• 04/05/2023

  Meet Gurpreet Ghuggi & Empower Punjab!

  ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ

  Sadh Sangat ji,

  Supporters like yourselves have organized two events to help empower Punjab. The first one's going to be held in Florida and the second in New York. Below are the details of both events and how to reserve your spot.

  Join us for an unforgettable evening over dinner with Gurpreet Ghuggi, one of the biggest Punjabi comedians and artists of our time, as we support Project Kirti, an initiative by UNITED SIKHS to promote economic self-reliance in Punjab.

  

  Reserve your spot now!

  Click here to book a spot in Florida for April 21, at the Heatthrow Legacy Country Club.

  Click here to book a spot in New York for April 23, at Antun's by Minar.

  We're looking forward to seeing you there!

  

• 03/15/2023

  From struggle to success with Project Kirti

  For decades, life for Jaskirat Singh (name changed), has been little more than a daily struggle for survival. The 55-year old lost his elder brother to the scarcely-remembered January 1989 anti-Sikh riots of Jammu, a brief but mad frenzy of violence and arson that claimed several Sikh lives. Burdened with the responsibility of two families, Jaskirat Singh struggled incessantly to make ends meet, only for his health to give way.

  

  Despite nearing his sunset years, there was no way Jaskirat Singh could savor the luxury of retirement.

  Thankfully, Project Kirti launched by UNITED SIKHS came to his rescue, arranging a bank loan and a down payment to help him obtain his very own e-rickshaw – a battery-operated vehicle used to transport passengers. Although Jaskirat still has to go to work, he now enjoys the relative comfort of having a stable and less taxing source of livelihood.

  
  Daughter of a daily-wage laborer, 23-year-old Arshdeep Kaur* (name changed) had long aspired to become a professional cosmetologist. But with her father’s meager earnings and familial responsibilities – she has two other siblings including a physically challenged brother– she could ill afford the steep course fees. Luckily, she came to know of UNITED SIKHS’ Project Kirti.

  

  Having received financial assistance under the Project, Arshdeep has now enrolled herself in the course.

  She now looks forward to a bright future – a hitherto impossible dream.
  It is hard to fight back tears for Harnam Singh* (name changed) as he recalls the untold hardships unleashed by the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and its subsequent fallout. A father of two, 33-year-old Harnam Singh worked for a small private enterprise which closed down during the first wave of the pandemic, leaving him broke and unemployed. While Harnam received some help from UNITED SIKHS at the time, the following years weren’t easy as he had to work multiple odd jobs to try and cobble together a decent livelihood. Finally, UNITED SIKHS’ Project Kirti lent a hand, taking out a bank loan in his name and making a down payment to help him obtain his own e-rickshaw.

  

  Today, Harnam is deeply thankful because he has a stable source of income. He is determined to work hard and pay off his EMIs.

  Misfortunes have been a constant companion of 37-year-old Kawalpreet Kaur* (name changed), a mother of two school-going children. Afflicted with a spinal injury, her husband has been unable to work, leaving the family in dire straits. Mired in debt and financial difficulties, Kawalpreet finally found hope with UNITED SIKHS’ Project Kirti. The latter helped her procure two sewing machines she can use to earn a decent living for her family.

  

  Kawalpreet can now look after her husband and children without having to constantly worry about money for square meals.

  
  Kirat Karo, Naam Japo, Vand Chakko: Path to a Fulfilling File
   
  Started by the India chapter of UNITED SIKHS, Project Kirti isn’t about creating jaw-dropping ‘rags to riches’ stories; nor is it meant for people scrounging for freebies.

  Instead, it draws inspiration from the teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib ji (founder of Sikhism) himself who summed up righteousness as comprising hard work for earning an honest livelihood (kirt karo); reciting God’s name (naam japo); and sharing one’s wealth with the community (vand chakko).

  

  Project Kirti was started sometime in the last quarter of 2022, and formally launched on 31st January 2023.

  
  Ever since its inception, Project Kirti has helped scores of indigent but industrious individuals across Delhi and Punjab earn an honest and honorable livelihood by giving them access to income-generating resources such as sewing machines, juice carts, e-rickshaws, and welding sets, among others. It has also helped young people like Arshdeep Kaur enroll into or complete educational courses, paving the way for a promising career ahead.

  
  The Best Part?

  Under Project Kirti, beneficiaries are only assisted to the point of creating an opportunity for growth - they must labor on their own to repay the loan for the asset UNITED SIKHS helped them procure. Because ‘kirt’ is a virtue embedded in the Sikh way of life!

  Project Kirti is running but for the generosity of donors like you.
  Help us sustain and grow this nascent project and touch the lives of thousands of beleaguered individuals who are unable to come out of the vicious circle of lack of employment, debt, and poverty.

  Support Economic Self-Reliance! Support Project Kirti!

  P.S.: Faces of beneficiaries have been blurred to maintain confidentiality.

• 03/03/2023

  A Monumental Tragedy Needs a Monumental Response

  UNITED SIKHS volunteers are typically emotionally resilient people, not prone to breaking down or getting overwhelmed. But while serving earthquake victims in Turkey – for the first time in a long time – many have had their eyes well up with tears, or temporarily withdrawn into catatonic silence, sighed and gazed listlessly, pondering the colossal tragedy that had befallen perfectly good men and women. 

  Weep for Whom?

  70 year-old Azda from Antakya, Hatay Province – one of the places affected most severely by the 6 February earthquake – lives on after having lost 8 members of her family

  Ali from İskenderun, Hatay Province, has only memories to cling on to – he lost 36 members of his family. 

  Meanwhile, Kenan from Samandağ, Hatay Province, continues to relive the horror of flinging both his children down the third floor building in which they lived, ironically, in a bid to save them when the earthquake first struck. 

  Ali, who suffered a fracture as a result of his fall, shivers at the terrifying memory of having to choose between certain death and probable death for his children and himself

  A Seismic Tragedy

  The 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake is, by all accounts, the deadliest in centuries - the number of people confirmed dead has now crossed 45,000 in Turkey; thousands more have been injured across the 11 most hard hit provinces. The scale of devastation is massive. 

  Moreover, millions have been rendered homeless, food and water shortages persist, and fears of infections and epidemics are every day mounting.

  Scenes from Turkey’s worst-hit cities could well be out of an apocalyptic nightmare. 

  Houses that lined the streets lie reduced to piles of rubble pulverized beyond recognition 

  Neighborhoods, once alive and astir, wear a frightfully desolate look

  Makeshift tents – appallingly overcrowded with no sanitation facilities – have been pitched everywhere by victims, many of whom still dread going near buildings or even close to their now-mangled homes. Plunged into sudden homelessness and destitution, they have had little time to grieve their loved ones or lament their financial ruin. Everyday survival is nothing less than an ordeal. 

  Rushing Forward to Help

  Teams of UNITED SIKHS volunteers flew in from Germany and Denmark, reaching the badly affected province of Adıyaman on Day 3 of the earthquake

  Presently a team from the U.S. is serving at various affected spots across Adana and Hatay provinces.

  As part of our relief operations, we are distributing essentials such as food, water, and clothing

  Given the state of the wrecked gas pipelines, we have also begun distributing portable cylinders. The old and indigent are being offered cash assistance. 

  Soldiering On

  Helping out in Turkey has by no means been easy for our volunteers

  The team at Samandağ has been putting up inside containers and the one in Adana Province is currently in living quarters far from the main site of destruction – widespread devastation made it impossible to put up anywhere close by. Every day they dutifully refill the SUV with supplies at Adana city, and drive down the treacherous, debris-littered 3-hour road to reach the affected towns and cities.

  That’s not all.

  On more than one occasion, gaggles of men, women, and children desperately clamoring for essentials accosted our volunteers, jostling to seize provisions and creating a near-riot like situation

  Leave Mid-Way? The Question doesn’t Arise!

  No matter how tough the going gets, UNITED SIKHS volunteers are determined to stay on and lend a hand.

  Volunteers feel they must continue to provide humanitarian and relief aid till a measure of normalcy returns to the region

  Wonder what makes them want to go on despite the many odds?

  The answer is YOU. YOUR magnanimity strengthens our resolve. Because we know you’ve never been one to look away. Especially not when millions have been left bereft of all they ever had. All they ever had – read that again.

  A serpentine queue outside a UNITED SIKHS aid distribution center; victims’ needs overwhelmingly outweigh supplies

  Children enjoy a hot meal served by UNITED SIKHS volunteers

  This mammoth, collective injury needs healing, not help.

  Be the healer Turkey needs.

• 02/15/2023

  Turkey Earthquake Relief Mission

  Hatay, Turkey 

  Responding to one of the worst disasters to hit Turkey, UNITED SIKHS is collaborating with various governments and local organizations for relief operations and expanding assistance to the most affected regions. This includes digging the rubble looking for survivors and distributing relief supplies. 

  In addition to the relief aid in Diyarbakir, the disaster relief team has set up a base in Hatay, one of the worse affected regions in southern Turkey.

  Our volunteers from Denmark and Germany have joined the relief operations. They are also collaborating with local volunteers to quickly expand humanitarian assistance to the most affected areas.

  UNITED SIKHS volunteers distributing food to earthquake-affected children in Diyakabir

  Speaking about the disaster and the collaboration with various governments, Gurpreet Singh, CEO UNITED SIKHS said, "We are in pain seeing the wide scale of devastation and suffering. To maximize the relief work across regions, we are collaborating with government agencies in Hatay. As part of the initiative, our supporters would also help ship relief consignments of required items to Turkey. We need your generous support in providing urgent humanitarian relief to the thousands impacted."

  Gurvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS International Humanitarian Aid Director also appealed that the scale of the disaster calls for a global response. “People are still trapped under the rubble. And those who survive have lost everything. They are in immediate need for humanitarian assistance. Please support us in providing critical aid to regions where no one has reached,” he said.

  

  Our on-ground teams report that supplies including non-perishable items like baby food, water, tents, heaters, mattresses, pillows, warm socks and shoes, female hygiene products in addition to portable toilets and medical supplies are urgently needed.

