2016

The Christian Cultural Association of South Asians (CCASA) was established in 1995 to promote good relations between people of South Asian origin and the Canadian Society. It is  a non-religious, non-profit organization that makes strategic investments to build healthy, sustainable and caring communities in Canada.  

Purpose:-

To assist deserving South Asians to immigrate to Canada·         to help newcomers to adjust and realize their potential as full participants in Canadian society;

·         to disseminate information concerning education, culture and opportunities in Canada to members of the Association;

·         to promote positive recognition of immigrants and their contributions to Canadian society;

·         to protect the rights and interests of Association members and to serve as a national voice to government agencies and the public at large;

·         to provide a forum for issues relating to women, children and seniors;

·         to visit all shut-ins, sick and needy people in our community;

·         to provide mentoring and proper guidance for youth.

·         We declare our support for all basic human rights and abhor discrimination of any kind, including political, racial, economic, sexual, religious and any other prejudicial forms of discrimination.

Programs expanded to meet the need of present environment:

1-A few years ago we expanded our services to seniors to meet the need of growing population of seniors. It is working well. In Kingston we have an ongoing service to seniors by making them literate in computer and tablet.

In Ajax we provide social get together to a group of seniors. They meet once a wk. Every Friday.

 2-Realizing the need of education to up lift the community, CCASA started the establishment of foundation called Pakistani Youth Education (PYE) fund. This is to address the need of 41 orphan children who lost their parents when  the church was attacked  in Peshawar, Pakistan. This program may expand to other areas in future. We are happy to say that  Anglican Diocese of Kingston has agreed to  support the foundation. In fact the chairman of PYE funds is the Bishop Oulton and the money is kept in the Diocese account where it earns about 5% interest. Our target is to have at least  $30,000.00 in the foundation funds. This will generate enough interest to send one lakh rupees  annually to support the orphan children. We need about $1200.00 to meet our target.

3-Furthermore, we are committed to invest in the community welfare projects executed jointly with other community groups in GTA. They were/are:-

-          First clean drinking water facility, District Sialkot is fully operational since July 2015.

-          Second clean drinking water facility, District Sialkot is operational since August 2015.

-          Third clean drinking water facility, St. Roque’s Catholic Church, Pasrur is fully operational since October 2015.

-          Fourth clean drinking water facility, Francisabad Colony, Gujranwala is fully operation February 2016. Each of these projects has cost app. $1500.00

4-Group is  committed to Pastoral support program in Pakistan.

Details to follow at later date.

5-Support for stranded community members in Thailand: (share and care program).

a)- We are  continuously  knocking the door of the Government of Canada  through various MP's. We are asking  to allow and facilitate the  migration of Pakistani Christian to Canada  from Thailand.  Thanks to MP Mark Gerretsen, MP for Kingston and the Islands for agreeing to make our appointment with the Minister for immigration. We will ask him if he could be with us when we meet the Minister.

B)-To help celebrate Easter ,  group has raised about $700.00 . This money will be used to help Standard Pakistani Christian in Thailand either in the form of  food packages or monetary support for food. First shipment is due close to Easter 2016.

6-Under the Community share and care project, we have raised app. $1800.00 for clean water and worship room in Chihawatni Pakistan.We are eager to raise more money as the building of worship room will need considerably more money.

Our National President Qamar Khan has taken on the responsibility refugees sponsorship initiative. Please contact him if you need any information.

All these projects are to meet the need of community in Canada and Pakistan. CCASA is committed to serve the community and hence the goals of the association are flexible to meet the need of time. My thanks to my children John, Joyce and Sammy who, for the last two years have been donating cash to PYE funds instead of  gifts at Christmas time.

Special thanks to Dr. Pancham of Kingston, Vice Chair PYE Funds and Director of projects and outreach Mr. Joseph Patres of Scarborough. Without the help of these two gentlemen I do not think we could do any of these projects. They have a great passion to serve the humanity. My special thanks to both of you.

We have initiated the process to sponsor two families from Thailand. Your prayers are requested.

Our National President Qamar Khan has taken on the responsibility refugees sponsorship initiative. Please contact him if you need any information

                                                                    2017

CCASA CHRISTMAS MESSAGE AND YEAREND REPORT

Christmas is considered to be one of the most joyous times of year, filled with festivities and gift giving. It is also the time to show our  appreciation to our members, friends, volunteers and dedicated donors. Without your help CCASA would not be able to do the work as indicated in my yearend report. Many Many thanks  to all of you and I wish you, your families and all the community members a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and safe, blessed and joyful 2018.

I urge you all to please remember our suffering brothers and sisters in various part of the world and the victims of the recent attack on Methodist church in Quetta, Pakistan.

CCASA YEAREND REPORT 

I would like thank Lord for a great blessing that the organization under your command and vision have successfully executed the following welfare projects during the year 2017.

1. Preservation of Church building (Windows-Doors-Shades - Pakistan

2. Construction material Church building - Randawa Village, Pakistan

3. Regular financial support to three Churches (Karachi, Rawalpindi & Sialkot)  

4. Operational support to free medical dispensary

5. Support a STUDENTin Minor Seminary Lahore

6. Support orphan children in their studies 

7. Distributed monetary gifts at Easter and Christmas time among refugees in Thailand.

8. Involved with sponsorship of refugees with collaboration of community members

9. Emergency financial support to needy sick persons

10. Organization volunteers provide continuous support to community members with documentation , filling in Forms for  various needs and situations.

Joseph, president CCASA Durham Chapter

Educational Bursary program for orphan and needy students .

Pakistani Youth Education Fund is an extended wing of CCASA under which we sponsored five students in 2017. They will be graduating in 2018. There is a desire that myself and Bishop Oulton may attend the graduation. It may or may not happen.

As our capital has grown to over  $50K, our earned interest should be sufficient to sponsor our target number of seven student. Our goal is to sponsor a class of 15 students and hopefully we should be able to do that in about five years. I would request other organizations/individuals to please think about educating our community back in Pakistan. If our community is educated, we can hope that Christian will not be doing the menial work and the word chura  will become a history.

God bless you all.

Sam Laldin