05 Oct, 2010: TWO Glenwood-based Sikh community groups have received funding for programs to help children learn more about their cultural heritage and Australian society.
The Australian Sikh Association received $1740 from the state government to run its program at the Sikh Temple in Meurants Lane, while Sikh Khalsa Mission received $2400 to run its class at Caddies Creek Public School.
Australian Sikh Association president Kuldip Singh Deo and Sikh Khalsa Mission public officer Gurmit Singh agreed the programs would be beneficial.
Mr Deo said his association's classes would teach young students of Sikh background about their heritage and languages.
Mr Singh said his group would not only focus on where Sikhs came from, but where they were heading as members of Australian society.
Riverstone MP John Aquilina said the funding was part of the NSW government's $2 million commitment to community-languages programs across the state.
"This is about supporting the diversity and maintaining Australia as a vibrant, multicultural society with a long and colorful history of migration," he said.
NSW Education Minister Verity Firth said community-language schools provided programs for 31,640 young people this year alone.