Even as they marked the all-important ‘Tamil New Year’s Day,’ members of the Wellington Mutamizh Sangam raised $2500 for their ‘Karunai Illam Trust,’ a charitable organisation established in New Zealand.
The Trust runs a primary school and a vocational training community college in Nilakottai, a panchayat town in the Dindugal District of Tamil Nadu, in association with its partner, the ‘Dhun Foundation.’
Revenue Minister Peter Dunne, Trust Founder and Trustee Jean Watson, National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, White Ribbon Ambassador (and former Race Relations Conciliator and Families Commissioner) Gregory Fortuin and officials of the Families Commission and Office of Ethnic Affairs were among the main guests at the programme called, ‘Nandhana’ held at the Indian Cultural Centre in Pentone, Wellington on June 9.
The programme included songs and dances.
Mr Dunne said that the Sangam deserved praise for its work towards the betterment of the communities in the wider Wellington area.
“I support ‘Happy Family, Strong Family,’ the theme of the Wellington Tamil Sangam’s celebrations this year. I strongly believe that the family as an institution has a pivotal role in the community. Families should find time to gather around the dining table,” he said.
Ms Watson, who is a resident of Wellington, said that ‘Karunai Illam,’ which began 25 years ago in a small shed, continues to grow with an increasing number of children on the waiting list.
Sangam Treasurer Balaji Venkatachalam, who coordinated ‘Nandhana,’ said that the Trust had donated $3000 last year to the New Zealand Red Cross (Wellington) to set up the Wellington Region Emergency Management Team.
“The money was raised through a dance programme organised in association with the Natraj School of Dance,” he said (Indian Newslink, October 15, 2011).
According to the Trust website, the building, purchased in 1991, served the needs of the children well and that facilities were built on a small plot of land purchased in 2003-2004.
The ‘Illam,’ which has about eight acres of land, is continuously in need of money to cater to the educational and accommodation needs of children.
