ZANZIBAR HERE WE COME
Dear All Zanzibari's Worldwide
Please read all infiormation below and your comments most welcome. Betty and myself fully support this project and in time I will provide some of my comments and suggestions. The information below will soon be on a special blog to be picked up by all my personal friends.
P.S. Cannot wait for us all to meet on our Paradise Island. We had planned to visit Zanzibar this year 2010 but in view of the new great proposals, we will certainly be with all Zanzibari's in 2011.
Regards Benny
Below is posting from Mohamed Lodhi and Narendra Gajjar
Subject: RE: April-London
Dear Narendra,
Thanks for the msg below, its a great idea to meet in Zanzibar in 2011. Not only having a Reunion enjoying ourselves but do something for our Zanzibar that we are so fond of . Please count my support morally and financially for any worthwhile project. Looking forward to get firm date for preliminary meeting in London..
There are thousands of us today scattered around the Globe ( I would not be surprised if some Zanzibaris are settled in Iceland, Greenland or Alaska) who consider / identify themselves as Zanzibaris / come from Zanzibar / have lived in Zanzibar / whose parents are from Zanzibar etc, what we call The Zanzibari Diaspora. Many of us are born and raised there with roots going back for generations, others are first generation and some are children of expatriate contract workers who lived there for some time. We all have one thing in common. The happy, nostalgic, romantic and wonderful childhood memories. Be it culture, food, fruits, beaches, ocean, sports, historic Stone Town etc from pre 1964 time.
We meet regularly under various Clubs and organisations and use Internet Social Networking. Many are members of Zanzinet, EAcircle, SJCSZanzibar, Namaskar,Tanzanite, etc where we indulge into happy memories of the years gone by..
However I wonder if we think of what / where we are today is thanks to our Zanzibar background ? Has Zanzibar contributed to our present location / position / well being ? Definitely yes.
Specially Zanzibaris of immigrant communities / minorities have benefited most in pre 1964 era. President Kennedy once said "" Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country "" My fellow Zanzibaris, Our Islands need you and your help today. If we are so proud of our Zanzibar background then its about time we as compassionate human being do something in return for Zanzibar for what it has given to us. Its time we not only meet, talk of good old days dine, wine and dance but involve in development process back on the Islands. Zanzibar needs assistance in all sectors, health, education, community development, employment etc.
No doubt there are Zanzibari individuals and organisation involved in assisting these activities, like Class of 64 King George/Lumumba helping Lumumba with Laboratory equipment last year, Zanzinet sending a container of equipment to Mnazi Mmoja hospital recently and many individual helping in various fields. What we need now is organised efforts on long tern to uplift Zanzibar. Specially when even the rival political partys are joining hands for a Government of National Unity in Zanzibar.
Lets come together and do something for Zanzibar that we are so proud of. Lets meet in Zanzibar in 2011 for a Reunion and lets start some concrete projects where we can all help in various ways.
Look forward to meet many of you in Zanzibar .
May God Bless You All.
Mohamed Lodhi.
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Dear Zanzibaris & Friends of Zanzibar,
This is to inform you all through this circular mail that as a Zanzibari we should look upon our birthplace and see how we can participate in building better Zanzibar & Pemba.
An idea was floated in Toronto, during the Zanzibari Reunion on August 1 & 2 that we should look upon the next get together to be in Zanzibar in the year 2011.
The time has come to work out a detailed program involving all concerned to feed their inputs so as the hold this function as a productive venture.
Having said in brief, it is suggested that there should be a two day forum to trash out full program with details on the type of investments we Zanzibari in Diaspora can take to Zanzibar.
After consultation with a number of Zanzibaris, it was suggested that such a gathering would be most appropriate to be held in London in the month of April 2010. There is no date,timings or any other details worked out and it can only be worked out once we have an idea of the interest such a will generate.
We should feel free to communicate any idea so as to hold this Forum in Zanzibar in 2011.
Looking forward for your inputs.
Yours faithfully,
Narendra Gajjar
Calgary AB
Canada
Dear All,
Please visit the following site and see how Zanzibar was and is......Add what/who/where you can identify in more than 500 pictures....its our history. CLICK TO VIEW OVER 500 PHOTOS OF ZANZIBAR
Narendra Gajjar
Calgary AB Canada
