Bringing down walls with pizzas & samosas

Given the climate in Trump's America, community outreach programs are vital. Sikh youth of the

Jakara Movement

have decided to educate their communities about Sikhism to prevent any discrimination rooted in ignorance.

Deep Singh, executive of the Movement explains that the initiative was launched in 2000, and is the largest Sikh youth non-profit organization in the US. “With hundreds of volunteers across the state, we offer year-round learning about Sikhi, sewa, and the importance of sangat. We have summer camps aimed at women and young boys. We aim to have conversations around caste, sexual abuse, or youth alienation. In Fresno, Califor nia, we operate the

Paaras Sikh Youth Center

, which is the first of its kind, giving space to Sikh youth to congregate, share ideas, and realize their visions.The organization has been educating neighborhoods about Sikhism since 2013, through its The Know Your Neighbor' Initiative. Most recently, they carried this out in Livingston, California, after

Fresno

and

Bakersfield

.

The programme has now become a regular feature in various communities. Deep elaborates, “We often target low-income neighborhoods, especially around gurdwaras, as an attempt to create connections, build bridges, and share Langar beyond the gurdwara floor. They spread word by taking pizzas around to houses in the community and informing them of the informal get-together.

“Neighbors appreciate us going door to door and sharing pizzas and information about Sikhs through our '5 Facts about Sikhi' sheets.Many get an opportunity to ask questions and share comments about their Sikh neighbours. Many even join us the following day for a tour at the Gurdwara over tea and samosas. For the Sikh youth, it is extremely powerful because many get an opportunity to engage around questions of class, build power through Sikh youth organizing, and get more Sikhs into youth action.

The organizers say that the response is always positive, 30 Sikh youth participants visited 100 families in Livingston, 150 families in Bakersfield, while 50 youths went to 200 homes in Fresno. The organization operates in nearly 25 high schools and 10 universities, contributing to their large number of volunteers. The next event will be held later this month in Turlock, California.