This month at Adhikaar – June 2008

1. "Lunch Matters" partnership with RMA
2. Two interns @ Adhikaar
3. Successful Matching Gift Campaign
4. Adhikaar joined NCSO
5. Parent's Workshop
6. Individual Assistance
7. Ongoing English classes for two groups every Sunday
8. Beauty Salon Focus Group



1 Adhikaar in partnership with Rubin Museum of Art is screening series of films that highlight Nepali Social, Cultural and Health Issues.This Lunch Matters series is every Wednesday until July 30th at the RMA. For more information please go to:
(http://www.rmanyc.org/programsevents/lunchmatters.xml?context=programs-events/lunch-matters.xml).

2. Adhikaar hired two interns, Dawa Gyaltsen Sherpa and Swechhya Pant with funding from New York Foundation and North Star Fund. The interns will be helping out with the Community Assessment Project mainly focusing on the youth population in New York area.

3. Adhikaar successfully completed its matching grant campaign with the donations exceeding the initial match amount of $3500. The total amount exceeded 7,500 with generous contribution from our supporters within and outside New York. Thanks to the pool of donors who promised to match every dollar up to $3500 and our supporters who jumped in to help Adhikaar reach it's goal. The contributions will be used to keep Adhikaar's current program running and develop news programs based on community needs.

4. Adhikaar has joined the National Coalition of South Asian organizations (NCSO) as a founding member. The NCSO is comprised of 31 organizations that empower South Asian communities in 12 metropolitan areas around the United States through social service provision, community education, advocacy and organizing.

5. Adhikaar in collaboration with Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) successfully conducted a Parent's workshop "Raising safe and healthy children in New York City". 15 community members with children in the U.S. and/or working as babysitters participated in the workshop that mainly focused on educating immigrant parents around know-your-rights on child discipline and the child welfare system in New York City. This is part of our know-your-rights workshop series, and the first on on this topic.

6. Adhikaar assisted 10 individuals in the month of June, many of whom we have worked with for a long-term. The assistance provided includes translations, lawyer referrals, medical bill negotiations and immigration assistance.

7. Adhikaar successfully completed two 10 week English classes by June. There are basic and intermediate level English classes ongoing for women every Sunday. There are plans on the way to provide English classes for men in the community by demand.

8. Adhikaar conducted a focus group with beauty parlor and nail salon workers as a part of the community assessment project in order to bring out issues facing community members involved in different occupations. The results of the focus group will be incorporated and published with the survey report at the end of this year.