Q: Tell me a bit about the association.A: The Asha Indo Canadian Women and Youth Association is about three years old. We focus on providing financial aid to single parents and students here and in India. Right now we have programs for families at Christmas, and with this fundraising dinner we hope to start a scholarship for students at Saint Mary’s University.
Q: Why a scholarship?A: It was a good match with our focus on single parents and families. As a parent with children in school, you’re not looking at too many expenses until after Grade 12. Then, when the student enters university, things get a lot more expensive; tuition, books—it can be difficult to manage, even with a student loan. Every penny helps. So we thought this would be a good way to help.
Q: Why Saint Mary’s?A: Members and friends of the association have attended or are professors at Saint Mary’s. I took a course there, and had a very good experience…it seemed like a good fit. And the university agreed to administer the award, so they’ll take care of all that.
Q: How much money do you hope to raise?A: This is the first time we’ve organized something like this so we’re not sure what to expect. We have received a good response so far from people buying tickets and others who can’t attend making donations. We’re aiming to raise $500.
Q: What’s on the menu?A: We’re going to have an Indian-vegetarian dinner. The main courses are chickpea curry, navratan, which is a mixed-vegetable dish, and tofu and green pea curry. We’ll serve that with naan and basmati rice, and Indian pickle and tamarind chutney on the side. For dessert, we’ll be having rice pudding and ladoo, a dessert made with cream of wheat, sugar, milk and cardamom. We’ll also have soft drinks, tea and coffee. And there will be door prizes.
Q: How much work goes into preparing a meal like this?A: Well, we’ve been thinking about this ever since we began the association three years ago, on and off, and it’s finally coming together. There are several of us working together on the project, so it won’t be too bad. We’ve had a lot of help
Scholarship supper, Friday, July 28, 6:30pm. Tickets $15, available at the door or by calling Usha at 477-2040 or Jean at 492-8447.
This article appears in Jul 27 – Aug 2, 2006.