Artricle published in Times of Oman: Service activities of the SAI group in Oman

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SAI group in Oman : Service activities

 

Published in Times of Oman on 03-Nov -05

‘An Evening of Awareness’ reaches out to the differently abled

MUSCAT — Muscateers have witnessed a unique programme — ‘An Evening of

Awareness’ (Community Service) — at the Jabreen Ballroom, InterContinental

Muscat organised by the Serve And Inspire (SAI) Group in cooperation with the

Oman Association for the Disabled (OAD). Dr Shukoor Al Ghammary, member of the

State Council, presided over the function, and recalled her pioneering efforts

during the formative years of OAD. Ashok Kumar Attri, Indian ambassador to the

Sultanate, was the guest of honour. Ahmed bin Rashid Al Ma’amari,

undersecretary, Ministry of Social Development; Richard Baltimore, ambassador

of the US to the Sultanate; Javed Hafiz, Pakistan ambassador to the Sultanate;

Keiji Omori, ambassador of Japan to the Sultanate; graced the occasion. Kanaksi

Gokuldas Khimji, Kiran Asher, Prem Maker, and many dignitaries from the

community, officials from various ministries and consular officials of Jordan,

France, Germany and Sri Lanka were also part of the occasion. The programme,

held on Monday, commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Imam

Abdullah Al Sheidi and Imam Taha Mohammedy of the Zawawi Asma mosque. Dr

Narayan explained the aims and objectives of the SAI Group and gave a detailed

account of the service initiatives undertaken by the group in Oman. ‘Love all,

serve all’; ‘Help ever, hurt never’; ‘Service to man is service to God’ — all

based on the five human values of truth, love, peace, right conduct and

non-violence. He also stressed on the medicare, socio-care and educare projects

of the group done worldwide. Speaking on ‘An Awareness of Community Service’, Dr

Shukoor said that “peace that wells up within brings peace to the world. Service

is love in action”. She explained that service rendered with a spirit of love

and sacrifice without expecting any reward broadens our vision, endows us with

joy and drives out the evil qualities of jealousy and desire thereby bringing

about our own individual transformation. She concluded with a meaningful

couplet: “He is not rich who has much, he is rich who gives much”. On the

occasion, eighteen wheelchairs were handed over to the OAD by Dr Shukoor and

one to the Centre for Special Education, Indian School Muscat by Attri, on

behalf of the SAI Group. Dr Mukhtar Al Rawahi, OAD chairman who spoke on ‘An

awareness of OAD’, emphasised on the need to work and live together in harmony

by reaching out to the underprivileged and supporting them. This was followed

by a presentation on the activities and accomplishments of the Oman Association

for the Disabled, which raised the awareness of the audience to see the disabled

as differently abled. A moving film based on the song: Heal the world, spare the

space, make a better place for you and me summed up the presentation aptly.

Aisha Ahmed Al Blushi, director, department of private schools, Ministry of

Education, who spoke on ‘An Awareness of Human Values’ recalled a popular

quote: “Think big, start small and move fast. Think of helping Mother Earth as

one large community, start with your own small community and move fast by

spreading your efforts to reach all”. A video presentation, His Work was

screened which portrayed the worldwide humanitarian projects of Sathya Sai

Baba, the founder and the inspirational source of the SAI Group. The projects

include drinking water, super specialty hospitals providing tertiary care

treatment and educational institutions. The beauty of all these projects is

that love is the currency used and the beneficiaries do not have to make any

payment! Sheikh Saud Al Hashmi, an Islamic scholar, who spoke on ‘An Awareness

of Charity in the Holy month of Ramadhan’, explained about the different kinds

of charity that a person can perform such as giving away money; physical acts

of service and sparing time for the lesser-privileged sections of the society.

Engineer Salim ben Nasser Al Ismaily, executive president, Ociped, held the

audience in rapt attention with his inspiring speech on ‘An awareness of global

village’. He stressed that in this age of globalisation with its apparent ease

of communication and travel one cannot remain unconcerned with events happening

elsewhere. In his speech laced with subtle humour he lauded the role of woman as

a mother and foremost teacher to her children. Students are not empty bottles to

be filled but candles waiting to be lit by teachers, he emphasised. He expressed

the sense of injustice felt by people living in poverty in a world of plenty and

therefore the necessity of giving hope to those suffering and the need to be

proactive in our approach and reach out to other communities as well. Shankar

Shetty, coordinator, SAI Group gave a vote of thanks as ‘An Evening of

Awareness’ came to an end which left an indelible impression in the hearts of

the packed audience at the Jabreen Ballroom. Online Source:URL:

http://www.timesofoman.com/newsdetails.asp?newsid=21455&pn=local