2019 Seva Update

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

As of January 2019, Project Ghar Baahar sevadars have visited detention facilities in Adelanto, Bakersfield, and Calexico, California. Our most recent trip was in October 2018 to Calexico. The detention facility there has one of the largest groups of Punjabi Sikhs in detention that we know of. During this visit, a group of ten volunteers from Project Ghar Baahar met with more than 300 detained individuals (Sikh and non-Sikh alike) and held a total of three kirtan divans.

As per requests of the detained individuals, we took with us the following donations to Calexico in October:

250 Nitnem Gutkay
700 dastaars (we thank the Buena Park Gurdwara sangat for this donation!)
480 pairs of socks
300+ sweatpants
750+ sweatshirts (our thanks to the sevadars who ordered the socks, sweatshirts, and sweatpants for this trip, and thanks also to the person who personally delivered these items to Calexico!)
270 malas (prayer rosaries; sent later via mail)

We always specify to detention facility admin that the supplies we donate are for everyone to use. So, while some items (such as gutkay and dastaars) are esoteric and are of use to Sikh detained individuals, clothing items are for anyone who needs them.

In August, 2018, ten of us also went to a detention facility in Adelanto, California. We held a kirtan darbar and discussion with detained individuals there, from whom, some even led various parts of the darbar. It is always very humbling and heartwarming to see detained individuals volunteer to partake in divan activities.

As people from across the country hear about Project Ghar Baahar, they get in touch with us to help provide material support for detained individuals in their respective locales. We were able to help send close to 170 dastaars, around 50 karaas, and 100 Nitnem gutkay to facilities in Texas and elsewhere in California.

We had a very successful #DasvandhWeek, during which, this project raised close to $5,500. We want to thank our donors, and the DVN team and platform for financially enabling us to do this seva. Thank you! We have future divans planned for various California detention centers, and we are already working on supplying a tabla and vaja (both as per request) to a youth immigration facility.

Since its beginnings in November 2016 as a one-person army, Project Ghar Baahar now has ten committed sevadars (and many others who help out as their schedules permit). All in all, as of this very moment, through the help of items donated by individuals and time commitments by volunteers, Project Ghar Baahar has provided and met over:

1,000 detained individuals
2,000+ clothing items (sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks)
1,000 dastaars
400 gutkay
100+ seva trips

Once again, thank you to everyone who has supported Project Ghar Baahar, whether through donations, emotional support, or time. We hope to continue this seva for as long as it is needed. Lastly, if you would like to look into doing similar seva at detention facilities near you, please get in touch with the Chaplain there and find out what kind of seva is needed. We will be more than happy to support your efforts as best as we can.

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!