Who are Shere Panjab (SP)?
Shere Panjab UK was formed in Birmingham during the 1980’s. The organisation was the vanguard of the Panjabi Sikh community in ensuring the safety of men, women and children against individuals who perpetrated behaviours such as sexually exploiting Sikh women, bullying Sikh students and racially abusing Sikhs. To our present day, we aim to bring back honourable principles and high morals within our community. Our main concept is self-preservation: to preserve the identity, honour and dignity of the Panjabi Sikh community.
What do we do?
Shere Panjab has a multi-faceted approach to support the Panjabi Sikh community's self-preservation. The approach has three domains, that are the foundations of our work:
The first approach consists of supporting the welfare of the Panjabi Sikh community, and the issues they are affected by. From professional referrals in statutory services to those self-referring in the community, we have worked with young adults, children & families to support with issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation & Grooming, Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Domestic Abuse, Modern Day Slavery, Bullying and Financial Abuse & Neglect. We are the first organisation in the UK to support the welfare of international Panjabi Sikh students in the UK. Alongside this, we raise awareness of welfare concerns via issuing regular public statements through our Social Media outlets and offer talks to students of all ages, in any educational setting or camps.
The second approach consists of propagating the teachings of Sikhi and Sikh ithaas (history). Shere Panjab support in helping to facilitate Sikh Gurmat camps held at Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed in Handsworth, Birmingham. Shere Panjab has the largest youth-led social media platform that is regularly updated with educational Sikh history and panthic affairs to update and inform the Panjabi Sikh community. Our Social Media outlets allow us to reach an international audience. In order to reach wider members of the Panjabi Sikh Community, we have supported the creation of Sikh Dharmik music that has seen record breaking numbers in mainstream music charts. We also hold annual Shaheedi Smagams to commemorate our Shaheeds, who have paved the way so we can call ourselves Sikhs today.
Our third approach consists of promoting emotional well-being & community cohesion by facilitating annual sporting events such as football tournaments, video game tournaments, weight lighting competitions and offering boxing classes to any member of the community, of all ages. All monies raised in any event are donated to Sikh Charity, Your Seva.