FOG Youth Leadership Development
The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.
The youth wing of FIA has been formed to create better leaders for the community and society.
This is a platform for the youth to learn from other members who are part of the larger FIA group, community leaders and other people in the same age-group.
The Basic objectives of the program are to:
- Motivate students/young professionals to join the Network.
- Reach out to various local colleges and student networks within those colleges and attract students to sign up for the program.
- Enhance student knowledge directly applicable to career success.
- Identify skills needed for upward mobility of youth in society.
- Provide participants with an introduction to a practical network for career opportunities.
- Develop a network of young professionals.
- Assist and offer training so that participants can become viable role models on and off campus in their respective universities.
- Develop strategies that contribute to a successful working relationship in a diverse society.
- Encourage and provide support for those working within the academic structure.
FOG Toy Drive
100% of donation goes to FIA mission of providing toys, books and other gifts to less fortunate children. Not one donated dollar goes to pay for salaries or any other manpower costs.
MISSION:
The mission of the FIA Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys year around each year, and distribute those toys as gifts to less fortunate children in the community.
GOAL:
The primary goal of Toy Drive is to deliver – through collection of a new toy at different events such as Festival of Lights, Festival of Colors, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. – a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of Toys Drive are to help less fortunate children of our community experience the joy of festivals; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources-our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common year around toy collection and distribution compaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.
ACTIVITIES:
The principal Toy Drive activity which takes place each year is the collection and distribution of toys in the local communities. Local Toys Drive Campaign Coordinators conduct other voluntary events designed to increase interest in toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and monetary donations.
FOG Seniors Program
The FIA offers seminars and activities throughout the year.
Services and programs include an integrated array of advocacy, health, nutrition, social services, sports and leisure activities.
Most programs are open to everyone without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender and mental or physical handicap.
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life, promote independence, self-sufficiency and self-fulfillment among the older citizens.
The program includes:
- Arranging para transit to bring and drop off seniors from their neighborhoods to the Temple location in Fremont
- Yoga, lectures on voter registration, science of aging, and Gita
- Free lunch to all attendees
- Seniors’ meet once a week at the City Park for discussions, bonding and enjoyment with periodic provision of food
- Transportation and food for seniors and trips to local areas of interest
- Active participation in FIA festivals, such as Festival of Lights, Festival of Colors, annual Parade and many other events
- Getting seniors on board to help with operations and event co-ordination based on their interest and ability
- Voter registration, citizenship, Medicare/Medi-Cal services
- Lectures on yoga, religious discourses, singing, games and various group activities
FOG Women Empowerment
- Women Empowered (WE) is a forum and support network for international Women.
- The mission of WE is to facilitate the overall growth of women all over the world and to support, pursue, inspire and propel them toward their personal, social, artistic, political, economic and professional sphere of power through action, dialogue, fun and learning.
- WE is a well acclaimed organization that has grown in 8 years to a membership of more than 350, a mailing list of more than 1200 and a strong volunteer force of more than 40 empowered women.
- WE has a strong membership of 350, which by itself tells a story of success!
- Our members are women from all walks of life.
- They are CEOs, VPs, and Directors of large companies and small businesses hiring from 5 to a thousand plus employees. They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, writers, artists, computer engineers and homemakers!
- WE celebrates Women and their achievements and bestows tribute to women who have braved huge challenges throughout the world, and have made enormous contributions to the society, to change the world for the better!
- WE is compelled by one conviction and that is “how can GWE make the difference and touch hearts, minds, motivate, inspire women and in the process find like-minded friends.”
- WE’s yearly events are geared towards the growing trends. GWE’s goal is motivating, educating and uplifting professional, political, artistic, health and personal growth and wealth.
- WE’s Meet and Greet, seminars, workshops and events to promote networking including the Health Seminar – Fit for life, Cook-off and all the featured events have all been exceptionally popular. Community service and getting involved in local causes has been a successful venture for the group and its members.
- WE’s Award Ceremony Gala is a showcase event, recognizing women who are role models and their life stories an inspiration for all. Women are recognized for their contributions towards Women empowerment and community work.
- WE presents an opportunity for our members and guests not only to meet and be inspired by outstanding and exceptional women and invited speakers but also to be motivated by them and ultimately better discern their own unique paths to success.
FOG Free Medical Clinic
FIA has been providing weekly free examinations and medicine to needy group of people of the community at the temple premises.
Many practicing doctors donate their time and see the patients on a regular basis.
This service helps many seniors as well as some community members who may not have regular insurance or who are not able to make payments.
FOG Free Legal Clinic
Free legal advice regarding immigration, citizenship, inheritance and other issues are provided to seniors and other community people.
The service is provided by licensed attorneys who donate their time for the welfare of people in need.
FOG Yoga Classes
Free yoga classes are held on every Sunday morning from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. All community members are welcome.
Many seniors and youth are regular participants in this activity.
Free yoga classes are also provided at seniors’ meetings on every Tuesday and Wednesday.
FOG Feeding Homeless / Hungry
Free yoga classes are held on every Sunday morning from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. All community members are welcome.
Many seniors and youth are regular participants in this activity.
Free yoga classes are also provided at seniors’ meetings on every Tuesday and Wednesday.
AASRA – Victims of Domestic Violence
Aasra, or “shelter” in Hindi, was created in 1990 to provide culturally sensitive services to victims of domestic violence in the Asian Indian community. The mission of Aasra is to provide immediate support to battered women and children and to increase awareness in the Asian Indian community of the causes and effects of domestic violence on the whole family. Currently, the group meets these goals by hosting a 24-hour hotline that provides victims with immediate support,
confidential information and service referrals in several Indian languages.
Aasra also conducts bi-annual public forums for the Asian Indian community to increase awareness of domestic violence.
The importance of a shelter is not only to create a safe haven for victims. It is also necessary to provide services such
as peer counseling for battered women and their children and to refer them for legal and medical advice.
In addition, guidance is also needed for these victims to fill out paperwork for new green cards (in many cases, the abusive husband does not hand it over), to receive individual and group counseling in the appropriate language and to obtain proper job leads.
Aasra volunteers sometimes provide interpretation assistance to victims and assist them in filling out forms and filing restraining orders.
Aasra is sponsored by the non-profit Federation of Indo-Americans (FIA).
The organization depends on volunteer support and donations for funding.