The annual Youth and Women’s Convention of the New Zealand Sanatan Naari Sabha held on September 9 highlighted the importance of involving the younger members of the society in activities that would enable them to learn more about their culture and heritage.
Indian culture is rich and great but we may lose its values, if we do not take steps now to preserve and promote them.
Speaking on the occasion, Member of Parliament Dr Rajen Prasad advised the members of the Sabha to collect information related to the issues and send them to the Families Commission (of which he was the founding Chief Commissioner) for appropriate action.
Manukau District Court Judge Dr Ajit Swaran Singh spoke on teenage suicide and the Anti-Family Violence Campaign including the White Ribbon, while Child, Youth & Family Supervisor Manju Sharma outlined the incidence of child abuse in migrant families.
Among the other speakers were Raewyn Bhana (from South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network), Professor Elaine Rush (Auckland University of Technology) and Robert De Bique (Immigration New Zealand).
The Sabha also focuses on educating the Indian community on social problems such as drugs, bullying, teenage suicide, binge drinking, family violence, health-related diseases and other social issues.
Mavis Singh is the President of New Zealand Sanatan Naari Sabha based in Auckland.
