ਹਰਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਤੀ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਜਵਾਨ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਹਰਮਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ 2013 ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਸਮਾਜ ਸੇਵੀ ਜੱਥੇਬੰਦੀ ਹਰਮਨ ਫਾਊਂਡੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ।
ਇਸ ਸੰਸਥਾ ਦਾ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਬਹੁ-ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰਕ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਸੇ ਤ੍ਰਾਸਦੀ ਦਾ ਅਨੁਭਵ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।
ਹਰਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਅਣਥੱਕ ਸੇਵਾ ਦੇ ਚਲਦਿਆਂ ਸਾਲ 2019 ਦੇ 'ਲੋਕਲ ਵੋਮੈਨ ਆਫ ਦੀ ਯੀਅਰ' ਪੁਰਸਕਾਰ ਨਾਲ਼ ਨਿਵਾਜ਼ਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
ਰਿਵਰਸਟਨ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ, ਕੇਵਿਨ ਕੌਨਲੀ ਐਮਪੀ ਨੇ ਹਰਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਲਫ਼ਜ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਸਾ ਕੀਤੀ।
ਸਾਂਸਦ ਕੋਨੌਲੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ, "ਮੈਂ ਹਰਿੰਦਰ ਨੂੰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਵਧਾਈ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰੇਣਾ-ਭਰਪੂਰ ਜਿੰਦਗੀ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਜਿਸਦੇ ਚਲਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਅਣਥੱਕ ਵਾਲੰਟੀਅਰ ਵਜੋਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਸੇਵਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ।"
Harinder Kaur with the Minister for Women, Tanya Davies and Kevin Connolly MP at the award ceremony held at International Convention Centre, Sydney. Source: Supplied
"ਇਹ ਸਾਡੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਮਾਜ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਡੀ ਚੈਰਿਟੀ ਸੰਸਥਾ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਖੂਬਸੂਰਤ ਪਲ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਖਾਸ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਹਾਲਾਤਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਡੀ ਸਖਤ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ।"
ਹਰਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਨਾਲ਼ ਪੂਰੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਣ ਲਈ ਉਪਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਆਡੀਓ ਲਿੰਕ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਲਿੱਕ ਕਰੋ…
Read this story in English:
Harinder Kaur and her husband co-founded a not-for-profit charity Harman Foundation in 2013, following the heartbreaking death of their 27-year-old son Harman Singh.
The foundation aims to support and guide members of the multicultural community who have experienced tragedy in their lives.
Ms Kaur’s charity work was recently acknowledged when she won the Local Woman of the Year 2019 award.
Member for Riverstone, Kevin Connolly MP presented this award to Mrs Kaur while praising her contribution and commitment to the local community.
"I congratulate Harinder on her outstanding contribution and thank her for her exceptional example as an energetic and motivated volunteer in our community," said Mr Connolly.
The Local Woman of the Year Awards are designed to recognise inspiring female role models and to profile women who have demonstrated excellence in their career and women who make significant contributions to their community.
Ms Kaur told SBS Punjabi that she is very proud and humbled by this recognition.
Harinder Kaur was invited at the 2019 NSW Women of the Year award ceremony held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney on Thursday, 7 March. Source: Supplied
“It’s a great moment for the whole Punjabi community and the members of our charity organisation. It also encourages us to do more and more, in areas where the community needs it the most,” she said.
Since its inception, Ms Kaur has been the main driver in the Harman Foundation's activities in the local community.
Ms Kaur mentioned that just in the last two years, they’ve raised over $180,000 for various charitable causes, including $91,000 for a Safe Home shelter for women affected by domestic violence.
“We’ve assembled a big team which comprises at least 100 part-time volunteers, who now take the opportunity to serve the community from time to time,” she said.
Professional life and achievements
At a professional level, Ms Kaur has been working as a Senior Education Officer at the NSW Department of Justice since 1993. She is committed to provide education to the disadvantaged women in the prison system.
Ms Kaur has served on the local Council Youth Advisory Committee and was twice nominated as a finalist in the local Council Woman of the Year Awards.
She is also a founding member of the Greater Western Sydney Multicultural Women's network launched earlier this year.
Ms Kaur and other local Woman of the Year award winners from across the state were invited to join the Minister for Women, Tanya Davies at the 2019 NSW Women of the Year award ceremony to be held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney on Thursday, 7 March 2019.
Harinder Kaur with the Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian. Source: Supplied
Challenges she faced
She told SBS Punajbi, “I was the youngest of six children and my father had passed away after a massive heart attack when I was 16 years old.”
“I made the decision to migrate to Australia along with my husband and 3 children in 1991.”
“I faced my biggest challenge and grief in 2012 when our eldest son Harman at the age of 27 passed away in a car accident. Harman’s loss motivated me to continue his legacy through co-founding Harman Foundation.”
Harman Foundation, a not-for-profit charity organisation, is active in Sydney's western suburbs since 2013. Source: Supplied
The best advice she has ever received
“My mother and beloved son Harman have taught and inspired me in different ways.”
“My favourite quote is something that my son Harman used to always say – ‘It is what it is. This quote not only allows me to reminisce the past but it has helped me to accept that life will always have uncontrollable events.”
Ms Kaur believes that she yet has a lot to accomplish but she “will continue to be the change she wants to see in the world.”
Advice you’d like to give other women
“I have a very simple message on the International Women’s Day – You are special”.
“Just look after you! Do one thing new every day, something that you’re passionate about. If you are not making some changes, it means you need to commit a bit more and a bit more until you are there.”
“In relation to sorrow and pain on this earth – 'let it go mantra' is powerful. Are you willing to let it go? Let us change our thinking because ‘as I perceive so I receive’ and just live and let go.”
