The Guide to Holistic Self-Care is a tool for South Asian seniors to assist in early detection and self-management of diabetes and other chronic illnesses. The guide includes aspects such as understanding the disease, exercise, healthy eating, proper use of prescription medications and information on monitoring and managing blood sugar and blood pressure. This guide is a user friendly, culturally appropriate and language specific tool to empower the South Asian seniors and addresses their physical, mental, emotional, social and financial issues. It is a holistic approach needed for self management of diabetes and chronic disease prevention. The seniors have been involved in this project by actively participating in the two surveys, providing feedback and recommendations on the guide content as well as being a part of the advisory committee for the project. This Project is funded by Public Health Agency of Canada.
For Immediate Release
India Rainbow hosts its 25th Annual General Meeting with nostalgia and looking forward to the future.
India Rainbow Community Services of Peel held its 25th Annual General Meeting on June 24th. This meeting was special because of the organization’s silver jubilee year, it brought together the founding directors, past and current Board members, members from networking agencies, staff and guests.
President Sheela Joshi welcomed everyone and spoke briefly about the organization’s achievement. Kitty Chadda, Executive Director, then invited Mr. Ajit Adhopia, one of the founding directors to speak about the organization’s beginnings. Mr. Adhopia related a couple of incidents, when community members at that time did not have access to services in a culturally sensitive manner. The group then decided to establish an organization which would be sensitive to the needs of the people it would serve. Ajit Adhopia spoke about the history leading up to the establishment of India Rainbow and the role of the founding members.
He recognized other founding members who were instrumental in starting the organization and related how India Rainbow Club - which is what it was then called - started with a small grant, was later incorporated and today, 25 years later is a successful, recognized and well respected, multi-service community agency. All past Board members and founding directors were recognized with mementos for their pioneering work in starting and nurturing the organization. Other members of the Board and members of the Policy Advisory Committee too were thanked for their untiring effort and recognized for their volunteer work. Kitty Chadda then announced the names of the donors as they were also recognized and thanked for their generosity.
President Sheela Joshi recognized all staff with 10, 15, 20 or more years of service with special pins, while Surinder Soni, the first president of the organization, presented Kitty Chadda with the 25 year pin. Senior staff Kitty Chadda and Manju Panchapakesan were also honoured with mementos for their continued commitment and leadership in steering the organization to new heights.
The annual general meeting later continued with the business part of the evening - that of electing new member to the Board. The slate was acclaimed as presented, the treasurer presented the audited financial statement and the auditors for next fiscal were appointed. Secretary Nazli Rehman then adjourned this very nostalgic meeting.
The atmosphere at this annual general meeting was truly inspirational. To see an organization grow and achieve so much within 25 years is really commendable. India Rainbow Community Services of Peel offers services for newcomers to Canada, seniors who are frail and elderly, or with long term illness, children, youth and parents. For more information please call 905-275 2369 or visit www.indiarainbow.org.
