Jasbir Singh, S. Jaskiran Kaur, and S. Ashvinder Kaur with University students and faculty
On Monday March 6, 2017, American Sikh Council (ASC) ASC representatives, S. Jasbir Singh, S. Jaskiran Kaur, and S. Ashvinder Kaur hosted over twenty students from North Carolina State University, Davidson College, Gyynedd Mercy University and Alvernia University at the Philadelphia Sikh Society Gurdwara, Millbourne, PA. The event was part of the Alternative Break program facilitated by the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia. During this ‘Interfaith Alternative Break” the students visit and experience an array of faith traditions in their sanctuaries or homes about values, traditions, symbols, and social justice actions in which their communities are engaged. They are particularly interested in learning about various communities’ response to hunger as well as issues pertaining to immigration.
University students in attendance at the Gurdwara, Millbourne, PA
Jasbir Singh gave a presentation to the attendees and S. Ashvinder Kaur and S. Jaskiran Kaur participated in the Q & A session. After partaking in Langar, the students quizzed the hosts about the Sikh Faith, history, culture, etc, trying to absorb all the information in the limited time.
The Philadelphia Sikh Society has been hosting students from this program since 2007, when the Interfaith Center first started this Alternative Break dialogue and service week. Since then, over 50 colleges and universities have participated, engaging over 650 student leaders of diverse backgrounds. These groups have visited congregations of more than two dozen distinct faith communities while engaging in service to tackle important social issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, gun violence, racism, poverty, and school funding.