Sewa International South Africa hosts national conference to uplift communities
Collaboration
Among the guests were several Hindu saints who offered insights into the importance of prioritising service to society.
Image: Supplied
THIS past weekend Sewa International South Africa hosted a national conference that brought together over 40 Hindu organisations dedicated to various service initiatives aimed at uplifting society.
The gathering aimed to highlight the impact these entities have made within their communities, while providing a platform for sharing stories, strategies, and collaborative opportunities.
Among the guests were several Hindu saints who offered insights into the importance of prioritising service to society, underscoring the deep-rooted values of community service within Hindu philosophy. They applauded the participating organisations for their unwavering commitment to uplift the less fortunate.
Shikar Sanjith Singh, the chairperson of Sewa International South Africa, expressed the significance of this gathering.
“This coming together of like-minded entities at one forum allowed for the effective sharing of ideas and good governance practices, coupled with a healthy rejuvenation of volunteers who have dedicated a major part of their lives in the service and upliftment of the less fortunate,” he said.
"The conference acknowledged the role of our ancestors and communities in creating a culture of serving and giving to society in the education, medical and social development areas."
Singh said their various sewa entities and organisations have done wonderful work in community upliftment over the past 165 years in South Africa.
"Based on the Hindu scriptures and beliefs, our sewa organisations do not publicise the work that they do, believing that such work will be negated if the action is perceived as a need for recognition or acknowledgement. This platform, though facilitating the sharing of visions, mandates, strategies and work done, has allowed participating organisations to share good practice and investigate collaboration opportunities. This further allowed for the encouragement and inspiration of volunteers to continue this selfless service to humanity within the South African community."
Dr BP Singh, a member of the Sewa International Conference 2025 organising committee, said organisations seldom had the opportunity for lateral dialogue and enhancing collaboration.
He said the conference had achieved its goals in that it allowed all organisations the opportunity to share their vision and activities and identify areas of collaboration with each other.
Some of the key resolutions included:
- A need for increased collaboration in organisation engaged in sewa work.
- Recorded data of work done should be enhanced to access more resources. Access to technology, including AI, should be optimally used.
- Good governance in organisations is encouraged to ensure risk mitigation and create sustainability of organisations.
- Adherence to standards that promote environmental conservation and effective resource management will be prioritised.
The KZN MEC for Social Development, Mbali Shinga, acknowledged such organisations as collaborators assisting the government in the delivery of key services to the most vulnerable in society.
One of the resolutions of the conference was to partner with government and NGOs, where possible, to enhance the effectiveness and increase the reach of the work.
For more information on Sewa International South Africa, call Shikar Singh on 082 857 3220.