  UNITED SIKHS continues to provide humanitarian relief to victims of man-made or natural calamities including the ongoing war in Ukraine. Our teams have provided humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Pakistan in 2006, in Haiti in 2010, in Chile in 2010, in Japan in 2011, and in Pakistan-Afghanistan in 2015, as well.

  

  Kavita Kumar, UNITED SIKHS volunteer from Denmark who joined the mission in Turkey said that it is hard to describe colossal damage and suffering. Temperatures are dropping below zero, making it worse for those displaced and homeless.

  Thousands of families have lost everything. They are counting on your kindness. Please donate generously.

• 12/30/2022

  Your Global 911

  Guru Pyari Sadh Sangat ji,

  We are moved by your love and support for our mission and vision. Because of this, we were able to help people across 5 continents.

  All through the year, UNITED SIKHS volunteers have been providing urgent humanitarian aid, whether helping bring back the swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to safety in Ukraine or setting up free ambulances for sick patients in various cities of Punjab. We continue to respond to emergencies with your support.

  Our teams have been on the ground in hostile weather conditions and conflict zones, delivering hot meals, medications, and rehabilitation. We were able to provide legal support where there was injustice and threats to the safety of minorities, including Sikhs in Afghanistan, Nanded and Shillong.

  Gurmat and Gurmukhi classes have been organized in Shillong, Punjab and Peshawar to connect our children back to our roots.

  As we prepare to step into 2023, we look up to you to continue to support our projects so that we may together aim higher and be of assistance to hundreds of thousands of more families in need. 

  UNITED SIKHS Humanitarian Aid Director, Gurvinder Singh, gives you a bird’s eye view of the work you helped us do this year.

  

  We appreciate your support as we stand ready to serve humanity in 2023!

• 12/25/2022

  Revisiting Our Roots

  Wind has stilled. The vast fields stretch off into foggy distance.

  

  Poh is when winter peaks in Punjab. Poh is when Chaar Sahibzadey embraced martyrdom.
  For the Sikh community, it’s commemoration of unparalleled sacrifices.
  The sacrifices chronicled by poet Allah Yar Khan Jogi in these poignant lines: ਬੱਸ ਏਕ ਹਿੰਦ ਮੇਂ ਤੀਰਥ ਹੈ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਕੇ ਲੀਯੇ ! ਕਟਾਏ ਬਾਪ ਨੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਜਹਾਂ ਖ਼ੁਦਾ ਕੇ ਲੀਯੇ! There is only one shrine worth pilgrimage in the land of Hind (Indian subcontinent), where a Father (Guru Gobind Singh Ji)  made the highest sacrifice, laying down the lives of his children for Faith (standing up for human rights and justice).

  

  But how does our knowledge of Chaar Sahibzadey compare to the understanding the community had of them in the years past?

  
  As part of UNITED SIKHS educational campaigns under our Community Education and Empowerment Development (CEED) program, our volunteers have fanned across Punjab’s landscape, circulating questionnaire about one of the most significant phases of Sikh history.

  
  Out on a mission to find out how deeply the present-day Sikhs in the heartland of the faith know the details and the context of the Shaheedi of Chaar Sahibzadey.

  “The aim is to know about the lives and the martyrdom of Chaar Sahibzadey and what they stood for. We encourage learning the history of our faith at a deeper level, beyond the peripheral understanding of high points in the past 550 years.” — Amritpal Singh, UNITED SIKHS Ludhiana Director

  Respondents are given a questionnaire on Chaar Sahibzadey. They can quiz each other in their own family. They can quiz their friends.

  “We are organizing this campaign under our ongoing Community Education and Empowerment Development (CEED) program. During this Shaheedi month, we’d encourage people to have a deeper understanding of Sikh history. It’s high time we revived the Sakhi tradition in our families. Let’s revisit our roots.” — Daljit Singh, Executive Director, UNITED SIKHS

  Participants stand a chance to win exciting prizes. Answers can be sent to a designated address.

  An open quiz in Ludhiana hosts prize giveaways for different age-groups.

  Your monthly donation enables us to initiate such seva and sustain it! 

• 11/15/2022

  SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU MAY BE IN TROUBLE..

  No matter how hard 42-year old Deepinder Kaur (name changed) tried to erase the memory of that vicious look in her husband’s eyes, it would float before her mind’s eye, causing her to recoil in fear, convulse in agony. 

  Deepinder was brought by the police to the hospital after her husband savagely beat her, knocking her unconscious. Her face bore multiple fractures and her tongue was split open. She had bruises on her lungs, and lacerations to her head. The pain that tore through her body was exacerbated by the knowledge that she had nowhere to go in the United States, and she wasn’t fluent in the English language. It didn’t help that she was unemployed and still in the process of extending her US visa.  

  By the time she called Umeed – the UNITED SIKHS’ helpline number – she had been living in her car for a few days. When her story unraveled, the UNITED SIKHS volunteers found her a place to stay, helped her reschedule her visa appointment, and offered her free mental health support to help her overcome what she had been through. 

  

  It is not hard to spot women like Deepinder in North America’s South Asian community. You can tell when they are fighting back tears while picking up groceries at the supermarket. You notice their uncharacteristic reticence at social gatherings. And not just beleaguered women like Deepinder.  The solitary, elderly gentleman with the vacant look in his eyes. The crestfallen teenager you can tell was bullied at school today. The disoriented scruffy-looking man on the bus. The girl with the alcoholic father in the neighborhood. 

  At times it is stigma that stops people from speaking out. At other times, it is a feeling of hopelessness arising out of not knowing whom to reach out to. This is exactly what inspired the creation of Umeed (meaning hope), the latest community-driven initiative from UNITED SIKHS.

  Umeed is a 24/7 helpline in principle but could be a potential lifeline to those in real need. Launched to provide social support, prevention strategies, and coordinated services information, Umeed aims at helping the most vulnerable find the resources they need, at a time they need it the most with 100% confidentiality intact.

  Anyone going through a personal crisis could dial the helpline number and get access to resources and professional help related to senior care service, mental health support, substance abuse counseling, domestic abuse counseling, post-disaster distress counseling, and social support service. This way, they'll know they aren't alone. And they definitely aren't uncared for.

  For most South Asian communities, personal, familial, and marital traumas still make for unnerving conversations. It’s not going to be easy to popularize this unique family help center helpline because few will be willing to acknowledge they need this kind of help. And that’s why this nascent initiative of UNITED SIKHS needs a collective push from people like you. 

  We need legal professionals, marriage counselors, family lawyers, mental health experts, senior care providers, and medical professionals! We also need volunteers who are simply willing to go out there, to elicit a conversation, to talk and listen. Last but not least, we need generous donations from people like you to sustain hope; to keep Umeed up and running.

  Umeed needs YOU today; your community members need YOU. Most of all, YOU need to be the person who won’t look away, thinking you don’t know how to help.

  Make A Donation & Help Rekindle their Hope: Donate Now

  

• 11/12/2022

  Your Support Continues to Guide Our Seva Missions

  Dear Sangat ji,

  With the blessings of Waheguru Ji and your support, UNITED SIKHS continues to transcend boundaries and geographies, to be able to take the fragrance of Sikh principles and tenets around the globe, to spread Guru Nanak Patshah’s message of Oneness, and embrace all and everyone in need, wherever they are.

  Your faith in us has helped us set up more Chapters in Europe – in Ukraine and Denmark this year, strengthening our reach and resolve to serve, even if it meant risking our own lives to help those in need.

  The sewa encompasses the following main areas of work — humanitarian aid, legal aid, human rights advocacy and community empowerment and education. Expertise in all of the aforementioned areas, along with our global presence, presents us with a unique strength to quickly mobilize our teams and resources whenever the need arises.

  For instance, during the resettlement of the Afghan Sikh & Hindu refugees after attacks on a Gurudwara Sahib  in Afghanistan, our Sikh Aid team helped in their rescue, ensured humanitarian aid to them, while our legal teams liaised and coordinated with the governments of Afghanistan, India and Mexico to secure a new safe home for Afghan Sikhs — requiring quick coordination across our sewa verticals.

  

  
  Our legal teams helped the young Sikh boys who had to face indiscriminate charges against them by the police in Nanded Sahib for crossing over the barricading and scuffling with the police, during the Hola Mahalla celebrations last year. While the UNITED SIKHS legal team had sought bail orders for many of them last year, several of them were still facing charges. UNITED SIKHS teams successfully availed anticipatory bails for 35 Sikhs.

  

   

  For over 20 years, UNITED SIKHS continues to advocate for the victims of hate crimes, discrimination, bullying and other issues involving minorities. UNITED SIKHS has undertaken data collection on hate/bias crimes and incidents against Sikhs to ensure that justice is properly served. UNITED SIKHS works in North America, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world in partnership with other organizations to raise awareness of hate/bias-related incidents and crimes against Sikhs, and to encourage the practice of reporting such incidents within the Sikh community.

  

   

  The Power of Your Giving Helps Us Empower our Communities — It is an Investment into a Better Present and a Stronger Future.

  
  Your donations will be matched when you make a donation to UNITED SIKHS through Dasvandh Network. Please double the impact of your ‘Dasvandh’ by making a gift today: https://www.dvnetwork.org/projects/disaster-relief-fund

• 10/28/2022

  UMEED (Hope) Family Helpline - 24/7, Confidential

  A FUTURE WITHOUT VIOLENCE. UMEED: Educate….Empower… Enable !!

  
  Your contributions will provide the most precious gift of Umeed (Hope) – to realize a new life free from violence.

  Join UNITED SIKHS’ Community Education and Empowerment Directorate (CEED) program – UMEED, a National Family Resource Center. If we all work together, a better future is possible.

  The helpline is fully confidential and is available 24/7, with a mission to 'listen', offer hope and resources to callers to help them break the silence about violence and receive trauma-informed services and other support services. 

  National Family Resource Center Toll free Help-line: 1-855-US-UMEED (1-855-878-6333)

  Join us as we fight for your rights by supporting our work! Make a donation and double the impact you make during Dasvandh-matching week, November 11 - 20.

  Our resource advocates can help you find professionals and resources for services including domestic violence counseling, disaster distress counseling, senior care services counseling, substance abuse counseling, assistance with Medicare and other federal programs, language assistance and personal support services.

