese people.
As a branch, we are extremely proud
to have established our own building
with the help and generosity of
our members. In recent years we
have suffered hiring income due to
the loss of the car parking facility.
We continue to work with local
councillors to secure a car park for
our building. Our building is a home
for our members, and as our own
homes do, the building requires
maintenance. In a bid to raise
money for our ongoing building
project and to sustain our Sanskar,
we asked our membership to donate
a minimum of £100 per household.
We have gratefully received
significant donations from some of
our members but not all.
This year along with the Hindu
Council of Birmingham and in
conjunction with Sikh Awareness
Society UK, we organised a
Grooming and Entrapment Seminar.
The seminar was conducted by Bhai
Mohan Singh. The seminar focused
on how our Hindu/Sikh girls are
targets of sexual grooming and
being entrapped and what we can
The Senior Citizens group continues
to thrive and they continue to be a
dominant part of the organisation.
Their regular monthly gatherings
attract between 80-90 members
from a variety of different castes.
They are always at hand to offer
their services when and where
required. It is an opportunity to
learn from the senior ladies on how
to cook, etc. In July a day trip to
Blackpool was organised and was
thoroughly enjoyed by all of those
who attended.
We have had a significant decline in
the number of members attending
many events, whether they are
religious, social or informative talks.
We understand this is a common
issue amongst other branches and
various other organisations. The
Samaj can only continue and exist
with input and participation from its
members. We urge our members
to come and join us in building a
foundation for our community and
our children. It is important that
we continue to impart our cultural
heritage to the younger generation
to avoid deterioration of our culture
in years to come. Living in a western
society, it is our duty to continue
to build upon the foundations our
fore fathers worked hard to build.
By working with members of the
community you can learn new skills,
share information and expand your
social circle. We live in a society
where work seems to dominate
the focus of our lives leaving little
time for us to get involved in Samaj
activities. But taking some time out
of the daily grind with your family
and part taking in Samaj activities
may help to bring back your work
life balance. So come on members,
come and join us and help us to take
our Samaj forward!
Finally on behalf on the Board of
Trustees and Executive Committee
we wish you all a Happy Diwali
and Nutan Varsh Na Abhinandan.
Bhavanaben Dipakbhai Mistry
(Secretary 2014/2015)