The Hamdard Center was established by co-founders, the late Dr. Farzana Hamid and Dr. Mohammad Hamid, in 1992 as a proactive response to address the critical mental health needs of the South Asian, Middle Eastern, Bosnian and other minority communities in the greater Chicago area. Hamdard’s mission is to promote physical and emotional health and well-being of individuals and families by offering hope, help and healing.

I never had a care in the world while I was growing up. My mother and grandmother were always there to take care of me and all the household chores and responsibilities.  The food was always cooked, the laundry was always done, and my mom and grandma were always there to tuck me in and kiss me goodnight after a long day of playing with friends.  Life was great.  I never really had the chance to know my grandpa. He had passed away before my mind could trap any memories of him. He often sat with me drinking tea and talking with me when I was only three years old.  Today, I remember him through the stories and pictures that captured those precious moments in time.

My grandma is also a very special lady and she played a big part in my life growing up.  But today, she is next to my grandpa with God.  She passed away around this time last year.  My entire family had a great amount of respect for her as we all saw her as the matriarch of our family’s generation.  Winning her endearment made us feel like a kid in a candy shop.  She dispensed heavy handed opinions, witty remarks, and serious advice. Being in her presence gave the type of calm that not even Superman’s fortress of solitude could provide.  She was full of life and wisdom that only time could afford.  For as long as she was alive, it became harder to deal with the fact that she would one day leave us.  While the memories of my grandpa were fleeting, I will always remember my last conversation with my grandma in the hospital.  It was a euphoric moment as she spoke praise of me.  And just like that, she was gone.  It hit me hard.  It hit my family hard.  My grandmother’s passing has caused me to recall and forever cherish the memories I have of her. I am continually inspired by her wisdom and advice. Each of us should also cherish and be inspired by the elders in our lives.  Not only when they’re gone, but everyday they are alive.

In today’s society many people have forgotten the value of their elders.  Despite much of the wisdom and value they have to provide us, the elderly are too often treated disrespectfully and are not returned an equal amount of affection they so freely gave us when we were younger.  Aging is natural, and with it comes slight deterioration of the body and mind.  Instead of growing an appreciation and understanding for those who grow old, we have viewed the elderly as insignificant and a nuisance.  It is not okay to ignore them, it is not right to abuse them, and it certainly isn’t fair to forget them.  Our elders have more to offer than their appearance may tell us. We may think that they don’t have the capacity to understand our lives. We may think they are desensitized to feeling hurt or ignored, but they are sensitive like anyone else.  We as humans should embody not only empathy and sympathy for them in their later years, but embrace and enjoy all that they have to offer us.

As a board member of Thaakat Foundation, I feel that it is not only important for us to provide the underprivileged with material offerings such as food, water, and clothing, but also to feed the spirit.  This is why Thaakat Foundation has made it a point to spend time with the elderly at various homes, with the most notable being Hamdard Center in Chicago. We have hosted several volunteer events to spend time with the elderly during thanksgiving, in the summertime gardening, and we have also held painting sessions. We recently hosted another volunteer event at Hamdard and I have attended many of these events myself. I am always blessed by the priceless smiles on the faces of all those grandpas and grandmas as they are reminiscent of my own Grandma’s. Always remember to help feed their spirits as yours will surely be fed as well.

and Americans everywhere who love all things Indian:)

Generation Ginger is inspired by one woman’s experience as a second-generation Indian American mom in an interracial marriage with multi-ethnic children trying to create a world for her family that makes sense. Owner and Founder Ritu Nanos   takes us into a journey into her thoughts and goals behind GG.

Thaakat:Why did you choose to call this platform “generation ginger?”

Ritu: Ginger is a root used in just about all of Indian cooking, regardless of region. What resonates with me most is the implication of the word “root”: it is the source from which something grows. As Indian Americans, India is our root, and from it we have grown and stretched infinitely in all directions. The name, Generation Ginger, refers to a generation of Indian Americans growing out from its roots. It is a term that does not measure how “Indian” you are, but how far you have grown from your roots.

If we, the kids born from our pioneer Indian parents, are termed “First Generation Ginger,” we are not bound by the constraints of our traditions, but measured by the process of our change. Our children then, no matter what percentage of “Indian” they are, do not have to figure out which culture they fit into or identify with. They, “Second Generation Ginger”, can instead celebrate their cultural identity as it is by appreciating the roots from which they grew.

Thaakat: In a few sentences, what are your hopes/goals for generation ginger?

Ritu: Generation Ginger is a web platform that offers contemporary resources for Indian Americans and Indians on living (food and customs), relationships (interracial parents, kids and the in-law factor) education and the development of cultural identity with a fresh and modern perspective that is relevant in today’s world. It provides a framework for communicating about culture in a way that is educational, humorous and meaningful. The current phase of Generation Ginger is focused on education through articles, workshops, events and building resources. Our next phase will focus on e-commerce- to create a community of South Asian entrepreneurs, small businesses and artists that are available through one source. Eventually, I would like to use the e-commerce portion to promote micro-lending for less fortunate women in Indian. I hope to help them create their own store front through Generation Ginger so that they have a chance to build businesses of their own and become self-sufficient, educated and powerful members in their own communities.