  Violence exposure, be it direct or indirect, impacts the victim’s physical, emotional and social health and well-being. UNITED SIKHS is committed to supporting and helping you receive the assistance you need to recover. Together we will initiate effective and long-lasting changes.

  With greater awareness, as a society, we can develop effective ways of responding to the needs of our community. Come join us in confronting the reality of violence in our community and improve lives of our children, brothers and sisters.

  Your contributions will provide many with the most precious of gifts – Umeed (hope). Will you give them this gift?

  Your gift will help many realize a new life free of violence and provide support services to our children, women and seniors.

  Be safe and stay in Chardi Kala!

• 09/02/2022

  Pakistan Flood Relief

  

  UNITED SIKHS volunteer, Dr. Sagarjeet Singh with impacted families in Shikarpur, a building’s roof collapsed, killing 2 people on the spot.

  Over 33 million people are directly impacted by one of the worst floods in Pakistan. Nightmarish scenes are being witnessed as massive floods wreak havoc and devastation across the country.

  UNITED SIKHS volunteers have stepped up with humanitarian aid efforts in multiple locations in the country to help provide emergency relief to families in need.

  -        Distribution of food and water among 12000 families including children, women, and men in two camps in Charsada district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Nearly 2 lakh people are impacted due to flash floods in the district Charsada, 70 km from Peshawar.

  Herdyal Singh, Project Director, United Sikhs Pakistan, said, “We have received request to assist 20,000 more families as we responded swiftly to the crisis, deploying teams and resources for emergency relief in the affected areas.”

  Due to the massive scale of the floods, several areas still remain cut off as roads and bridges have been destroyed, and communication systems have collapsed. The teams are making every effort to reach and serve difficult-to-access areas as UNITED SIKHS is making efforts to expedite the relief operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab as well, he said.

  -        “While we provide emergency items like milk powder, sanitary pads, food, drinking water, mattress, mats, and non-food items (NFIs), we are gearing up to set up free medical camps in Nowshera and other districts as the threat of diseases due to water-borne diseases and infections from nearly 8 lakhs of carcasses of cattle looms large,” he added. A temple is also under water in Nowshera, a district with sizeable population of Hindus and Christians.

  Due to the heavy rain in Shikarpur, a building’s roof collapsed, killing 2 people on the spot.

  -        Dr. Sagarjeet Singh, a volunteer of the UNITED SIKHS Medical Core and Member of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee immediately moved the Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth sahib Ji Maharaj to a nearby Gursikh Family residence.

  The condition in Pakistan is critical. Help us save lives by supporting this relief mission.

  

• 08/24/2022

  2022 Annual Sikh Summit For Youth

  

  New York, NY:
   The UNITED SIKHS 2022 Annual Summit and Advocacy & Humanitarian Aid Academy (AHAA) was a success by all measures!   Thanks to all that willingly participated including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), our partners in civil rights advocacy and more!  

  It took place virtually for the first time and, in the span of 5 days between July 25-29, 2022, the event drew speakers from around the world, from the private and public sectors,  including  members of the U.S. Congress, civil rights attorneys, the legal and business communities and executive leadership from federal government agencies. They all came together at this Summit to discuss pressing Sikh and other civil and human rights concerns in the U.S. and abroad.

  "The aim of the Academy is to nurture future leaders by providing them with the opportunity to acquire subject matter knowledge and skills and to learn about an array of civil rights topics," 

  — Inderjeet Singh, UNITED SIKHS Community Affairs Coordinator

  “Capacity of UNITED SIKHS to mobilize national and international leaders to speak at the Annual Summit attests to the Sikh grand principle of “recognizing humans as one race.” We will continue to expand our humanitarian aid and legal advocacy. We are excited and already looking forward to our next Summit,”

  — Hardayal Singh, Co-founder and Programs Director at UNITED SIKHS

  Many highly competitive students of varied backgrounds applied and were selected to participate. They were part of and learned valuable skills and lessons about leadership through their participation. The students showed immense enthusiasm and commitment to the struggle for social justice, to engage in civil rights advocacy, volunteerism and in international humanitarian aid work, and in education and healthcare initiatives.

  

  “This has been an experience like no other. Nowhere could I have been able to interact with high-level federal government officials, Congressmembers and civil rights attorneys in such a short span of time and feel like I am a part of it.”      
  — Z. Hussain, Hicksville, NY, Student, 2022 AHAA. 

  The Summit has the added value of educating people about what a Sikh is.  Students learned, some for the first time, why Sikhs wear turbans and what spiritual significance the five articles have for a practicing Sikh. They learned how there are hate crimes and discrimination against the community.  “They will hopefully go from here and tomorrow ten more people will know what the Kirpan is and the spiritual significance of a turban,” states Gurpreet Singh, CEO at UNITED SIKHS.  “Why is this important?  Because the Sikh and other minority communities have been under attack. For the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian and Hindu (MASSAH) communities these attacks stem from misinformation and stereotypes. For the Sikh community in particular the attacks stem from ignorance of what is a Sikh. “We are educating people because it’s easy to rely on misinformation and stereotypes and to hate what you don’t know. In the words of the Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS), Mr. Paul Monteiro, “It’s hard to hate up close,”  states Gurpreet Singh.  

  The Summit explored a multitude of themes and topics such as COVID-19; Sikh Religious Rights in the U.S. and Mandatory Vaccinations; Afghan and Ukraine Refugees; Gun Violence; Mental Health National Crisis, Funding For Local and National Nonprofit organizations; Prisoner’s Rights; Reproductive Rights; the 28th Equal Rights Constitutional Amendment; Justice Reform and Restitution and Violation of Religious Freedoms Abroad. 

  “UNITED SIKHS advocates for all in need and this year’s Summit’s special focus is on combating violence against all vulnerable communities. Especially in this time when the AANHPI community is experiencing an exponential increase in violence due to misinformation about the origins of COVID-19.  In its 2022 Annual Report, UNITED SIKHS joins other civil rights leaders, including the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), in calling for Congress to fund data collection, hate crime prevention initiatives and urging the full implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crime Act,” states Wanda Sanchez Day, National Legal Director, UNITED SIKHS.

   

  

  “In this Academy, we learnt how the real world works"

  P. Kaur, New Delhi, India, 2022 AHAA.

   

  The Academy is successful each year because it brings together people from all walks of life. The students participate because it’s a chance they may not get elsewhere. The speakers are dynamic, successful professionals who speak about topics that they are working on in real time.  The speakers this year included: 

  Congress member, Hon. Grace Meng (D-NY), Congressional Sikh Caucus;
  Congress member, Hon. Judy Chu, (D-CA), Congressional Sikh Caucus;
  Mr. Paul Monteiro, National Director, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Section (CRS);
  Mr. Michael Lieberman, Senior Policy Counsel at Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC);
  Ms. Samantha Osaki, American Civil Liberties Union, (ACLU);
  Mr. Harpreet Mokha, Esq., Manager for Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian, and Hindu (MASSAH), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); 
  Mr. Manpreet Dhanjal, Special Assistant, Office of Policy & Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
  Mr. Mark Ludeking, Special Assistant, Office of Policy & Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
  Ms. Guljit Bains, Esq., Partner, Law Office of Ali & Bains, PC; 
  Ms. Marie Trottier, Policy Advisor/Tribal Affairs Liaison/Outreach Program Manager; Transportation Security Administration (TSA);
  Mr. Jamie Staley, Supervisor, Policy Advisor, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF);
  Mr. Marcus T. Coleman Jr., Director Office of the FEMA Administrator, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships;
  Ms. Kiran Kaur Gil, Executive Director, SALDEF;
  Mr. Jon Kaiman, Deputy County Executive, Suffolk County, New York;
  Dr. Ishnella Kaur Azad, Executive Vice President, 5Rivers CRE;
  Mr. Sameer Hossain, Director of Community Engagement, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE);
  SCBPO Mario Ramirez, APP-Trusted Traveler Programs Representative, Global Entry 101-Partnership with Foreign Countries to Processing Entry of Foreign Citizens into the U.S.;
  Ms. Hardeep Kaur Sehmbi, Merck; 
  Dr. Nathan H. Madson, JD, PhD.,  The Advocates for Human Rights, Minneapolis and more. 

  “UNITED SIKHS connects the dots by helping students see how a topic as obscure as prison gerrymandering, for example, that they may never have heard about, or even feel they have any connection to, could be relevant when put in the context of their own lives and experiences,”  
  —Ms.  Sanchez Day

   

  

  “In this Academy, in only a week, I learned tools I could use to make a difference now.  I believe that the key to this discussion is finding a middle ground, and creating laws and policies that can provide justice for everyone while being applicable to any situation.” 

  A. Porter, Peoria, Illinois, Student, 2022 AHAA.

   

  Finally, the Summit and AHAA could not have succeeded without the unfailing commitment of our donors and supporters.  

  Thank you!

• 08/18/2022

  Relief for Flooded Punjab Villages

  

  UNITED SIKHS team is on the ground in waterlogged villages of Sri Muktsar Sahib villages to offer emergency relief. Farmers and villagers of Middha and nearby villages in the district are facing a harrowing time, as almost entire villages and farmlands have become waterlogged because of rising water table. The water hasn’t receded for over a week — endangering the whole standing paddy crop, and signalling an impending crisis for the entire area. 

  Not just the farmland, water as high as 4-5 ft has swamped households, confining people to rooftops. Incessant rains have brought down several roofs. Animals have started dying from hunger and disease, as fodder has swept away. People have already started contracting skin infections and the threat of an outbreak is rising.

  These villages, located in low lying areas, are prone to water-logging. Farmers say that every year, at least 30 percent of the area gets swamped. But the damage this year is much more severe, as 90 percent the area is under water, which would lead to a total loss of crop. 

  UNITED SIKHS relief teams have set up medical camps in the area to prevent an outbreak of diseases. Mobile medical camps with UNITED SIKHS ambulance is also equipped to facilitate medical access across villages.

  

  In addition, emergency relief supplies include over 100 tarpaulin sheets and construction material to help repair damaged homes. The teams also carry fodder for cattle.
  “Our team visited the villages to assess the extent of damage and the requirements before starting the relief work. We are making every effort possible to lessen the adverse impact in the area,” said Parminder Singh from UNITED SIKHS, leading the relief efforts.

