The India Centre is hosting its third annual India Centre Awards dinner, which this year honours the tireless fundraising work of an organization dedicated to ensuring children living in poverty in India can attend school and achieve their dreams. Dr. Terry Papneja, President of the AIM for SEVA Board of Directors, is the keynote speaker and will be accepting the award on the organization’s behalf on Friday, November 10 at Canad Inns Polo Park, 1405 St. Matthews Ave, Winnipeg.
“Seva” is a Sanskrit word, meaning “selfless service.” This charity is a model of how to make a difference in the world, by supporting each individual child. Volunteers do all the work and funds raised go directly to hostels that house and support children so they may attend school. While AIM for SEVA has chapters all over the world, Dr. Terry Papneja and his wife Nimmi, who run the Toronto chapter, have raised a record $4 million dollars for the charity to date.
“While the India Centre Award recognizes the achievements and contributions by an individual or organization, the annual dinner is also the premier opportunity to network for members of the Indo-Canadian and the larger community, drawn from government, education, corporate and social sectors,” said Dr. Sylvie Albert, Dean, Business and Economics, University of Winnipeg. “Over the last three years, we have received businesspeople from India interested in opportunities of all kinds in Canada, and 45 students from India have come here to pursue graduate business degrees, with more coming in 2018.”
The India Centre dinner is about creating relationships, improving our cultural understanding, and enjoying new friends in a social atmosphere.”
Proceeds from the annual India Centre Award dinner go towards an endowment fund to support scholarships and bursaries for students to take part in international exchanges to and from India. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online here or by calling 204-786-9872.
In November 2013, The University of Winnipeg and India Association of Manitoba established the India Centre for Academic, Business and Community Excellence. The Centre provides a forum in which the “community and the academy gather to do meaningful work” promoting understanding and opportunities between two democratic and multicultural societies.
