Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - April 2009 - Index

In the
footsteps
of the Guru
A timely Baisakhi reminder to
live life by the principles taught
by Guru Gobind Singhji
Many desi parents worry about their children
not being in touch with their roots,
they grumble about them not being ‘desi’
enough. Kulwant and Tanvir Bhangoo have a different
story to share. When the couple decided to move from
Scarborough to Brampton, their daughter tried very hard
to persuade them not to move, because she didn’t want to
leave her friends at the gurdwara.
“I’d been involved with the activities at the gurdwara
and at the Guru Gobind Singh Children’s Foundation
(GGSCF) since a very young age – since I was five or six –
and when they wanted to move when I was in grade 8, I
was seriously upset!” laughs Amritvir Bhangoo.
It all began with the kirtan classes at the gurdwara.
There to learn devotional songs, Amrit interacted with
older kids who organized camps and other activities for
kids.
“You start participating in the CN Tower Stair Climb
and the charity runs, etc., you become friends. It was very
hard to leave,” she recalls.
However, the move turned out to be a very positive
one for all the members of the Sikh community in the
west end as it led to the opening of branches of GGCF in
Brampton.
Amrit became the youngest board member at 18 and
now at 20, continues to be involved with the Foundation’s
initiatives.
The five board members, says Amrit, ensure that things
are running smoothly at the children-run charity.
“The initiative, and the ideas are those of the kids, we
provide the guidance and the support,” she says.
For instance, if a young volunteer wants to get involved
with the Guru Nanak Walk, the board will connect him or
her with the Parks Authority and also with those who ran
the walk the previous year.
“It’s about pointing them in the right direction,” says
Amrit.
10 Desi News April 2009