  
  As a global humanitarian relief organization UNITED SIKHS is at the forefront to alleviate the suffering of people facing man-made crises and natural calamities. 

  Thank you for your support and generous donations in making these efforts possible.

   

• 06/15/2022

  Annual Advocacy & Humanitarian Aid Academy is Back

  

  UNITED SIKHS is excited to announce that the 2022 Advocacy & Humanitarian Aid Academy (AHAA) and SIKH SUMMIT will be back this year between July 25th through July 29th, 2022! This five-day hybrid event will take place via ZOOM and in person in Washington, DC. It is designed for students and young professionals, 17 years of age and older, who want to learn and become involved in the struggle for social justice, to engage in civil rights advocacy, to volunteer for international humanitarian aid work and to work on education and healthcare initiatives.

  Through completion of AHAA training, a UNITED SIKHS Academy graduate can begin to build important communications skills that provide a life-long competitive edge in politics and in the field of law, business, health and education.

  This is a unique opportunity to meet Sikh and other Capitol Hill, national civil rights and government leaders. This comprehensive training program features workshops conducted by qualified speakers including acclaimed national and international civil rights activists and top government officials.

  The training will end with a virtual Advocacy Day on July 29, 2022 where AHAA students will have an opportunity to utilize the advocacy skills they learned during the Summit to advocate with Congressmembers on pressing civil and human rights topics.

  The AHAA will equip selected applicants with the skills and resources needed to pursue and further a career while pursuing “SEVA” (selfless service).

  The Topics for Annual Advocacy & Humanitarian Aid Academy (AHAA) & Sikh Summit this year will include COVID-19; Sikh Religious Rights in the U.S.; Mandatory Vaccinations; Afghan and Ukraine Refugees; Gun Violence; the Mental Health National Crisis; Funding For Local and National NGO Charities; Prisoner’s Rights; Reproductive Rights; the 28th Equal Rights Constitutional Amendment; Justice Reform and Restitution and Religious Freedoms Abroad. Join us to learn more!

  UNITED SIKHS will accept applications through July 23, 2022, from outstanding, diversely-qualified, young leaders who want to participate in the AHAA and the Sikh Summit.

  For consideration, please complete and return the AHAA application before July 23, 2022 deadline. The form can be found here.

• 06/06/2022

  Your 3-Month Ukraine War Relief Update

  

  Your kind donations have also made the Assam Flood Relief Mission possible. Hundreds of Sikh and other minority families are being provided emergency assistance.

  

• 06/02/2022

  Video Update: Assam Flood, Punjab Slum Fire & More

  Click Here for a video report on how your dasvandh is helping support families from Punjab and Assam in India to multiple war-hit cities across Ukraine.

  

  UNITED SIKHS Volunteers serving flood victims in Assam

  Due to recent floods the situation for people in North East India has become grim and harsh. It's been more than a week our volunteers are compassionately working on ground to assist the flood affected families.

  “We travelled over 48 hours from New Delhi to Assam for more than 2000 kms, with medicine, sleeping bags, food and other basic necessities for almost 1500 Sikh families stuck by Assam floods, even in the remotest areas”, said Mohinderjit Singh, Coordinator Assam Flood Relief, UNITED SIKHS.

  

  Hundreds of families had their homes at the edge of a river which overflowed due to the flood. Flooded neighborhoods will take several days to dry out. We have started langar sewa (hot meal distributions) for 71 Sikh families in Chaparmukh and 300 families in Barkhola along with basic necessities like medicines, clothes, sleeping bags, rations etc.

  Village Barkala was drowned due to the flood. Sending any help to the village was extremely challenging. People have been starving with no access to food and clean drinking water. Our relief teams sent help to the villagers by distributing food and other critical supplies.

  There were a large number of people taking shelter in a government school in the village of Barkhola, near Gurdwara Mata Ji, Chaparmukh, for the past 7-8 days.  We have provided 300 kits of necessary items, including toothpaste, soaps, biscuits, socks, medicine, mosquito coils, milk, oil, spices, lentils etc.

  

  Recently there was a health camp set up in Jagi Road Gurudwara. We are working with a team of doctors for the distribution of medicines and conducting health check-ups for impacted families.

• 05/21/2022

  Your Help Reaches Hospital in West-Central Ukraine

  We recently received a request from Alina from a gynecology hospital in West-Central Ukraine. She wanted help with the delivery of medical equipment for the hospital, an epicenter of treatment for women brought in here from different cities nearby for treatment. The request also included aid in restoring parts of the hospital destroyed by the war.

  The hospital in Vinnytsia serves critical life-saving needs of thousands of women impacted by the war. Constant missile strikes have destroyed the city and rattled the supplies of basic medical and health facilities for pregnant women and newborns.

  Vinnytsia is a city of about 400,000 residents. The hospital in the city is a clinical base for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Vinnytsia. This institution caters to the needs of pregnant women and the complications faced during childbirth along with the diagnosis and treatment of female specific diseases.

  Our volunteers drove for 24 hours from Poland to Vinnytsia to respond to this ever-worsening crisis. We cannot do this without your support. Thanks to all the donors and volunteers for making these relief operations possible!

  

  The hospital director, with the head of gynecology at Vinnitsya Hospital. The only hospital in the vicinity, taking care of over 6000 patinets.

• 04/17/2022

  Your 1-Month Ukraine Relief Impact Report

  

  Refugees served as part of our humanitarian mission

  Over a month ago, bombs and missiles shattered peace in Ukraine. We have all seen the shocking and tragic images of lives uprooted by unabated attacks in Ukraine. Children, women and elderly have not been spared.

  More than 10 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine. Over 4 million have left Ukraine as refugees into neighboring countries. Most of the refugees are children and women.

  Our teams and volunteers have been on the ground for over a month on the Polish border with Ukraine in Medyka. We set up a base camp to serve the most urgent life saving needs of the refugees.

  

  All of this is made possible by dozens of compassionate and courageous volunteers from around the world who have made their way to our base camp in Medyka to serve the refugees. Many members of our teams based in North America, Europe and Asia have been working day and night to support this humanitarian mission.

  We will continue to serve our fellow global community in this grave moment of crisis. Thank you for your belief in our mission and generous support in making this mission possible.

  “Due to evacuation orders for eastern and southern areas of Ukraine following a tip that there will be bombs either tonight or tomorrow we are currently experiencing a huge influx of refugees. This is a massive escalation of the crisis and we can use all the money we can get. Medyka border camp is making a huge difference in these peoples’ lives and only with your support we are able to continue this humanitarian service.” – Gyan Singh, one of our latest volunteers from Southern California who arrived at our base camp in Medyka to serve refugees.

  We know you will continue to offer support to serve residents of Ukraine displaced by the ongoing tragedy of war. 

• 04/15/2022

  Vaisakhi Spirit in Times of War

  

  Dear Sangat ji,

  Our UNITED SIKHS family extends heartiest greetings on the occasion of Vaisakhi this April 14th. Vaisakhi is a confluence of two momentous events in the Sikh calendar. The culmination of the harvest season and the call made in 1699 by the tenth master of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji on the occasion of Vaisakhi in the city of Anandpur, Punjab (northwest India).

  In the spirit of Vaisakhi we share messages from our team and volunteers, serving residents of Ukraine whose lives have been uprooted by the tragedy of war.

  

  

  

  

  

  Learn More About Our Ukraine Mission

  UNITED SIKHS Team

  Recognize the Human Race as One

• 04/11/2022

  “The situation in Kharkiv is like a living hell.."

  

  “The situation in Kharkiv is like a living hell. There is destruction everywhere. While procuring food and essential supplies, bombs have dropped from the sky a few meters away. It is scary but we are determined to serve the affected residents even more.” - Dr. Nihal Singh, volunteer who is heading our humanitarian efforts in Kharkiv.

  Our teams are serving meals and medicines in the city of Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine which has been under heavy attacks and bombardments. Kharkiv was an eclectic and cultural center of Ukraine. Now the city is a pile of ruins.

  Dr. Nihal Singh and his team are finding the following items are needed immediately in Kharkiv and other cities in Ukraine.

  Basic food supplies

  Cooked meals

  Hygiene kits

  Dental kits

  Medicines

  Water

  Please continue to support this relief mission!

  

  A volunteer delivering relief supplies in Kharkiv captured the devastation right after a bombing 

• 03/30/2022

  The Story of a Sikh Family's Escape from Ukraine

  Over 4 million residents in Ukraine have had to escape war under very dire circumstances in the last 4 weeks. We have been serving thousands of such refugees at our base camp in Medyka, Poland and across the border inside Ukraine.

  One such story is of Kulbir Singh, his wife and their infant child.

  

  Kulbir Singh was working as a support manager at a call center on the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. He has been in Ukraine for a few years and planning to settle down with his young family until Kyiv came under attack.

  He was hoping war would not come to Kyiv. With the first attacks on the capital he went into a bunker with his family. He decided to make his way to the border with his family. 

  It was a treacherous journey with frigid temperatures, uncertainty of bomb and missle attacks. Another thing that Kulbir realized quickly was getting access to the most basic things like food and water was very difficult and when there was availability it was very expensive. His family ate only candy bars on their journey to the border.

  Eventually after a day-long trek they got close to the border with Poland. 

  Kulbir had a feeling that most likely there would be some Sikhs at the border locations serving refugees. His wish came true when he spotted a Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag) at Camp Nalwa set up by UNITED SIKHS. 

  He saw a UNITED SIKHS volunteer wearing a vest and in his enthusiasm hugged him first from behind. They faced each other and greeted each other with ‘Vaaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaaheguru Ji Ki Fateh’.

   

  Singh had an immediate request. His wife and infant child needed to be fed immediately. The UNITED SIKHS volunteer guided them to our food truck and the heated tent.

  Kulbir was very thankful for the sewa (humanitarian service) of UNITED SIKHS. He wanted to stay and help as a volunteer but he wanted to get his wife and 4 month child to safety. He had plans to make his way to Krakow, a southern Poland city near the border of the Czech Republic. UNITED SIKHS connected Kulbir to a local Polish resident who offered his home for an overnight stay in Medyka before they made their way to Krakow.

