Vahiguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vahiguru Ji Ki Fatih!

Recently a young woman visited her local Gurduara after having done a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. She was conducting research in education models and methodologies and wanted to witness how Sikhs were teaching in their Sunday Khalsa schools. After her visit, she commented how surprised she was that what was being taught and the way in which it was being taught was exactly the same as it was twenty years ago when she was a child and attending these schools.

Any educational organization today should be asking itself some fundamental questions: “We know we have to change our methods of teaching. How can we harmonize the classics with the modern? How can we adopt to the new educational norms and technologies with the limited resources we have at our disposal?” For the Sikh Research Institute, these fundamental questions and many more have been our challenge, our focus and our raison d’etre: “To provide educational resources to Sikhs in order to lead Guru-inspired lives.” In 2013 with great humility, we offered our flagship educational resource, the Sojhi curriculum, to the global sangat. This curriculum is available online www.sikheducatorsnetwork.org and is free to download for all Khalsa school teachers, administrators and parents.

In 2013, we had a number of students coming from various continents to attend our annual Sidak Leadership program. Sidak 2014 is being held at a new venue and more courses are being offered. The Sidak experience is one of immersion of Sikhi lifestyle and intense learning. Majority of the participants have called it a “life altering” experience. Many Sidak alumni have started Sikh student societies in their universities; engaged with Sikh organizations and Gurduaras, thereby rejuvenating themselves and the sangats to which they belong.

The culture at the Sikh Research Institute is to offer excellent services and most importantly listen to our constituents and deliver on their needs. Last year we delivered on a demand by our supporters. We printed 10,000 copies of “Sikhi: Faith and Followers”, an easy to read booklet on Sikhs and Sikhi. We are delighted with the community’s overwhelming positive response.

We did all of the above and more despite some serious challenges from a human capital perspective. Our operations team worked hard to stabilize the churn in the organization and came out shining.

2014 is full of plans and projects that require focus and energy. Please help us by joining our social media channels and assist us in recruiting our future leaders for the Sidak Leadership program. Your tan, man and dhan have made all this possible and we are deeply grateful for it. Please help us serve you better by signing up for a monthly donation cycle or consider providing your annual tax-deductible contributions earlier than December.

We look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely and always striving for Panth ki Jit and Sarbat da bhalla!

Inderpreet Singh, Chairperson, Board of Directors