PARENTS in Lautoka and neighbouring areas were encouraged to allow their children to take up classes at the Girmit Centre to foster more understanding of Indian culture.
Fiji Girmit Council secretary Jagannath Sami said this was one of their main objectives during the Girmit Day celebrations on Saturday.
“The programs centred on the younger generation and students who are undertaking cultural studies, music and dance at the centre participated in the programs,” he said.
“They are the ones who were engaged to present their skills and whatever they had learnt and to promote our culture. We are encouraging adults to start sending students to the Girmit Centre for learning.”
With 60 students at present, Mr Sami said their aim was to increase this number in the coming months. Following the celebrations, Mr Sami said they had also identified areas which needed to be strengthened and this included strengthening partnerships with the 10 organisations who were members of the council under a charter.
“The council is a unifying body and it is important all organisations play an important role. There is an urgent need for all organisations to come together, strengthen the council and look at activities we can do collectively.”
Mr Sami said they were also looking into the possibility of setting up a research centre where academics and students could look up information on girmitiya.