  We last heard from Kulbir after he got to Germany safely with his family. He was very relieved to be out of harm's way. A spirited, humble soul with a warrior spirit who now also wants to volunteer with UNITED SIKHS and drive into Ukraine to provide supplies to where most needed.

  Like millions who have escaped Ukraine he is now pondering plans for his family’s future. Singh is trying to find a country in Europe where he can settle to find a job to support his family and build a new future.

  

  We are thankful for your support and appeal for continued humanitarian donations in this moment of crisis to help thousands of refugees like Kulbir and their families.

  Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

  Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

   

• 03/17/2022

  Singhs Braving the Dangers of War

  With your support, our volunteers are going into Ukraine to help the wounded and sick with life-saving medical supplies. Watch this video update from ground zero..

  

• 03/16/2022

  Update on Ukraine War Relief

  

  Two volunteers from Ireland have joined our team. Fergo and his friend in true Irish spirit left their job to serve at our Medyka base camp in Poland. They are building a staircase from the food truck to the kitchen to make it easier for our us to serve thousands of families in need. Thank you so much for your generous donations. With your support our brave volunteers from around the United States and Europe are serving the emergency needs of Ukraine refugees 24/7. As they say, it takes a village...

   

• 03/14/2022

  Watch Your Donations in Action on BBC

   

  BBC Ground Report on Ukraine. Watch your donations in action on BBC. Thank you for your continued support!

  

   

• 03/08/2022

  Our Relief Teams are at Ukraine border

  

  Dear Sangat ji,

  As the biggest humanitarian crisis of the moment unfolds in Ukraine our volunteers from North America and India have made it to the Ukraine border inside Poland. We are setting up multiple base camps in Poland close to the border including Medyka to serve refugees.

  
  The number of refugees outside Ukraine keeps swelling by the day, now over 2 million according to the UN Refugee agency. It is predicted by the UN that the number will exceed 4 Million. Many more are displaced inside Ukraine.

  Our volunteers are ready to serve the most urgent needs:

  FOOD (anything that can be made available quickly including energy bars)
  WATER & ENERGY DRINKS
  HYGIENE & SANITATION KITS FOR WOMEN
  DENTAL HYGIENE KITS
  MEDICATIONS
  WARM CLOTHES

  Conditions are really dire and made challenging with bitter cold temperatures and snow.

  

  Donations of supplies are also being collected at Gurudwara Sahib in Warsaw, Poland to be then taken by our teams to the border areas to serve refugees.

  We are making an urgent appeal for your humanitarian donations in this moment of crisis.

  Every dollar gift will help a refugee to have some hope at surviving this tragedy.

   

• 02/07/2022

  Mexico Offers Asylum to 141 Afghan Refugees

   

  UNITED SIKHS volunteers along with representatives from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs receive Afghan Refugees at Mexico City International Airport

  Sangat ji, we are pleased to announce after many months of intense legal advocacy by UNITED SIKHS International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy team, we have secured asylum for 141 preselected Afghan minority refugees displaced by the conflict in Afghanistan.

  The government of Mexico has agreed to offer asylum to Afghan minority refugees (Sikhs & Hindus) on humanitarian grounds. A pilot batch of Afghan refugees arrived in Mexico City yesterday. In fact the Mexican Consul in Abu Dhabi at the request of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs came to Dubai Airport to receive them, check on them and ensure everything was seamless before their next step of the long journey to Mexico city.

  Our team of local volunteers and two representatives from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present to receive and facilitate the arrival formalities for the first group of refugees in Mexico City.

  This historic event was only possible with the support of our donors, the dedication of our volunteers and the grace of the almighty.

  We are now consistently and actively working to bring the next group of refugees to Mexico. We need your urgent support to make sure all 141 refugees are resettled safely and securely in Mexico.

  Your donations will help with the following critical costs:

  Travel costs approximately $2000/refugee.
  First 3 months living expenses in Mexico
  Language & Vocational training
  2 Full time Resettlement Liaison officers for supporting new refugees in Mexico.

  We know with your support we can undertake this mission to resettle and give these Afghan refugees a chance for a safe and secure future.

  We need to raise $500,000 to bring all the 141 Afghan refugees to Mexico in the coming weeks. 

  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of the Afghan Refugee Resettlement Mission.

• 02/04/2022

  Resettle Afghan Sikh and Hindu Refugees

  

  UNITED SIKHS Begins to Resettle Afghan Sikh & Hindu Refugees.

  
  Afghan refugees who were brought to India from Afghanistan after the #taliban takeover in August 2021 had to leave everything they knew behind.

  
  They had to abandon the only country they knew, the only neighborhood they knew, the only life they knew. About 150 of these refugees came to UNITED SIKHS requesting the organization to arrange for political asylum for them so that they can start their life afresh and be safe and secure.

  
  UNITED SIKHS Legal Advocates have worked diligently to prepare, assist and document the cases and subsequently appealed to several countries to grant asylum.
  Out of the global outreach, so far Gobierno de México has agreed.

  
  In the pilot phase, 2 Afghan refugees have departed to Mexico. The journey to a new life has begun. The itinerary is such - from Delhi to Dubai to Barcelona to Mexico.
  The UNITED SIKHS team is coordinating with the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai to oversee that the arrangements are all taken care of and that there are no difficulties or issues in this journey.

  
  This painstaking work is only possible because of the support of our donors, the dedication of our volunteers and the grace of Waheguru.
  We will continue to keep the sangat updated. 

• 11/28/2021

  This family of physicians had to flee Afghanistan

  A Hazara family got a visit from the authorities who went through all their belongings including their cellphones. The family made sure to delete all references to their Christian faith. Under threat this family of physicians had to flee Afghanistan immediately. Right now they are in a temporary residence in a neighboring country. 

  The family in distress reached out to UNITED SIKHS to provide them with clothing and basic necessities as they were suddenly evacuated from their homes without  any financial support. Watch their story here. Help this family and many others in urgent need of basic necessities and a safer home by making a donation today.

  

• 11/09/2021

  The 500 Year History of Sikhs in Afghanistan

  Sikhs have a long history in Afghanistan from the days of Guru Nanak Sahib’s visits to spread the message of universal peace and compassion (see journey graphic below). This 500-year history unfortunately is coming to an end with the last few families seeking refuge for a safer future.

  Our teams have been part of the latest chapter of Sikhs in Afghanistan in the capacity of humanitarian missions serving minority communities that have been under constant attacks in recent years.

  With your help we have provided:

  • Emergency aid to the families of those killed and injured in terrorist attacks.
  • Medical aid to combat the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Documentation services to get these communities to safe horizons outside of Afghanistan.
  • Paid the processing fee for almost 400 passports for 87 families.
  • 24/7 Afghan helpdesk in India for Afghan refugees to help them with immediate needs: medical services, daily essentials, unmet needs and housing-related costs.
  • High-level communication with international governments and agencies for permanent relocation of Afghan refugees to rebuild lives in a free and safe environment.
  • Food Bank to serve urgent needs of minority communities left in Kabul and Jalalabad.

  

  Our work is not done yet. With your support we will work towards the next safer, healthier and freedom-full chapter in the lives of hundreds of refugees from Afghanistan.

• 11/05/2021

  Update on Afghan Relief Work

  

  Days after a suicide bomb blast killed at least 19 persons, including 13 prominent Sikh leaders, in Jalalabad of Afghanistan on July 1, 2018 a group of local artists in Kabul paid tribute to the victims by painting a huge mural of one of them, Rawail Singh, with his daughter on the wall of the office of the Kabul Governor. (Express photo)

  Afghanistan today is a far cry from the multicultural trade center Guru Nanak Sahib visited five hundred years ago. Over the centuries there have been long periods of peace and harmony. In recent decades pressure on Afghan minorities has increased to convert to Islam or to leave the country. Under the current Taliban rule, life for Afghan minorities is exceedingly difficult, a daily fight to survive. 

  Sikh & Hindu homes, businesses and Gurudwaras have become sites of targeted violence in the last few years. Extorted for a so-called religious tax imposed on non-muslims, Sikhs & other minority groups are prohibited from making a stable living. Even when schools were open Sikh children could not go, for fear that their classmates would be forced by adults to cut their sacred hair. 

  Under these dire circumstances most Afghan minorities have been forced to leave Afghanistan. UNITED SIKHS teams have worked in bringing hundreds of Afghan Sikhs to safer refuge in the last few years. Currently we are working tirelessly to evacuate the 230 remaining Sikhs & Hindus from Afghanistan, among them 50 women and 50 children. The situation became very dismal when the Sikh Gurudwara where minorities were taking refuge was invaded by armed fighters claiming to be Taliban in October 2021.

  UNITED SIKHS legal team is currently sponsoring approximately 35 minority families for humanitarian parole into the United States. These include Sikhs, Hindus, Hazara Muslims and Christians. Our legal team is interviewing refugees, preparing affidavits, and filling applications. We are also reaching out to numerous  countries and working with them to help relocate refugees. In addition, we are writing to United States officials and joining other NGOs in lobbying for a process to allow for expedited processing of Afghan Refugee parole applications. 

   

  Based on requests from families in Afghanistan we are opening a food bank to help approximately 55 Sikh, Hindu and other minority families in Kabul and Jalalabad. Services will include food, clothing, medicines and any other requests based on a case by case basis.

  Your support has made it possible for us to advocate for the well-being and safety of minorities in Afghanistan since 2009, building a trusted relationship with the community as evidenced in the words of Giani Keval Singh, “UNITED SIKHS has made us realize that we are not alone anywhere in this world.”

  Dasvandh Network will double your tax deductible donations upto $400 from Nov. 5th through 14th! Take advantage of this generous matching gift to amplify your impact on the lives of Afghan refugees.

• 08/26/2021

  Update on Urgent Rescue Efforts in Afghanistan

  

  International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan

  (Note: Situation is changing every hour. The below information is based as of incidents on 08/25 EST)

  Situation in Afghanistan for Afghan minority communities is grave as they try to escape to safety.

