The Hindu American Foundation is proud to announce a speaker series tour for fall 2016 featuring two leaders from the esteemed organization Pakistan Hindu Seva Welfare Trust (PHS), a non-political, secular, non-profit, non-discriminatory and progressive humanitarian charity organization officially registered with the government of Pakistan. PHS strives for the betterment of deprived communities in Pakistan and also provides legal support for different victims affected by human rights violations throughout the Sindh province.

Sanjesh Dhanja is the founder and president of PHS, based in Karachi. As a member of Pakistan’s minority Hindu community, Sanjesh became motivated create an organization whose mission is to work and advocate for equal rights of all citizens of the country.

Kiran Kumari has served as the General Secretary of PHS since 2015. She has vast experience investigating forced conversions cases and leads the organization’s advocacy efforts for freedom of speech, women’s rights, and access to healthcare and education for all of Pakistan’s citizens.

During this tour, Sanjesh and Kiran will meet with government officials, leaders of NGOs, and members of the Hindu American community throughout the United States in an effort to bring awareness of the daily struggles of Hindus living in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Sanjesh and Kiran will share their stories of fending off kidnappers targeting young Hindu girls, advocating for groundbreaking legislation granting enfranchisement to bonded laborers, and joining all religious and social minorities in their quest to be treated as equal citizens of their country.

The events will also feature segments of the riveting documentary featuring the work of PHS in assisting families of kidnapped young Hindu women, Thrust into Heaven, a film produced by BEING IN THE WORLD Productions based in Germany.

Please see the tour details below. If you’re interested in sponsorship or hosting an additional event, please contact Jay Kansara, HAF Director of Government Relations, at jay@HAFsite.org or by phone at (202) 223-8222.

Tour Dates

November 13 — Houston, TX
HAF Houston Annual Fundraiser Gala
Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016
Time: 5:30-8:00pm (includes comedy show and gourmet dinner)
Location: India House, 8888 West Bellfort Blvd, Houston TX 77031
Tickets: Click here

November 14 — Houston, TX
Date: Monday, November 14, 2016
Time: 6:00-8:00pm (light refreshments will be served)
Location: Keshav Smruthi, 4018 Westhollow Parkway, Houston, TX 77082
Local contacts: Sharad Amin, (713) 854 0633, samin82@gmail.com; Partha Krishnaswami, (713) 962 8523, partha04@gmail.com

November 17 — Irving, TX
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (dinner will be served)
Location: Home of Jiger N Patel, Irving, TX (Address provided with RSVP)
RSVP and more information: jigerster@gmail.com

November 20 — Norwalk, CA
Los Angeles Guru Nanak Jayanti Kirtan, Hosted by the Sindhi Association of Southern California
Date: Sunday, November 20, 2016
Time: 5:00-7:00pm (followed by langar prasad)
Location: 14117 Clarkdale Ave, Norwalk, CA
For more information: Please contact kavita.tekchandani@gmail.com

November 22 — Cupertino, CA
Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Time: 6:00-7:30pm (light refreshments will be served)
Location: Quinlan Community Center (Social Room), 10185 N Sterling Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014
RSVP and more information: samir@hafsite.org

November 27 — Chicago area, IL (in partnership with Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Illinois Chapter)
Date: Sunday, November 27, 2016
Time: 6:00-8:00pm (dinner will be served)
Location: Shree Jalaram Temple, 425 Illinois Temple, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/kQ4pUluTiOiVlF7E2
More information: info@hafsite.org

November 29 — Rochester Hills, MI 
“Coffee, Cake and A Day in the Life of a Pakistani Hindu: An interfaith gathering to discuss Ahmadiya and Hindu partnerships for a more inclusive society”
Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center, 1730 Auburn Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Phone: (248) 293 0072
More information: padma@hafsite.org, rsandadi@yahoo.com

November 30 — Grand Rapids, MI 
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Grand Valley State University, Richard DeVos (DEV) Building, Room 203D, 301 Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49401 click here for campus map
More information: info@hafsite.org

December 1 — Detroit Metro Area, MI
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2016
Time: 6:00-8:00pm (dinner will be served)
Location: Sri Venkateswara Temple, 26233 Taft Rd, Novi MI, 48372
Phone: (248) 449 9049
RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/Iv2uNiPpbppfK3gf1

December 2 — Plantation, FL
HAF Annual South Florida Fundraising Gala
Date: Friday, December 2, 2016
Time: 7:30-10:00pm
Location: The Sawgrass Inn & Conference Center, 1711 N University Dr, Plantation, FL 33322
Local Contact: Abha Narang, abhanarang2016@gmail.com
Tickets: Buy tickets here

December 4 — Tampa, FL
Date: Sunday, December 4, 2016
Time: 12:00-2:00pm (lunch will be served)
Location: Indian Cultural Center (Lotus Room), 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624
RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/zMx9CRDXL6tYLwIe2
Information: HAFTampa@gmail.com

December 8 — Cambridge, MA
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2016
Time: 7:30-9:00pm
Location: MIT (Building 5 Room 134), 55 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
Parking Information: Click here
Information: info@hafsite.org

December 10 — North Billerica, MA
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2016
Time: 3:30-5:30pm
Location: Shri Dwarkamai Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, 267 Boston Rd #9, North Billerica, MA 01862
Information: info@hafsite.org

December 11 — Ft. Washington, PA (Philadelphia/South New Jersey region)
Date: Sunday, December 11, 2016
Time: 1:00-3:00pm (tea and snacks will be served)
Location: Dental Future Center, 401 Commerce Drive, Suite 100, Fort Washington, PA 19034
RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/R1QENMgg9hldzImM2
Information: info@hafsite.org

Further dates, details coming soon: Washington DC; New Jersey; New York City

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