The celebration of Diwali is a Hindu and Sikh festival that symbolizes the âvictory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignoranceâ.
And, one Âé¶čAV charity is harnessing that light, to give back to other local non-profits in the area.
Founder of East Meets West Childrenâs Foundation Mohini Singh, is helping support Starbright after the facility was set to lose its funding in June of this year. While the Childrenâs Development Centre has been given a two-year extension of its service agreement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), East Meets West handed over a cheque for $19,000 to show support for the organization in hopes the government will see the value for the community in continuing the facility.
âOkanagan charities are feeling the pinch of financial hardship as donations. Just last night the Summerland Rotary Club thanked us as over the years we have helped them fill the necessary voids when it comes to fundraising,â said Singh.
Singhâs charity, which was founded in 2008 and provides medical treatment and educational training for abandoned children and children of the working poor, also focuses on helping those at home. The charity donated $15,000 to the Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) for trauma counselling for sexual assault victims.
However, these donations from East Meets West are only made possible through the support of fundraisers such as the annual Diwali Dinner hosted by the charity. Last year East Meets West raised $140,000, and about $80,000 was donated to charities in the Okanagan.
âWe have been doing this for 15 years, we never realized we would last this long, but itâs because of the support we have received from the community,â explained Singh. âOur focus is health and education for children and we do all we can for children who face challenges to lead their best lives.â
Those challenges can include, health, medical needs, education and therapy.
Last year East Meets West Childrenâs Foundation and Access Dental Centre in Âé¶čAV, joined together to help 23 kids with a healthy smile. Those aged six to 12 who may not have dental coverage got their teeth cleaned and had a checkup at no cost during the project Smile 23.
Mike Hill a board member with East Meets West and Âé¶čAV Fire Fighter said, âWe canât change the world but if we can change the world of one child then we have achieved our goals.â
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