  Our teams are working with a team of ex-military contractors and the US State department to help approximately 220 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus find their way safely to the international airport in Kabul from Gurudwara Karte Parwan.

  Earlier today with assistance from teams on the ground an attempt was made in a caravan of 9 minibuses to make their way to the North Gate of the International Airport which is under the control of the American forces. The initial attempt was unsuccessful due to skirmishes between American forces and the Taliban fighters. The caravan retreated to a temporary safe location. A second attempt was made in late evening and early morning hours to reach the North Gate of the International Airport controlled by the American armed forces. 

  The caravan, including dozens of women and children, came under gunfire as it approached the airport. At least one vehicle was hit but thankfully no one was injured. Unfortunately the caravan had to retreat back to Gurudwara Karte Parwan around 2:00am in the morning after 18 grueling hours on the streets of Kabul. 

  Throughout this ordeal our teams have been in near constant communication with members of the escaping Afghan community despite spotty signal and phone jammers around the airport.

  Our team spoke a few moments ago to a member of the community in Gurudwara Karte Parwan as the new day arrives with another attempt to make it to the airport. In his words, “We are praying and hoping to make it safely to the airport with our women and children. The shabad Guru is our protector. We have gone through hell in the streets of Kabul today. Never knew that a distance of approximately 7 kms will feel like eternity.”

  The Taliban leadership has made pronouncements of not allowing Afghan citizens to enter the International airport which adds to the desperate and life threatening situation.

  The local community is also in touch with the Indian government and other humanitarian agencies. Our team remains in constant contact with the community in Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul as another attempt is made before the August 31st deadline for evacuation flights from Afghanistan. 

  We also want to extend our gratitude to the prominent Afghan Sikh leader, in the US, Mr. Paramjit Singh Bedi based in New York for his assistance with the mission to get them to safety. 

  The immediate  objective being to get them inside the international Airport in Kabul to board next available planes to safe confines outside Afghanistan.

  Please pray for those trying to find a safe passage and we hope to send you a follow up message reporting of their safe escape.

  We appreciate your support for our mission in these grave hours and to assist the continued functioning of our Afghan Helpdesk in New Delhi. You can reach our Helpdesk service for displaced minority communities at +91 98107 90373. E: contact@unitedsikhs.org

  
  Thank you for your continued help for our humanitarian mission in Afghanistan.

• 08/19/2021

  A message from Gurvinder Singh on Afghan Relief

  

  Sangat ji, please take a moment to view this video message from sevadaar, Gurvinder Singh (International Humanitarian Aid Director, UNITED SIKHS).

  Taliban officials visited Gurdwara Sahib Karte Parwan in Kabul on 15th Aug 2021 to collect weapons and a vehicle that was provided by the previous Afghan Government to the Sikh community. 'The Taliban also instructed Afghan Sikhs and Hindus not to go out and to remain within the Karte Parvaan Gurdwara premises,' the President of the Karte Parvaan Gurdwara, Gurnam Singh told Mejindarpal Kaur, International Legal Director of UNITED SIKHS and Gurmeet Singh, Trustee of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, London, UK.

  At present about 300 Sikhs and Hindus have left their homes and taken refuge at the Karte Parvaan Gurdwara in Kabul.

  Our teams are in touch with families in Kabul on a regular basis that are looking to leave Afghanistan for safer sanctuaries. We are in communication with offices of US President J. Biden, Secretary of State, A. Blinken, Canada’s Minister of Refugees, Immigration & Citizenship, M. E.L. Mendicino, United Kingdom Home Secretary, P. Patel and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, M. Bachelet.

  We have a 24 hour Helpdesk service for displaced Afghanistan minority communities (Hindus and Sikhs). 
  Please contact UNITED SIKHS India +91 98107 90373 
  E: Contact@unitedsikhs.org 

  We will keep you posted on developments from the ground as the situation is rapidly escalating and at times with conflicting reports.

• 08/17/2021

  An Appeal from Sikhs in Afghanistan

  Approximately 300 Hindus and Sikhs have taken shelter at the Karte Parwan Gurudwara in Kabul.

  The situation is dire and they are urging UNITED SIKHS that they be immediately evacuated to USA or Canada. They were visited by the Taliban at the Gurudwara. View the video appeal here.

  Our emergency response teams are doing their best to assess the situation and provide support to families that need assistance at the shortest of notice, including facilitating their evacuation and settlement in a secure environment.

  We are in touch with families and community leaders from Kabul and Jalalabad. There are approximately 200 people in Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul. The situation is dire and messages we are hearing from Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan are highlighting the perilous circumstances and uncertain future in the coming days.

  Our teams are in touch with families in Kabul that are trying to leave Afghanistan for safer sanctuaries. We are in communication with US President J. Biden, Secretary of State, A. Blinken, Canada’s Minister of Refugees, Immigration & Citizenship. Minister Mendicino, United Kingdom Home Secretary, P. Patel and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, M. Bachelet. 

  We have a 24 hour Helpdesk service for displaced Afghanistan minority communities (Hindus and Sikhs). 

  Please contact UNITED SIKHS India +91 98107 90373 

  E: Contact@unitedsikhs.org 

  We will keep you posted on developments from the ground as the situation is rapidly escalating and at times with conflicting reports.

   Sangat taking shelter at Gurudwara Sahib Karte Parwan, Kabul, Afghanistan

• 08/15/2021

  Afghan Minorities Relief

  

  Dear Supporters,

  Given the rapidly developing and changing situation in Afghanistan our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Afghanistan.

  As a humanitarian organization that has been actively engaged in the safety and well-being of ethnic minorities of Afghanistan we are trying our best to maintain our focus on the safety of Sikh & Hindu families in Afghanistan.

  Our emergency response teams are doing their best to assess the situation and provide support to families that might need assistance at the shortest of notice, which includes facilitating their evacuation and settlement in a secure environment.

  URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED

  We have a 24 hour Helpdesk service for displaced Afghanistan minority communities (Hindus and Sikhs).
  Please contact UNITED SIKHS India +91 98107 90373
  Email: Contact@unitedsikhs.org

  Read About Our Ongoing Work With Afghan Refugees in India

  We will keep you posted on developments from the ground as the situation is rapidly escalating and at times with conflicting reports.

  Support this continued humanitarian mission in Afghanistan.

• 05/20/2021

  Sewa During India's Brutal 2nd Wave of Covid

  

  As India battles a brutal second wave of Covid-19, we are providing a multitude of crisis response services from Delhi to Karnataka to Punjab including:

  Oxygen Concentrators: Our teams are going door-to-door to help people in need of oxygen that are unable to find reliable care at home or find a hospital bed
  Ventilators: Non-invasive portable ventilators being delivered to hospitals across India
  Covid Care Centers: Hundreds of beds are being set up in North and South India equipped with oxygen supplies, medical staff, medications, free meals and counseling
  Covid Vaccines: In Delhi, a vaccine clinic has been set up in collaboration with a local NGO and government
  Dry Ration Kits: Delivering daily essentials like wheat flour, rice, pulses, sugar and tea supports for a family of 4 for a week
  Ambulance Service: Transporting patients with urgent needs to hospitals and Covid care centers, free of cost
  Free cremation Services: For families unable to afford cremating their loved ones, our dedicated team of volunteers are picking up bodies from homes and hospitals as there is a huge shortage of ambulances and cremation services. We have cremated over 400 residents of India with dignity.

  
  Your donation helps make all of this possible.

  $1200 (Rs 90k) helps support one ambulance service for a month (2 driver fees, petrol, PPE kits, maintenance costs)

  $875 (Rs 65k) to purchase one oxygen concentrator

  $200 (Rs 15k) helps serve 3 meals a day to 50 patients

  $150 (Rs 12k) helps with daily PPE supplies to 20 volunteers per center

  $30 (Rs 2.2k) helps supply daily water & juice needs for 50 patients

  Please keep your support and donations coming 🙏🏻

   

• 04/05/2021

  Handmade beds for farmers and more sevas in 2021

  

  UNITED SIKHS India team has prepared handmade beds for farmers at Delhi's Tikri Border which provide protection from snakes and insects. This was done in response to special requests from farmers facing these challenges due to change in weather conditions. We thank our volunteers for their dedicated sewa in serving needs of farmers.

   

  United States Chapter: Empowering Women in Need
  
  On March 14th, our Bay Area team partnered with Narika, an organization founded by immigrant women to serve survivors of domestic violence, single mothers, and women in need. Narika hosted their bi-monthly Food and Essentials Drive-By for their clients with women and children in attendance. We donated school supplies, snacks, personal hygiene items, grocery essentials and gift cards. This effort impacted the lives of over 100 women and children in need. We extend our gratitude to Gurdwara Sahib Fremont for their generous donation towards this initiative.

  

   

  Kenya Chapter: Medical Sewa in Hospitals 
  
  UNITED SIKHS' Kenya chapter recently provided medicine and medical supplies to Naari Level 4 Sub-County Hospital in Meru. We also donated medical supplies to Cottolengo Mission Hospital’s center for people with disabilities in Chaaria. The center is currently home to 50 boys who are abandoned by their families, each one with a different disability. The Hospital’s Director, Brother Giam Carlos, appealed to UNITED SIKHS to continue  assisting as it was vital in running and operating the center.

  

  Serving Afghan Refugees 1 year after Kabul attack

  
  
  A year after 25 Afghan Sikhs were killed in the Kabul gurudwara attack on March 25th last year, our India team paid tribute to the deceased and honoured the surviving families in New Delhi - Click to read the full article by The Indian Express

• 01/17/2021

  Farmers Protest: Update on Ongoing Seva

  As thousands of these farmers are in the capital of Delhi to engage in talks with the central government and exercise their fundamental democratic right to peaceful assembly, our teams and volunteers have been on the ground to serve urgent life affirming needs.

  We have over 150 volunteers doing seva at the Singhu, Tikri, Gazipur and Shahjahanpur borders of Delhi.

  

  The following services have been identified as part of this engagement:

  1) Medical Care: Ambulance Services, Health Monitoring, Injury Care, Mental Health Services and Physiotherapy. We have set up medical camps and ambulance services at 4 border locations. Our teams have arranged for 24/7 emergency service for everyone taking part in this long arduous fight for justice. Daily we have 45-50 doctors volunteering their services at the medical camps.

