South Asian Friends of SOS Children’s Villages Canada hosted their annual Marigold Gala in support of Orphaned earthquake Victims of Muzaffarabad at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto’s Distillery District.
The event, held annually, has become a glittering favourite, and this year was no different. The event had an aerial performance by A²D², as well as a performance by well known New York dance artist Dionisia Garcia. The fashion show this year showcased works by designer Zolaykha Sherzad who specializes in traditional Afghan pieces merged with contemporary Western fashion. Along with a sit down dinner, silent auction, and music by DJ Knoxx, it turned out to be a night to remember. All in support of orphaned or abandoned children of Muzaffarabad. Muzaffarabad was at the epicentre of an Earthquake in 2005, which left millions homeless. SOS Children’s Villages efforts came to fruition this year as the ground breaking ceremony happened in July 2012, and hope to see the completion of the SOS Village by next summer, and become a home for 150 children.
SOS Villages is the orphan-focused charity, caring for orphaned and abandoned children in 133 countries. Providing 90,000 children the stability of a loving home, siblings, and a loving Mother, SOS Children`s Villages Canada daily benefits more than 1.2 million people, with access to education, vocational training, counselling, micro-credit, community resources and disaster relief.
Help us to build SOS Muzaffarabad: visit: www.soschildrensvillages.cato help us give a loving home to the world`s most vulnerable children. t� fr1�1n the Final Round was “This House believes that developing countries should prefer the example of India over China”. Richmond Hill High School was the Tournament Champion and Olympiads School was the Winning Junior Team (Grades 7-9).Maria Clara Pereira from Scotiabank gave away the prizes to the winning teams. The Top Speaker was from Northern Secondary School. Panorama India presented an audience participation award for $200. York University’s Department of Political Science presented two awards of $100 each, one for the top team and one for the best speaker.
Panorama India’s immediate past chair AjitKhanna had launched this initiative with Ananya Mukherjee-Reed of York University who was member of Panorama’s Board of Governors in 2011. “The idea was to create an event that will encourage our youngsters to think of global issues such as the rise of India and China’, said Mukherjee-Reed. PankajMehra, Director of Multicultural Banking Division of Scotiabank, had been supportive of the idea from its very inception.
The event was co-sponsored by York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. The Faculty’s Associate Dean NardaRazack attended the event. The event was also attended by parents, teachers and debating coaches, all of whom spoke highly of their experience at York this weekend.
