PUTTING STRUCTURES IN PLACE FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

For service to the Indian community ofNSW initially and to the wider South Asian communities of NSW over past eleven years other migrants, especially labourers from India, who h e taught to read and wri t e and learn bas ic matl1s.

The informal cbssroom be stared became a well -kno,vn higb school".

Like his grandfather, Ram saw many needs and i ssues with the migrant communities in Australia that required addressing.

"I was fortunate tO come in contact with like- minded people," Ram says

Together they undertook soci al we lfare activitie$ tl1at have gone on to make a difference.

After years of work, Ram is now in a position where he help~ directly by creating structures for social enterprise mat provide service where a need is identified. This led to the creation of SEVA (Social Em:repreneurial Vearures of Australian South Asians), well-known in Sydney's Indian community for its social wo rk in d ifferent fields.

"lo the area of aged care, for instance, we at SEVA are looking at training community workers wbo can provide cul turally relevant homecare. For families with special needs childrea, we have come a long way with our carer support program Sahelis ro meet me challenge of soc.ial isol ation. Samarpan, an as~oc.iation d1at represents peop le witl1 disability was registered as an associacion in 2012 after starting off informally in 2002. In ilie field of domestic ,riolence, we want to set up a safehouse for victims, but are starting with drop-in centtes where sympametic e lders in ilie communi tr can lend an ear; we hope to ultimately have medical and legal counsellon;. For these and similar programs, we are engaged in evid ence-based research activities in collaboration w ith universities".

Social inclusion is another particular passion with Ram, ignited after tbelndian students' crisis of 2009 - 10. Rhythms of Peace is a recent ptogran1 of which Ram is particularly proud. "\:(/e came up with the program to enhance cross-cultural understanding at ilie earliest possible stages. In coUaboration witl1 Lhe Islamic Council of NSW and .Arab Council Australia, the government fw1ded us to engage prima ry school children in crosscultural activities. ivfiddle Eastern and Soum Asian kids presented performances and organised food fescivals to enlighten their peers about their culture. These took p lace in me Parraniatta and Auburn districts and culminated in a grand performa nce at Riverside Theatres on Harmony Day''.

Another similar program that Ram is excited about which i s in tbe pipeline is based on story- telling.

Ram came to d1is country in 1969 as a member of the first ever Indian trade delegation. He was back in 1970 to set up a regional office here to look after trade between lnclia and Austtalia, NZ and Fiji, and has stayed on since then. W/hi le his professional life was dedicated to ilie growth and enhancement of tl1e bilateral trade and other relationships between rhe two countries, his volw1tarism has been an enduring aspect of his personality. le is now coming to the fo re as the community grows large enough to be able to suppo r t the plans he has long envisioned, and is now seeing to fruition.