  2) Water Services: Drinking, Cooking, Washing and Bathing Clean water is a major necessity among the protesting farmers. We are filling this critical need at the request of farmers in India’s capital in support of their demands for justice and economic security. We have provided over 100,000 liters/day of water to date.

  3) Extreme Winter Weather-Wear: Jackets, Sweaters, Thermals, Mufflers, Socks and Raincoats Hundreds of these items have been distributed in harsh winter conditions especially to the elderly who are playing a pivotal role in this movement for economic justice.

  4) Daily Necessities: Portable Toilets, Water Heaters, Washing Machines, Shoes, Slippers, Undergarments, Dustbins, 5) Housing Needs: Tents, Tarpals (tarpaulins), Mattresses, Blankets, Sleeping Bags #farmersprotest #standwithfarmers #farmbills

  This seva and the financial assistance to the families of farmers that have lost loved ones in these peaceful protests, all this work is only possible with your support. Please continue to support these relief efforts with your contributions ji.

  

  

  

  

• 01/17/2021

  Farmers: New Feature Documentary Released

  SPECIAL FEATURE: A short documentary feature highlighting the extraordinary conditions in which farmers are protesting for their rights in India. Watch it on YouTube

  

• 01/09/2021

  13 farming families provided financial support

  

  Sangat ji, with your support 13 of these families have already been provided 50,000 rupees in financial aid for the loss of their loved ones in the ongoing farmers sangharsh. Over 60 people have lost their lives in this movement. Your support will help us continue to offer much-needed help to their grieving families. 

• 12/28/2020

  Farmer Relief: For Families of Departed Souls

  ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ 

  ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ
  ਅੱਜ ਸਾਡੀ ਟੀਮ ਧਨੋਲਾ ਜਿਲਾ-ਬਰਨਾਲਾ ਕਿਸਾਨੀ ਸ਼ੰਘਰਸ ‘ਚ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਜਨਕਰਾਜ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਦੁੱਖ ਸਾਝਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਆਈ,ਜਨਕਰਾਜ ਜੀ ਜਿਸ ਕਾਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਤ ਨੂੰ ਸੋ ਰਹੇ ਸੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਸੋਟ-ਸਰਕਟ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਗ ਲੱਗ ਗਈ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਜਨਕਰਾਜ ਜੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਸੜ ਗਏ ਸੀ। ਸਾਡੀ ਟੀਮ ਵੱਲੋ ਜਿਥੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਸਾਝਾ ਕਿਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ 50,000/-ਦੀ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ ਵੀ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਦਿਤੀ।

  

  Watch this update on Facebook

   

• 12/20/2020

  Rs. 1 Crore Allocation to Families

  

  ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਹਿ
  ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਵਲੋਂ ਚੱਲ ਰਹੇ ਕਿਸਾਨੀ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਕਰੋੜ ਦੀ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ||
  UNITED SIKHS Announces An Allocation Of 1 Crore For The Families Of Those Who Have Lost Thier Lives Amidst The Ongoing Farmers Agitation

• 12/10/2020

  From the Frontlines of Farmer Protests

  Message from one of our compassionate and kind hearted volunteers on the ground in Delhi offering medical care to farmers from across India. Watch this update on Facebook.

• 12/01/2020

  Assisting Ailing Farmers Through the Night

  

  Watch this video update on Facebook

  ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ ਅੱਜ ਰਾਤ ਬਹਾਦਰਗੜ ਰੋਡ ਟੀਕਰੀ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਤੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਇਸ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਦੇ ਪੈਰ ਤੇ ਕੱਟ ਲੱਗ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਜ਼ਖਮ ਖਰਾਬ ਹੋ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ। ਵਲੰਟੀਅਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਬਾਪੂ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਜ਼ਖਮ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਫ ਕੀਤਾ ਦਵਾਈ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਪੱਟੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਦਰਦ ਤੋਂ ਗੋਲੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ। ਜਦੋਂ ਵਲੰਟੀਅਰ ਚੱਲਣ ਲਗੇ ਤਾਂ ਬਾਪੂ ਜੀ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਰਾਹਤ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ। ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਦੇ ਸੇਵਾਦਾਰ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਮੋਰਚੇ ਵਿਚ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਦਿਨ ਤੋਂ ਨਾਲ ਖੜੇ ਹਨ। ਆਓ ਆਪਾਂ ਵੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਬਣਦਾ ਸਰਦਾ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਪਾਈਏ। 

• 11/28/2020

  Here's how you're helping the farmers

  Here's how you're helping the farmers in their fight for survival...

  Watch this video update on Facebook

  Watch this video update on YouTube

  

  ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ
  24ਘੰਟੇ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਵੈਨ ਸੇਵਾ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਗਏ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।ਸਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਦੇਂਦੇ ਰਹੋ।

  

  We are offering Langar (meals, water), Medical Services (Urgent care, ambulatory support, medications) and PPE needs (Masks, sanitizers) needed during this challenging time. Volunteer teams of professionals and doctors are available from Punjab and Delhi throughout this march. Our legal teams are also ready to serve with any anticipated needs in the coming days.

• 11/27/2020

  1st Batch of Farmers Reach Delhi

  

  ਕਿਸਾਨ ਭਰਾ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਗਏ ਨੇ ।। ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਦੀ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਟੀਮ ਵਲੋਂ ਜੀ ਆਇਆਂ ਤੇ ਸੁਆਗਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ।।

  UNITED SIKHS team is on the ground at Burari, Delhi to greet the first batch of farmers who have arrived.

  Watch this Facebook live video and stay tuned to our FB page.

• 11/27/2020

  Farmers Protest: An accident en route to Delhi

  

  Jaspreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh from Sunam (Punjab), on their way to Delhi towards protest against the new agri-reform laws, met with an accident.
  UNITED SIKHS' emergency response team immediately took them to the nearest Government in Narwana, District Jind. They were given emergency treatment and are out of danger and are still in the hospital getting their treatment.
  ਜਸਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਕਿ ਸੁਨਾਮ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਨ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਮੁੱਦੇ ਤੇ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਸੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਐਕਸੀਡੈਂਟ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ।ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਮੇਂ ਸਿਰ ਹਸਪਤਾਲ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਉਹ ਹੁਣ ਖਤਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਹਨ।
  Support the Farmers:
  https://www.dvnetwork.org/fundraisers/save-our-farmers

  View this update and other real-time updates related to this mission on Facebook

• 11/25/2020

  The struggle continues for farmers in Punjab

  Watch this video on Facebook

  The struggle for farmers in Punjab and India continues. Multiple teams of UNITED SIKHS are actively engaged in Punjab to ensure that the farmers are supported in the fight for their survival.
  We need your support: https://www.dvnetwork.org/fundraisers/save-our-farmers
  ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਜਿਹੜਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਬਿੱਲ ਪਾਸ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਉਹ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਕਿੰਨ੍ਹਾ ਘਾਤਕ ਸਿੱਧ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਵੇਰਵਾ ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਦੇ CEO ਜਗਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਇਸ ਲਿੰਕ ਤੇ ਵੇਖੋ ਜੀ

  

   

   

• 11/22/2020

  The Singh Who Quit His Job For Seva

  

  Amarpreet Singh quit his job as the vice president of a small startup company in September 2019 so he could focus all of his efforts on volunteer work indefinitely.

  The Bay Area resident is the Northern California Area Coordinator for UNITED SIKHS. Listen to his story in his own words through the link below:

  The story of a Sikh volunteer who quit his job for seva

  Read a news report about his seva: https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/united-sikhs-help-fire-evacuees/

   

• 11/02/2020

  Project Report 2018-2020

  COVID-19 PANDEMIC GLOBAL RELIEF EFFORTS

  The unprecedented global tragedy of Covid-19 has led to the most expansive relief efforts since the founding of UNITED SIKHS in 1997. It started with a request from the New York Office of Emergency Management in March to deliver over 30,000 meals in New York City as the pandemic cast its dark shadow on this global city. We set up an emergency hotline in North America to serve the needs of the most vulnerable from frontline workers, homeless, elderly, poor and at-risk individuals. 

  
  We expanded our efforts globally to serve communities from the US to Europe, Australia, Asia and India. Hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life have stepped forward to serve. Generous donors have provided funds and grocery supplies to make our work possible. We are committed to offer basic life affirming needs of countless impacted around the globe by this pandemic. The infographic below represents the scope of these humanitarian efforts.

   

  

   

  US CENSUS 2020 - GETTING EVERY SIKH COUNTED

  
  2020 is a landmark year for Sikhs and the Census. After extensive research, demand and lobbying over the past decade by our legal teams; the Census Bureau has made considerable updates to the race and ethnicity code list. For the first time in United States history the US Census included “Sikh” as a population group within the Asian racial category. With this opportunity to be heard, Sikhs living in the United States now have an opportunity to advocate for their own communities by simply being counted.

   

  SAVE AFGHAN MINORITIES CAMPAIGN
  
  The safety and security of the Afghan Sikhs and Hindu families are paramount amidst terrorist attacks. The Department of State and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom have documented systemic discrimination against Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan. UNITED SIKHS has been advocating for and serving Afghan minorities for many years. 

  
  UNITED SIKHS has been providing the following critical services:

  Relocation of families to safe areas.
  Families of those lost and injured have been provided assistance. 
  Avenues for Immigration documentation to allow for resettlement being pursued and the necessary resources to obtain such documentation have been put in place. 
  Permanent migration to India and Canada. Housing and job assistance.

  

   

  PROJECT RAAHAT: PUNJAB FLOOD RELIEF 
  
  In August 2019, following heavy rains and the release of 

  excess water from the Bhakra Dam, the Sutlej River and its 

  tributaries had inundated villages in several areas of Punjab 

  (Northwest India), causing extensive damage to crops, 

  especially paddy, and homes in low-lying areas. The floods 

  said to be the worst since 1988 led to cumulative loss estimated at Rs 1,219.23 crore (12 Billion USD) by government officials.

