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SAMAA Celebrated Eid Milan at Newington Community Centre Sydney
(Coverage by Syed Zafar Hussain, Editor-in-Chief Sada-e-Watan Sydney)
South
Asian Muslim Association of Australia Inc (SAMAA) organised another event to
celebrate Eid ul Fitr with the seniors and the elderly of the community at
Newington Community Centre Sydney on Monday, 5 Oct 2009. It was attended by well
over 150 people who enjoyed the evening thoroughly. SAMAA officials briefed the
attendees with the progress of its programs. SAMAA has been coordinating with
various government and non-government agencies to improve its services. It is
also in contact with Department of Health and Ageing in seeking help in various
aged care programs. SAMAA officials reminded attendees about the two funds to run
its programs:
1-
Benevolent Service Fund: This fund supports the voluntary services offered by
SAMAA to its elderly. & 2- Elderly Home Fund: This fund will be utilized to
build our own aged care facilities in long run.
Under benevolent service program, SAMAA’s team of volunteers help elderly of the
community in their day to day needs such as providing transport for Friday
prayers, doctors’ appointment, shopping, social event etc. They can also cook
food for them and help them in general household work. Under SAMAA’s paid
volunteers program, volunteers can be paid for the work they do or the expenses
they incur in providing such a service.
SAMAA officials requested the community to support it in the programs by
registering themselves as volunteers. They also requested the South Asian Muslim
elderly to register with SAMAA and tell them about their needs. SAMAA can
organize placement of elderly in a nursing home which can make provisions for
religious and cultural needs of the South Asian Muslims.
A
health expert from UNSW Dr Mahmaoud Sheikh gave a talk on dietary issues of the
elderly and Melikeh Michales from Auburn Council briefed the audience about the
facilities available for them through Auburn Council.
Many
SAMAA elderly thrilled the crowd with their presentations of poetry, jokes etc.
Few Sydney poets also entertained the crowd with Urdu poetry.The evening
concluded with Dinner.For more details about SAMAA’s programmes, The readers of
Sada-e-Watan can visit SAMAA website:
www.samaa.org.au