Thaakat: What do you feel it means to be an Indian American?

Ritu: This is a difficult question to answer, because it is so unique to each individual. For myself, I think I am still discovering what it means to be Indian American. Up to this point, our cultural identity has been blurry in our efforts to balance the cultural and traditional undertones of our heritage with the culture and lifestyle of the country we live in. We have our feet in two worlds, so to speak. It is this happenstance of being in such a position that makes us more powerful than we can imagine, because it gives us experiential insight into what is needed to connect these aspects of our identity. We have the opportunity to be the bridge between what our parents have taken care to preserve from India and how this knowledge is carried into the future. Generation Ginger is the result of building such a bridge; it is my method of exploring the vastness of Indian American identity and what that means to myself and others.

Thaakat: Do you feel we have a responsibility as Indian American’s to uphold a healthy India and sustainability of its people?

Ritu: As far as we have and may grow from our roots, we are still bound and connected to them. Nurturing its root is how a plant blossoms and grows. With that in mind, I do think we have a responsibility to uphold a healthy India. If we do not help sustain our roots, our land and our heritage, the beauty of our own lives and identity diminishes. For me, nurturing our roots is not about upholding dogma or outdated ideas and traditions, it’s about reflecting on who we are and using that to offer compassion and support through our words and actions. 

Thaakat: How can we do a better job as Indian American’s to ensure our coming generations are proud of their culture and continue to embellish their colorful traditions here?

Ritu: I think it is as simple as connecting with your culture. When we connect with something, it becomes meaningful to us and we naturally envelop it into our lives. People shy away from this because they feel that connecting with their culture means they have to attend all the Indian functions or go to temple every week or follow old traditional values, but that simply is not the case. There is no “right way” to connect with your culture, only a way that it right for you- it could be something as simple as reading a book about your heritage, learning to cook your favorite meal, or volunteering with an organization such as Thaakat. Generation Ginger is a resource that helps people connect to their heritage through thoughtful articles and ideas of how to integrate the beauty of Indian culture with our American outlook and lifestyles. If we can take the time to appreciate how we are connected to our roots, our culture will continue to grow and blossom.

Thaakat’s global volunteers in Pakistan coordinated a relief mission to the Badin region of Sindh (located about 100 miles east of Karachi), earlier this month. Hundreds of families were given food packages and bottled mineral water in the flood ravaged villages of Badin. There was a large Hindu population in this area who received help and our mighty volunteers recalled it being an incredible experience to provide relief to these people who have truly lost everything. Seeing them walk away with smiles on their faces was priceless. Thank you to all who donated to Thaakat’s flood relief efforts. Here are a few people from the villages of Badin who you’ve helped bring smiles to:

Thank you!

The two day event, which took place at the Oak Brook Park District in Oak Brook, Il, brought together 16 teams competing to win all while playing for a good cause. Several spectators came to watch the event and a few lucky ones walked away with some pretty sweet raffle prizes! A bags tournament and free throw contest for the girls and boys also brought on a few more lucky winners who also walked away with very cool prizes. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of the event was when our very own Secretary of State Mr. Jesse White strolled in with his Tumblers for an eye-catching performance of the most thrilling acrobatics we’ve ever seen! The Jesse White Tumblers put on one spectacular show during half-time of final game day, leaving all of us pretty amazed.

Congratulations to “Team Ruckus” on a staggering win this weekend and to the “DFL Boyz” who came in a very close 2nd place! Brownhub was generous enough to award the grand prize to each player on the winning team with a certificate for a 3 day, 2 nights stay at a 3-4 star hotel in a US city of their choice! Thank you Brownhub for the amazing prize for our winners!

All proceeds from the event benefited Thaakat’s Plumpy’nut campaign; providing malnourished children suffering from the famine in Africa with a miracle packaged paste called Plumpy’nut, eaten straight from the wrapper and proven to effectively treat and cure acute malnutrition. This little life saving treat will be saving thousands of children!

Thank you to all who were a part of making this an unforgettable event! We can’t wait to see you again (along with some of you new faces) next year!

THE JESSE WHITE TUMBLERS: Performing on Final Game Day on Sunday, November 20th between 12 pm – 2 pm. Passionate, energetic, and hardworking, you won’t see more magic flips and thrilling acrobatic performances anywhere else!

Brownhub: Brownhub is proudly sponsoring the Grand Prize of a 3-day 2-night stay at a 3 or 4 star hotel for each player on the winning team of our tournament! Giving customers the ability to bridge the gap between the American society and the Indian/Pakistani/Mediterranean cultures; find great deals on ethnic dining, getaways, events, spa services, and more for up to 90% off! Visit Brownhub.com today to see what’s in store for you.

Benedictine Rotaract: A local branch of Rotary International, led by young adults between the ages of 18-30. It was the first official service club on campus at Benedictine University, starting with a group of 5-8 individuals, which has now grown to over 45 active members. Rotaract provides service locally, nationally and also internationally.

