Letter to the Editor, SikhNet:
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January 17, 2011 Sat Sri Akal Ji!
This is a fantastic Gurudwara called Mata Sahib Kaur Sikh Academy, which was started up by three brothers two and a half years ago with the aim of educating young Sikh children about Sikhi (hence the word academy in their title). It is a really great place where young Sikh children are given the opportunity to do all the seva, learn kirtan, paath as well as meet other Sikh youngsters. Many of the children have grown their hair since coming to the academy and seeing this some of their parents have too! Unfortunately this Gurudwara has run into some financial difficulty - they need to repay a loan of three hundred thousand pounds by 21 January 2011. The gurudwara has already raised over half the money and it would be a shame for it to close now. Therefore, I am requesting if you could please post this on your website to help raise awareness (and hopefully funds) about this issue. Some people may not care if some Gurudwara in East London shuts down because you don't live nearby and so can not benefit from it. However, people in the UK should cast their minds back 15-20 years when Guru Nanak Sikh college first opened in Hayes. They struggled too, but then they became successful and inspired other Sikh communities to also open Sikh schools of which there now are a number of, up and down the UK. In the same way, it is hoped that this Academy will inspire many other academies to open in the UK where Sikh children will be happy to go and learn about their rich Sikh heritage. The children who come to the academy, come because they want to, and not because their parents force them too, they come because they get the opportunity to learn about Sikhi in a language they understand.... So not only does such a place teach children about Sikhi but it helps to keep them away from the many bad influences that children are exposed to these days, such as gangs, alcohol, drugs etc.... I hope that this Academy stays open and I hope that you will join me in raising awareness about this matter. Thank you very much in advance for your help. Sincerely, |
I am writing you in the hope that you will be able to raise awareness about the financial difficulty a Sikh Gurudwara in East London, UK is facing.