IndiaPost.com

Sikhcess launches 'Community Cleanup' campaign
Sunday, 05.25.2008, 10:57pm (GMT-7)

 WASHINGTON: May 10 through May 18, Sikhcess launched its 'Community Cleanup' campaign, the largest initiative of its kind to clean, revitalize, and improve public spaces that have been neglected or vandalized. As a worldwide community-service based organization, Sikhcess is dedicated to creating positive change by bridging cultural, socioeconomic, and religious divides.

Throughout the week, Sikhcess volunteers in the United States and in the United Kingdom worked hard to spruce up neighborhood living spaces and areas, including parks, highways, schools, playgrounds, and sidewalks. In doing so, the organization is engaging people to actively care about the quality of the neighborhood in which they live.

It also teaches teenagers positive ways to interact with the local community by discouraging juvenile gang activity, and enhancing public safety and personal security. In Washington, DC and in Chicago, the Sikh youth were united by a very special cause, Sewa (selfless service). With the help of Harminder Singh, Director of Accounting and Finance for Sikhcess, Washington, DC successfully held its first 'Community Cleanup,' assisting with needed renovations at the Josephine Butler Center. In Chicago, under the directive of Jason Singh, Chicago City Coordinator of Sikhcess, volunteers cleaned and planted flowers at Pingtom Park in China town.

"We wanted to build on the excitement and enthusiasm created by the Global Feed the Homeless campaign. Feedback from our volunteers indicated a deep concern for the environment, so Sikhcess took those suggestions and started the Community Cleanup campaign. Due to the positive response, the Community Cleanup campaign will be a recurring project," stated Harminder Singh.

In addition to Washington, DC and Chicago, 'Community Cleanup' events also took place in several other cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Sacramento; a 'Community Cleanup' was also held in Birmingham, in the United Kingdom. "Sikhcess takes an active approach to public service by creating volunteer opportunities with the goal of enhancing quality of life for all humankind.

As neighborhoods become run-down, we must provide a real service to the community; we must mobilize all the support, donations, and volunteers we can gather in order to help create real quality and safe living areas," said Amit Singh, Executive Director of Sikhcess
India Post News Service