Elmhurst College Spiritual Life Council- Elmhurst College SLC is a forum for those interested in interfaith cooperation- this includes members of Spiritual Life Council and any other students, faculty, and staff of any faith, no faith, or philosophical tradition.

In a world that paints religion as a negative force, we come together for the common good as people from different religious backgrounds to demonstrate that our community is better when we work together for mutual understanding and respect. Elmhurst College SLC will be sponsoring AMAZING raffle prizes for the tournament.

Inferno Hookah Lounge: Sprawled across 3,000 square feet in the heart of Schaumburg, this plush hookah lounge blends ethnic Eastern decor with an urban West atmosphere. Inferno’s walls are lined with exquisite items from across the world. Bright violet curtains and red furniture ensure that not a moment spent here is dull or colorless.

Chill n Grill: A newly opened delicious Zabiha Halal American restaurant (serving cheeseburgers, steak, gyros, and much more) located at 1600 Maple Avenue in Lisle. On Saturday, November 19th, Chill n Grill will be delivering orders to our tournament. For those of you attending the event, please plan to purchase food as all profits will be donated to our Plumpy’nut campaign! In addition, individuals attending the event will receive coupons on behalf of Chill n Grill to use throughout the year.

Lisle Club of Rotary: A group of 29 inspiring individuals strive to uphold the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self” and provide service locally, nationally, and internationally. A few of their projects include hosting foreign exchange students, sponsoring the Shelter Box Program for National and International Relief, and benefiting the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans with their Annual Red, Blue, and White Ball. They are always interested in taking part in new projects and enjoy having guest speakers.

Joining hands with Thaakat teams across the country, we were able to raise approximately $8,000 with all of your help and we could not be more appreciative. You are helping to reverse the disastrous effects of acute malnutrition and are helping mothers to have their children back.

Though the day of 11.11.11 has come to an end, don’t let this be the end of our fight against famine. These children continue to suffer every day, let us think of them and continue to support them throughout the year.

11-11-11 is TODAY.

THAAKAT board members have taken to their notepads, ipads and papers to express their feelings on our fight against hunger in East Africa. Hear their rage against hunger, hear their heartbreak and help us make our 11.11.11 a successful day for those in need.

The Somali Next Door
-based on a real-life meeting with a refugee in Chicago

By: Ammara Bokhari / Global Project Manager / Thaakat Foundation

I came here to seek refuge,
Escaping shivering cries of our neighbors
The thundering bullets of militiamen
Piercing through shattered ruins
My country amidst a civil war.

Fearing the undermine of starvation
Poor wilted bodies perishing
Infinitely more that simply await
No food, no water, no will… to live
My nation crushed by famine.

Praying to see my wife and children
If not here, then in heaven God-willing
Hope is but a lighted reflection
A burnish of glimmer fading in an instant
My heart seeps heavy with pain.

Promising myself to help the impoverished
Their starving sorrows echoing through my soul
Billowing number of deaths gone raging
I am given now, a chance to save them
My yearning to alleviate the pain.

Making a difference with Thaakat
At last, a simple call for relief
Eleven dollars helping eleven children
Coming together, uniting to save millions
My dreams being captivated through strength.

11.11.11
Make a Difference.

THAAKAT board members have taken to their notepads, ipads and papers to express their feelings on our fight against hunger in East Africa. Hear their rage against hunger, hear their heartbreak and help us make our 11.11.11 a successful day for those in need.

By: Nudrat Zoha / Social Media Guru and Sponsorships / Thaakat Foundation

Poverty can be seen around us all the time. Growing up in Pakistan, I was accustomed to stepping out of my house and seeing poor children and their mothers on the streets, begging for money. As a young kid, I always looked at them, felt sad, gave them some change and continued with my daily life. I acknowledged their existence, helped them a little and moved on with my life.

After joining Thaakat, my perspective on poverty changed completely. I realized that I started wondering more about the people I would stop to help for a few seconds. I started noticing them more. I questioned more as to why they are in the state they were in. I realized I wanted to help them more than ever before. We are surrounded by poverty. It’s on the TV, it’s on the internet and it’s in our cities but we somehow tend to blur that part of our life out.

Thaakat’s 11.11.11 campaign is a part of that blur. Though we blur it out, it still exists. Children die regularly because of poverty and hunger caused by the famine. We are working alongside EDESIA Inc. to bring an end to the famine that is destroying lives of innocent children in Africa.

By the funds we raise, we will be delivering a fortified peanut-based ready-to-use food called Plumpy’nut to the Horn of Africa where kids are suffering from serious malnutrition causing serious diseases and deaths. This paste will satisfy their hunger and allow them to grow.

With just a simple donation of $11 by 11-11-11, YOU can help grant wishes of these little souls. YOU can be the reason a child will live longer and healthier life. YOU will be able to look beyond the blur in our world and make a difference. Most importantly, YOU will be the reason why these children will smile, who have just fallen victim to a famine.

We need your help to help grant wishes of these little children. Please generously donate and pass the word along to 11 others you know who will also like to be a part of this change, by sacrificing just $11.

Help us give someone some Thaakat.

Peace and Love