FEDERATION ANNOUNCE SETTING UP OF "YOUNG SIKHS"

Alongside Young Labour, Young Conservatives and Young Liberal Democrats we now have Young Sikhs. "Young Sikhs" was established by the Sikh Federation (UK) at the National Sikh Convention this weekend in recognition of the need to do more for the younger generation, encourage younger Sikhs to become more actively involved in the full range of activities carried out by the Federation and develop the Federation as an organisation.

The leadership of the Federation has been very conscious of developing a long-term strategy that gives proper recognition and encouragement to the younger generation. Establishing Young Sikhs one year after the launch of the Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party in the UK has been warmly welcomed by the main political parties.

In recognition of the need to fully utilise the skills offered by the younger generation, five members of the National Executive Council (NEC) announced at the weekend are those born and educated in the UK. A number of other Sikhs falling into the same category, but outside the NEC that wish to develop and help younger Sikhs by taking forward specific projects will be involved in helping organise a series of workshops in the next few weeks in the West Midlands, East Midlands, London, West England and the South East.

The purpose of the workshops is to consider and decide on the specific projects to be taken forward by the younger generation in the next twelve months. The projects will be determined largely with reference to the eight-point Sikh Agenda for the UK Government and the following four areas of work:

Promoting the Sikh religion, philosophy and way of life - working within the Sikh community and with local and national government;

Promoting sporting and educational activities as well as relevant cultural issues directly associated with the Sikh way of life;

Campaigning for human rights issues impacting on Sikhs in the UK and abroad - working with human rights groups, non-governmental organisations and politicians; and

Arguing the case for the Sikhs right to self-determination and lobbying politicians, the UK Government, official representatives of foreign governments in the UK, the European Parliament and at the United Nations for the establishment of an independent sovereign Sikh State of Khalistan.

The dates and venues for each workshop will be communicated as soon as possible. Those that are interested in attending any or all of the workshops and being involved in activities associated with younger Sikhs are encouraged to join the "Young Sikhs" egroup by emailing youngsikhsuk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com