Press Release
Sojhi Online Goes Live Around the Globe
Bridgewater, NJ-- It is with great joy on the Prakash Purab of Guru Harikrishan Sahib—Sikhi’s “bala pritam” (beloved child) Guru—that Sikh Research Institute announces the release of the first phase of Sojhi online today.
The first phase makes 156 Boli (language) and Virsa (heritage) lesson plans of the Sojhi Gurmat and Panjabi Educational Resource for Kindergarten through second grade available for free download at the Sikh Educators Network website. The lesson plans can be downloaded individually or as complete sets for each grade level. The lesson plans have been extensively proofed and edits made to the first edition were based on changes suggested by the Sojhi review committee. New resource activities have also been added and all printable resources are available as well.
“SikhRI’s Sojhi Curriculum has been a very effective tool for educating Sikh youth in Language Art (Boli) and Sikh History and Maryada (Virsa),” said Gajinder Singh, Principal of GNFA Khalsa School in Maryland, which has used Sojhi for seven years. “Teachers, parents and administrators felt very comfortable in imparting standardized instructions through this great resource. We appreciate SikhRI’s effort to make this Gurmat and Panjabi education resource now available to a wider Sikh Community through free download.”
Achint Kaur also spoke about Bridgewater Khalsa School’s experience using the Sojhi curriculum over the last six years: “The curriculum has been a great tool in organizing ourselves as teachers as well as streamlining the information disseminated. The many resources and project suggestions helped in engaging the children and keeping them connected. Adopting Sojhi was the best thing we could have done to bring Sikhi education to our kids.”
Lesson plans are written to be simple and fun to use at home as well as in the classroom. “Imparting the beauty and history of Sikhi shouldn’t be limited to Sunday school classrooms,” said Harliv Kaur, curriculum developer for SikhRI. “Sojhi curriculum can help parents think through organizing celebrations, planning arts and crafts, story time, and other creative moments for the whole family to learn together.”
The first phase of Sojhi online is generously sponsored by Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center, Inc. of Richmond Hill, NY. Its president, Gurmej Singh, commented: "We are proud to partner with SikhRI to provide open access to Sojhi to our children worldwide."