By Jean Lee

(St. Paul) SEWA-Asian Indian Family Wellness (AIFW) celebrated their 5th anniversary at St. Catherine’s College with a series of community health workshops, performances and officials coming from as far away as India. 

SEWA-AIFW was modeled after Dr. Mohini Giri’s Indian “Guild of Service” in New Delhi, India and a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Dr. Giri presented her film “Veil to Vision”, which depicts improvements for Indian women economically, politically and socially.  Details are at http://www.guildofservice.org and www.guildofserviceni.com.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum thanked the people for their direct and indirect help to women and children in issues as domestic violence, healthcare, language barriers, education, and preserving the culture and traditions of families.  She spoke on celebrating the people and work done towards these efforts.  Congresswomen McCollum encouraged people to contact her in helping make a difference in the community.      

Hennepin County Magistrate Sangeeta Jain spoke on the need for cultural appropriate services in addressing domestic violence, sexual trafficking, and other problems in the “journey to make a better world.”

Minnesota Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans Executive Director Ilean Her said the Council is the voice and representative of Asian Pacific Islander interests in state government and other forums.  She spoke of her help in the formation of SEWA-AIFW, it’s programs, and expansion.

Workshops speakers included: Phanat Vang, Thomas Yang, Ellie Watkins, Zehra Ansari, and Salima Kahkoo.

Cultural performances featured Krishna Kanodia, St. Cloud University Nepali Student Assoc., Renu Kumar “RGK” Dance Studio, Aaroosh Jain, Sonia and Friends, and play by Dipanker Mukherjee.

SEWA-AIFW Executive Director Raj Chaudhary, Neelam Singh, Jyoti Sinha, Abby Sookhraj did outstanding work in handling the celebration, co-sponsored by Civil Society (www.civilsocietyhelps.org) and Quit Plan Services (www.quitplan.com).

For more information on SEWA-AIFW programs for women, seniors, human trafficking awareness, contact:  (612) 522—9387, info@sewa-aifw.org,, www.sewa-aifw.org HOTLINE: (952) 912—9100