About Us

Sahakarini was established as a charity in 1979 by six Camrosians: Gordon and Mina Schieck, Norman and Eloise Umbach, and Jane and Jack Ross. Over the years we have  partnered with organizations on projects in India, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Brazil, Haiti, and Guatemala. (Business No.11913 1936RR001)

To understand the heart of Sahakarini and to learn more, read the story of the sandals below:

A Simple Pair of Sandals, by Alan Fielding, President of Sahakarini

An old, worn pair of sandals with a lot of history.  The story begins with an artisan in India in the 1950s, who made a sturdy pair of sandals and sold them to Gordon Schieck.  Gordon and his wife, Mina, spent about 10 years as missionaries in India and Gordon walked to many communities in those sandals. Gordon and Mina saw that the people’s needs were great, but they could, with some help, learn to help themselves.

Fast forward 40 years

Sahakarini has been formed and has sponsored dozens of projects in India, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.  Matching funding from the Alberta and Canadian governments has multiplies the impact of our projects in health, education, skill training and community development.

At the first Sahakarini Loaves and Fishes Dinner in 2001, Gordon’s sandals were spirited away (with Mina’s help) and were auctioned off and I was lucky enough to be the highest bidder. I wanted to “walk a mile in his sandals”.

In March 2002 I took them with me to Brazil where I visited two Sahakarini-sponsored projects,  a daycare centre under construction and a trade school beginning to offer programs. The dust of the streets of Sao Paulo (population 25,000,000) mingled with the dust of India (population 1.1billion) and Camrose (population 15,000).

At the 2002 Loaves and Fishes Dinner, the sandals again went up for auction.  This time they were bought by another family and sent with a Canada World Youth student to Sri Lanka. She wore them in a peace march to promote reconciliation in that war-torn and impoverished country.

At the 2003 Dinner the sandals were sold again. This time they went again to Brazil and walked some of the same streets and roads. But there had been some wonderful changes since the last time. The daycare centre was finished and sheltered over 120 children. The trade school was in full operation and the grade school that was also part of the project had a waiting list.

The sandals were sold yet again at the 2004 Loaves and Fishes Dinner. This time they  travelled to southeast Asia with actor and playwright who took his one person play there and wore the sandals in solidarity with the people and work of Sahakarini.

In 2005 the sandals were bought by a Camrosian who did not go abroad, but wore them to his wedding in 2006 as a sign of his and his wife’s care and commitment to helping others.

The sandals sold again at the 2006 Loaves and Fishes Dinner. They travelled to Brazil where they visited the site of some Sahakarini projects and were slipped on by relatives of the Schieck family who were moved to walk a short while in Gordon’s shoes and who try to follow his example. This trip magnified the personal impact and the network of relationships that are built in doing this work.

The sandals were sold again in 2007. We will hear their story this year.

This simple pair of sandals has been far and near and their journey isn’t over. Gordon’s sandals are a symbol of our commitment to helping the poorest of the poor. They are made to go where there is need and where there is love.

Our Approach
Our name, Sahakarini, is a Hindi word that means cooperation. Our name also means working across. This is fitting because Sahakarini works across oceans and continents, and racial, religious, cultural, economic, and social differences both at home and abroad.

Helping the poorest of the poor to help themselves
The first thing we look for is whether the proposed project complies with our Mission Statement: “To help the poorest of the poor to help themselves”. Our goal is to involve, empower and enable people in practical ways at the grassroots level.

Strong and committed project partners
Then we look for a strong and committed project partner in the receiving country. Sahakarini does not have field staff. We  work with partners in the receiving country whom we know and trust. It is essential that our project partner show excellent accountability and communication skills.  No one likes to see money wasted, or have projects lose direction.  We require that our partners report regularly and completely.

Slum Overview

Across differences
Next we examine the proposal to see if it is a project which benefits all disadvantaged members of the community, regardless of colour, ethnic origin, class or creed.

Basic needs
We have found that projects which promote education and health care, and clean water have been the most successful.

Women and youth
Women often face discrimination and injustice at many levels. Our projects aim particularly to address these injustices and provide opportunities for women to gain literacy, trade skills and primary health care as well as have their voices heard.

Environmental awareness
All projects must take into account their immediate and longterm environmental impact.
Recent work on wasteland reclamation for farming in India has been a highly successful example of economic development that is environmentally sustainable.

Economic development for sustainable futures
Practical vocational training for women and men provides a way out of poverty for families, improved status for women, and greater opportunities for children. Micro-credit facilitation is sometimes part of the program. For long term growth and greater income levels, loans to individuals and groups for viable businesses are preferable to grants.  (The Grameen Bank in Bangladesh is an outstanding example of the benefits of micro-credit.  Its founder, Mohammad Yunus, and the Grameen Bank recently received the Nobel Prize –  not for Economics, but for Peace.)

Sustainability
In the event that a project or elements of it are intended to continue longterm there must be a plan for how it will become self-sustaining.

Because of our focus on long term development and sustainability, Sahakarini does not get involved in disaster relief unless our project partner or project area is directly involved and a designated donation is made.