Walking for charity

once a week (Tues or Wed), from 10 am to 2 pm. All the activities, including transport, morning tea and lunch and once a month outing will be provided FREE.

Details Jay Raman 0410 759 906.

FUNDRAISER Baltarang 2012

7 Oct Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation

Australia is organizing a fund raising event Baltarang 2012 at Bowman Hall, Blacktown, Sydney. It is going to be a fun-filled evening of dances, dramas and songs performed by young local artists, and choreographed by top Sydney dance schools and choreographers. All proceeds of the function will go towards educating poor children in rural and tribal parts of India. All donations are hence fully tax deductible.

Details Devendra Gupta 0411 597949 or visit the website www.ekal.org.au

Diwali with a twist

Fri 5 Oct Mona Singh (Mrs India

Australia 2011), Poonam Chandiramani and Ranju Chaddha present a festive Diwali night. Join in for a night of extraordinary entertainment, sumptuous dinner and … a surprise element that will not be revealed until the night! Venue Urban Tadka, 321 Mona Vale Rd, Terrey Hills. $50 per head. Details Mona 0438 079 781.

Since its inception nearly 10 years ago, Vision 2020 Group has motivated the residents of Sydney NSW, a majority of whom have Indian origins, to donate over $ 85000 to charities in India. It has a group of committed volunteers who believe in complete transparency in the way they reach out to the disadvantaged members of the society. They choose their targeted institutions very carefully and have given away substantial funds to organizations that care for elderly and the abandoned street children, orphanages, destitute and the desolate.

Their latest initiative of fund raising, by means of a Charity Walk in the Lane Cove National Park was an outstanding success due to the levels of participation achieved. A total of over 250 adults, young and old and included 30 children who walked a round trip of 10 kilometres in mid-July. The weather Gods laid on benign sunshine which created a picnic and carnival atmosphere. The event was much more fun due to the participants being provided fresh and hot food on the spot by volunteers at a nominal price. The uplifting nature of this event brought about spontaneous response from many visitors who joined in the fun and donated generously.

There were several registrations for Life Membership and the event inspired the Adelaide chapter of Vision 2020 to plan a similar event.

Vision 2020 may be contacted on Vision2020au@gmail.com should any reader wish to donate or become a member.

Malli Iyer