  UNITED SIKHS offered the following relief services in the next few weeks:

  Dry ration kits for residents
  Cattle feed for farmers
  Home repair, household necessities and provisions 
  Medical camps and Medicine supplies  
  Road repair and flood control

  

   

  KERALA FLOOD RELIEF: EMERGENCY RESPONSE

  
  Following the worst flood Kerala has experienced in the last century, UNITED SIKHS crossed          through floodwaters and harsh landscape conditions to provide medicine and health check-ups to more than 100 residents on Wayanad tribal land. To ensure adequate nutrition post-disaster, the organization serves hot meals to local residents daily and continues to donate dry food supplies and other household items. We also set up a medical camp on water to reach remote villages. 

   

  HURRICANE MARIA: AID IN PUERTO RICO 

  
  Immediately following Hurricane Maria, the UNITED SIKHS Disaster team mobilized in the most remote areas of Puerto Rico. Coordinating efforts with FEMA, Red Cross, and the Coalition of Hope, our team cooked and delivered thousands of hot meals and delivered aid supplies to the elderly and children. 

  UNITED SIKHS worked with the leading organizations from the San Juan headquarters and reached the rural communities in the Puerto Rican countryside.

  
  UNITED SIKHS offered following relief supplies:

  Over 150,000 Meals served
  10,000+ Medical Supplies delivered
  Rebuilding of 250 plus homes

   

  FEED THE HUNGRY: GURU NANAK’S FREE KITCHEN & FOOD DRIVE

  
  Through Guru Nanak's Kitchen and Food Drive For All, a year-round program we launched to end hunger in the communities in which we live, our volunteers in Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom, and United States are constantly hard at work, serving thousands in need every month. This program has received honors from dignitaries around the world for exemplary community service.

  

  INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF: SERVING FAMILIES 

  Donggala region in Indonesia was struck by a series of devastating earthquakes, a tsunami and volcanic eruption in 2018. We started serving daily lunch and dinner meals to hundreds of families impacted by the disasters. To help children maintain their education, we donated school supplies, books and stationary. Local families, who are predominantly Muslim, were singing, praying and cooking langar with our volunteers and learning about the values of Sikhi for the first time.

   

  PROJECT DAAL ROTI: SUICIDE PREVENTION & STIPEND PROVISIONS

  To help provide support to those at a higher risk of suicide in India, UNITED SIKHS launched the Daal Roti and Farmer Widows Pension programs in 2018, which provide basic household needs, food rations, monthly stipends and mental health counseling. More than a third of the female suicides around the world are committed by Indian women. It is the leading cause of death among young Indian women (15 - 29 years of age). These statistics, coupled with the more than 300,000 farmers and farm worker suicides since 1995, point to an alarming public health crisis across the country. UNITED SIKHS started providing basic food basic (Daal Roti) on a daily basis to impacted families. To further help curb farmer suicide statistics, the organization started providing mental health counseling and monthly rations. 

  

  SHILLONG LEGAL & HUMANITARIAN AID: SIKH COMMUNITY UNDER ATTACK 

  To defend freedom of religion, our legal team continues to advocate for the land rights on behalf of the Sikh community in Punjabi Lane, who are being forced from the place they have called home for centuries. Faced with mob violence, illegal imprisonment of minorities, protests and attacks against Sikh homes and businesses, our advocates have successfully argued for the release of three young Sikh men who were unlawfully detained by local police during disturbances in summer of 2018. We provided the meals and shelter to 350 affected families along with legal aid for 3 Sikh youths unlawfully detained due to false reports of violence.

   

  ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS: CONTINUING MAN-MADE DISASTER
  In collaboration with the United Nations Shelter Cluster, UNITED SIKHS is committed to provide necessary support to the 10,000 refugees who have found safe haven in Naikhogchari, Bangladesh, near the border of Myanmar. The stateless Rohingya minority in Myanmar have been described by the United Nations as “the most persecuted people in the world.” The vast majority of Rohingya refugees reaching Bangladesh during this latest crisis are women and children, including newborn babies. Many others are elderly people requiring additional aid and protection. Our teams were able to provide the following relief services:

  :

  Meals Served: 1.05 Million 
  Medical Camps: 36,000+ Patients Treated  
  Medical Aid Provided: 2,000+ patients 
  Health Counselor Program Outreach: 50,000 Refugees 
  More than 50 Workshops conducted

   

  TEXAS DEPUTY SANDEEP SINGH DHALIWAL H.E.R.O. FUND

  The HERO Fund was established by UNITED SIKHS in honor of Deputy Sheriff Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, in keeping in line with his vision to help first-responders who are affected in the line of duty and in urgent need of emergency funds. A devoted husband and proud father to three young children, Deputy Dhaliwal was a 10-year veteran of Harris County Sheriff’s Office who served as Director of Homeland Security for UNITED SIKHS. He was fatally shot while conducting a traffic stop on Sept. 27, 2019. He proudly served Harris County, Texas, his country and the world as a public servant and humanitarian. In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Maria, he led teams of UNITED SIKHS volunteers to provide disaster relief to those in need across Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

  Any first-responder (Police Officer, Sheriff, Paramedic/EMT, and Firefighter) who is in need of emergency assistance may apply for the HERO Fund. First-responders are among the first personnel to arrive in response to an emergency situation, such as a disaster or accident. Funds can be used for medical expenses, house repair after a natural disaster (i.e. hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, etc.) or to help cover funeral costs for a family of a first-responder who was killed in the line of duty. As the first recipients of the newly-formed HERO Fund, Deputy Dhaliwal’s family received $1 million from UNITED SIKHS after people around the world contributed to this cause. 

   

  TESTIMONIALS 
  - - - - X

  
  “We are grateful.  Such acts of care, kindness and generosity make this fight against COVID-19 easier to manage.  United Sikhs Organization maybe feeding the bodies of these heroes and more importantly they are fueling their souls and morale. We are grateful.” 

      - Kirk Tamaddon, Chief of Staff, Kaiser Permanentte, West Los Angeles

  
  “I want to thank the United Sikhs for allowing communities to transcend culture. We are one in the human race. The meals were prepared with love, kindness and compassion.” 

      - K. Monique Ullah, CEO/Founder of Girls Set the Ground Rules, Richmond Hill, NY

  
  “One of our staff members overheard a child exclaim with glee ‘Yay, hot lunch!’ Your generosity is felt throughout the shelter, even among the children.” 

      - Stephanie Salgado, Community Resource Manager, Family Supportive Housing, San Jose, CA

  
  “We stand by our four pillars of service, dedication, diversity, innovation and integrity. All of which UNITED SIKHS encompassed in their service to our families.” 

       - Flore Peralte-Moise, Recreation Coordinator, CAMBA/ The Landing Family Center, East Elmhurst, NY

  
  “We are so very grateful for all your efforts in supporting not only the healthcare workers, but also the whole community through all your generous donations of meals and food pantries.” 

       - The clinicians and staff of Priority One Home Health and Hospice, Montclair, CA

  
  “You have made a real difference in the lives of homeless youth we serve.” 

       - Nabijah H. Shabazz, Volunteer Manager, Covenant House, Newark, NJ

  
  “Generous organizations like, UNITED SIKHS are the reason our mission-driven health centers continue to operate in vulnerable communities who are struggling the most right now during this global pandemic.” 

       - Lori N. Holeman, CEO, Community Health Systems, Inc., Moreno valley, CA

  
  “We rely on the generosity of donors like UNITED SIKHS and are grateful for its support for our work.” 

       - Gillian Charleau, Executive Director, People’s Path Inc. - Helping the Homeless through Housing, Staten        Island, NY

  
  “Thank you for your generous donation of delicious vegetarian meals to the men, women and youth who are struggling to recover from addiction, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and poverty.” 

        - Terenna V. Williams, Executive Director, Glory House Recovery Inc., Hempstead, NY

   

• 11/12/2018

  HURRICANE RELIEF IN USA

  Hundreds of Sikhs across America have joined us to host donation drives to support ground relief efforts assisting thousands of residents of all faiths throughout the coastal regions of North Carolina and Florida hit by the worst storm and flooding in a generation. Sangats across Chicago, Washington, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina raised more than $5,000 in cash donations and food supply. Immediately following the storms, we partnered with local Baptist churches, schools food banks and other faith-based organizations, including SikhLEAD, The Khalsa School, YMCA and American Red Cross, to provide essential resources, such as bottled water, warm meals, baby formula, clothing, blankets, diapers, flashlights and canned food supply. Through this effort, more than 1,000 families have received aid in areas most affected by food supply shortages and power outages.

• 11/12/2018

  INDONESIA LANGAR SUPPORT

  UNITED SIKHS Volunteers Prepare For Daily Langar Food Service

  Langar is saving lives in Donggala, Indonesia. After a series of devastating earthquakes, a tsunami and volcanic erpution this fall, we started feeding 1,000+ families through daily lunch and dinner, as well as food ration supply. Rows of tents now stand where homes and schools were swept away during the disasters. To help children maintain their education, we're also donating school supplies, books and stationary. Local families, who are predominately Muslim, are singing, praying and cooking langar with our volunteers and learning about the values of Sikhi for the first time! 

   

• 08/31/2018

  Project Update

  

  Through the Puerto Rico mission, UNITED SIKHS Disaster Relief Ground Team, in coordination with FEMA and local strategic partners, reached the island within days following Hurricane Maria. Through sheer determination, our team members worked to restore damaged water pumps in the Utuado and Lares region serving over 60,000 families. Simultaneously, our teams served fresh, hot-cooked meals reaching over 20,000 Puerto Ricans in the most remote areas and mountainous regions during the months of October and November. Subsequently, UNITED SIKHS also shipped five 40’ containers packed full of humanitarian aid with over 50,000 water bottles, over 50 pallets of relief supplies (batteries, diapers, cleaning supplies, canned foods, etc) and over 100 ‘Sawyer’ water filtration kits.

  Undoubtedly, these are significant results which have been recorded and recognized by FEMA and our strategic partners in and around the region. All of us at UNITED SIKHS are truly humbled that our volunteers empower themselves to work hard as they selflessly carry the Guru's message wherever they go and shine a light into the darkest corners of the earth.

     

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