The ABA Youths Sydney organised a fund-raising dinner for the education of children orphaned by the earthquakes of 2015 in Nepal on 18 June 2022. Each year, the ABA youths had been organising this program since last seven years.
The program was organised at 232 Merrylands Road, Sydney. The fundraising dinner observed multicultural activities, among others, dances, songs, and delicious Nepalese culinary and attracted more than hundred participants. Mr Nanda Lal Bhandari, President of the Association of Bhutanese in Australia (ABA) in Sydney admired the support and trust shown by other community leaders from Nepalese Community of Western Sydney, fellow community leaders and community members in the initiative and leadership by the ABA youths. Mr Bhandari stated, “though this event marks the end of this particular initiative, it is certainly not the end of what we can do as individuals, as a community, and as human beings. We have much more to do, and we can do it all together like this event for the greater cause of humanity”.
Mr Suman Chhetri, an established social worker, health professional and a well-wisher of Punya Foundation acknowledged contributions from the community by highlighting collaborative efforts by organising team for the success of the program. He said, “I would like to request communities and individuals to come forward to support for vulnerable children who are in dire need of our help. Let us reflect on our own past life experience and help for education of poor children. Mr Chhetri thanked the youths for taking up leadership role in supporting children in desperate need.
The initiators of this fundraising dinner in 2015 and one of the most influential volunteers, Ms Indira Dhungyel shares, “from my experience of the fund-raising dinner programme, I can tell with confidence that helping someone without expecting a return gives you an immense pleasure and satisfaction which you rarely experience in your life. In the last seven years of organising the fund-raising dinner programme, we as a team had to go through a lot of challenges, but the outcomes of those challenges were always satisfying as it involved helping vulnerable children with their education and contributing towards building up their future. Not only we got the pleasure of helping them, but we got opportunities to strengthen the bonding among the organising team members. We also had a great time with our friends and family every year in the fundraising dinner programme that included dancing and singing performances. As we had a huge success with this endeavour, I am looking forward to organising such kind of events in the future.”
Like previous years, the participants had an opportunity to interact, enjoyed attending the program and provided positive feedback.
Punya Foundation extends its sincere thanks and appreciations to the volunteers of the ABA Youths, distinguished guests, community organisations, community leaders, youths, well-wishers and all participants who joined the program and contributed for the education of poor, orphaned and vulnerable children in Nepal.