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Education International
JAINA
FEDERATION OF JAIN ASSOCIATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA
The V.R. Gandhi Scholarship Committee grants scholarships for advanced Jain studies in India and has published literature on his life. It has worked closely with the WJC and others in India to petition the Post and Telegraph department and political leaders to issue a commemorative stamp for Shri VR Gandhi.
YOUTH WING:
There are two youth organizations within JAINA Young Jains of America (YJA) and Young Jain Professionals (YJP). Every other year YJA serving 4,000 members holds its convention. YJA has inspired similar organization in India (YJI) that has flourished well over the last two years. YJP holds their convention every year. The Marriage Information service and JAINA Network Forum have enabled many parents to find Jain spouses for their Children.
HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES:
The World Community Services (WCS) of JAINA has helped victims of the earthquakes in Latur and Kutchh (India), North Ridge (California) and Kobe (Japan), the famine in Rwanda and the devastation left by hurricane Andrew and Katrina on the southeastern coast of the US, the victims of the Mississippi river flood, hurricane victims of Kendal and Orissa and worked with UNICEF in Kosovo WCS also operates medical camps in rural parts of India. WCS has raised funds to help build a school for 1,000 children in Pawapuri. WCS has help build a school in Andaman Nicobar islands and provided financial support for Post Tsunami Permanent Rehabilitation Center in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The Wheels of Hope sub Committee ships medical equipment and supplies free to charitable hospitals all over India. The North American Family Assistance committee helps Jain families in need and the Senior citizen Committee is exploring possibilities of creating housing for the aging Jain population
AFFILIATIONS
JAINA has established bilateral relationships with Jain International Trade Organization (JITO), World Confederation of Jains (WJC), Veerayatan, Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust, Vegetarian Society of Bombay, Jain Social Group International Federation, Bharatiya Jain Sanghathan and Bidda Sarvodya Trust through its Government and International relations Committee. The Interfaith Committee has fostered valuable contacts with many inter-religious organizations and participated in the Parliament of the World's Religions in, Chicago, Cape Town, Barcelona, and interfaith conference in Montreal.
JAINA as an umbrella organization with links to many such organizations around the world has often acted to enhance Jain cause worldwide. Recently; JAINA has petitioned to the Governor of Gujarat in opposition to the bill that attempts to classify Jains as Hindus. JAINA regularly attempts to correct errors in published materials about Jainism.
RECOGNIZATIONS & AWARDS
In recognition of JAINA's worldwide humanitarian work, United States Agency for International Development has awarded JAINA a certificate of registration making it eligible to receive grants from USAID. It grants JAINA a blanket certificate to export medical and educational equipment for humanitarian aid globally. JAINA has also received several awards in United States and India including awards from World Medical Relief Inc. of Detroit, and American Red Cross.
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