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Associated Press
30-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Teachers appreciated through colorful Guru Vandana events by HSS
Over two thousand teachers and administrators participated in colorful Guru Vandana events organized by the Hindu Education Foundation, an HSS US Project ROCKAWAY, NJ, UNITED STATES, June 30, 2025 / / -- The U.S. celebrates the first week of May as 'Teacher Appreciation Week' and Tuesday of the same week as 'National Teachers Day.' Hindu philosophy and culture consider teachers as 'Guru' - one who shines and sustains the light of knowledge, rooting out the darkness of ignorance. Numerous teachers enlighten and inspire us throughout our lives in our academic, vocational, and spiritual endeavors. To acknowledge and appreciate them, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA (HSS) organized Guru Vandana events under the banner of the Hindu Education Foundation (HEF). Around 2,200 academicians, including teachers, principals, and superintendents, were honored and recognized during these events, which were attended by more than 10,000 attendees comprising students, parents, and other guests. In these events, children presented cultural programs featuring Sanskrit shlokas, speeches, and performances, appreciating the role of the Guru in attaining supreme knowledge. Chief guests and teachers shared their thoughts with the audience, followed by a ceremony that honored the teachers in the traditional Hindu way. Darshana, an educational exhibition on Hindu Civilization developed by HEF volunteers, was also displayed in several of these events. Over 150 local centers (shakhas) and regional chapters across 20 states organized these events, with teenage children and their families taking the lead in planning and coordination. In some areas, the HEF collaborated with local townships and school districts to organize the 'Guru Vandana' teacher appreciation ceremonies. Teachers and attendees were impressed with the traditional ceremonies held in their honor. Some teachers particularly enjoyed the Hindu way of performing aarti, which involves applying kumkum to the forehead, offering flowers, and presenting sweets, followed by bowing down in front of the teacher. School teachers especially appreciated this event. They acknowledged their students' passion and hard work, as well as how this event introduced them to Hindu culture and its inclusive philosophy. About HSS HSS is a 501(c)(3), independent, voluntary, non-profit, cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling a lasting sense of pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Over the Years, HSS's community service has been recognized by federal-level programs, FEMA, as well as federal, state, and city-level local officials, and by prominent media outlets such as CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, FOX News, NPR Radio, the Houston Chronicle, and the Chicago Tribune, among many other mainstream establishments. Learn more at Vikas Deshpande Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA +1 973-500-8477 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
The National
25-06-2025
- General
- The National
'Lifesaving' £250K aid pledged for DR Congo crisis
The Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) is a £1 million annual Scottish Government fund, administered by the Disasters Emergency Committee and eight partner charities, providing rapid aid in overseas crises caused by disaster, disease, or conflict. Charities Oxfam Scotland and Tearfund have welcomed the move, calling the funds 'lifesaving' as residents of the DRC face forced displacement, hunger, violence and insecurity. The £250,000 provided through the HEF will be distributed to both organisations, and through local partners, to support emergency relief efforts across eastern DRC – helping families pay for essentials such as food, fuel, shelter or hygiene items, as well as accessing urgent medical care, trauma services and safe transport. READ MORE: Meet the engineer hoping to be the first Palestinian-Scot MSP in Holyrood External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: 'The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on a scale we can hardly imagine here in Scotland. 'Successive waves of violence are claiming the lives of civilians, including children, with millions forced to flee to temporary accommodation where conditions are deteriorating. 'The situation is being worsened by the scaling back of humanitarian assistance by other international donors. 'While our funding may only make a small impact in the face of such overwhelming need, we are determined to stand behind our values and Scotland's long and proud history of responding to humanitarian crises around the world.' Conflict in the region has forced over seven million people from their homes, with many facing hunger, illness, and repeated trauma – particularly women and children. In the east, renewed violence since January has displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving many without food, water, or shelter. The charity described the situation in the DRC as one of 'the world's most urgent and complex crises'. Oxfam, supported by £125,000 from the Scottish Government's Humanitarian Emergency Fund, will assist 3,000 people in eastern DRC. This includes direct cash transfers to 500 households and support for 200 survivors of sexual violence, helping them access urgent medical and trauma care. READ MORE: Free Dundee exhibition to showcase historic Palestinian embroidery and dress Climate change, closed banks, and deforestation worsen conditions, while cuts in global aid – like the $900 million suspended by the US – have severely impacted relief efforts. Oxfam's local partner SOPROP highlights that demand far outnumbers resources. The Scottish Government's support has been labelled a 'critical' intervention in a crisis that receives little international attention. By providing flexible emergency funds, the HEF will help families to make their own choices in crisis. Manenji Mangundu, Oxfam Scotland's Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said: 'Every day, our partners and colleagues are meeting mothers who've walked for miles with nothing but their children in their arms, desperately searching for safety. 'They've lost everything: their homes, their loved ones, their hope of a normal life. The scale of human suffering here is staggering. 'The recent cuts to humanitarian funding have been devastating. We've had to make impossible choices about who gets clean water, medicine, or even a place to sleep. 'That's why support from the Scottish Government is so vital. With our local partner, it's helping us reach people who would otherwise be left with nothing. 'But with millions still in desperate need, we urgently need other governments and donors to follow Scotland's lead. Now is the time to step up, not step back.' Testimony from a DRC resident Tearfund shared Aimee's story, a Congolese woman who has faced displacement numerous times as a result of the ongoing conflict. The Malehe resident (below) and her mother have endured years of suffering as a consequence of the violence. (Image: EAC Goma/Tearfund)'My name is Aimee, and I am a resident of Malehe. I am originally from here. Two years ago, we fled to Kimashini, and arrived at a camp for displaced people where we stayed for two years. A few weeks ago, conflict escalated and we were asked to return home to Malehe", she told the charity. She continued: "Once back in Malehe with my children, I found that our house had been destroyed. So, we built a hut, which is where we live now, in very poor conditions, particularly in terms of food. "We are asking for help: if I could find a little money, I could sell products, and rebuild my house. I would love to rebuild a house like the one I had before. Please, help us, we are starving. "Here, there are schools, but our children don't study, because we no longer have the means to pay for uniforms and notebooks. We really need help." Aimee highlighted the financial difficulties faced by many in the region, noting that whilst the hospitals still stand, the cost of care and treatment is too high. She added: "Pregnant women give birth on the bare ground. "We, the mothers, are really suffering. We really don't know what to do anymore."
