Over 10,000 people, mostly women and children, died in Chennai due to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004. Sewa conducted its first fundraising activity in Delaware and the East Coast in response to the disaster. At that time, Sewa's presence in the area was nascent and the term "Sewa" was not widely recognized. Yelloji Rao asked me to pick up a box of items for fundraising, which a Gujarati businessman from Oak Tree Road had donated. He suggested selling them in Delaware to raise funds, marking the beginning of our fundraising efforts on the East Coast.

 

I took nearly 50 to 60 saris to the Delaware temple, where I met with the Delaware Chapter President, who was impressed and arranged a fundraising program. We displayed the Sewa International banner and sold the saris, collecting a significant amount. It was a learning experience for me, as I was new to the country, having arrived in 1998 and previously running the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in Minneapolis, MN.

 

However, after this incident, the president of the Delaware Temple called me and advised me to represent Sewa as an independent organization, not associated with any other groups. He explained that some people were already complaining about Sewa's perceived affiliations. This experience taught me the importance of strategic presentation when representing Sewa.

 

Despite these challenges, we received encouragement from the temple when we started a project with Bhutanese refugees in Philadelphia. The temple provided a bus, and we brought about sixty Bhutanese families to the temple, which helped Sewa gain a good reputation. This project was a turning point for Sewa, establishing a strong relationship and paving the way for the official establishment of the Sewa International Philadelphia and Pennsylvania chapter.

 

The Bhutanese project had a significant impact on local communities and helped Sewa establish strong relationships on the East Coast. This project was instrumental in establishing Sewa's presence and reputation on the East Coast, leading to the establishment of several chapters and strengthening Sewa's relationships with local communities.

-Syam Kosigi, VP, Organization