About
Founded in 1991, Sindhi Cultural Association of Toronto (S.C.A.T) has made tremendous impact thanks to the help of members and volunteers in the Toronto community. The core of our work lies in the continuous passion and dedication we bring to the range of projects we take part in. Please join us by supporting our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Our strength lies not only in the words we stand by, but most importantly in the actions of our initiatives. From the moment we were founded, we understood that by working together we could overcome our challenges much more efficiently and that is why we strive to make a positive change in all of our pursuits.
Creating Meaningful Impact
Current S.C.A.T Board
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Our dedicated team of experienced professionals are at the heart of what we do, utilizing their unique skills and passion to move the work of our Non-Profit Organization forward. Without them, Sindhi Cultural Association would not be where it is today. Meet some of our team members below.
President
Deepak Asrani
Deepak is a proud Sindhi who was born and raised in Mumbai. After completing his MBA in Mumbai, he worked as an IT consultant with leading banks in India, UK, and Canada.
During his time volunteering with Gurmandir activities, Deepak became inspired to further engage with the community. He joined the board with a strong desire to stay connected to the community and to be deeply rooted in the Sindhi culture.
Vice President
Sonu Chugani
Sonu Chugani
Secretary
Suraj Darra
Suraj Darra, a construction professional in Toronto, comes from Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, which has a thriving Sindhi community of about 2000 people. It boasts a Sindhi Mandir, a Danbar, a Sindhi community hall, a Sindhi bankers association, an active youth club, a ladies wing, and more. Suraj holds a Civil Engineering degree and studied and worked in the United States for five years before moving to Singapore for four years. He has called Toronto his home for the past six years.
Inspired by the community activities of the Sindhi Gurmandir and the previous S.C.A.T. boards, Suraj envisions connecting and integrating the Sindhi community in the GTA further. He also hopes to involve Sindhi newcomers. The S.C.A.T board gives him and his like-minded team the perfect opportunity to do so with fun events and fresh ideas.
Treasurer
Tanvi Assudani
Tanvi Assudani
Membership
Neeta Belani
Neeta was born and raised in Mumbai, she then lived in Dubai for 35 years as an insurance professional. She moved to Toronto and set up a new life in her mid-50s, which demonstrates her resilience.
She is well-loved by the community and is an excellent Sindhi cook, which helps her, her kids, and her grandkids stay connected to their Sindhi heritage. She is also a cancer survivor with an immense positive outlook on life, and her motto is to live life to the fullest.
Membership
Monish Sidhwani
Monish Sidhwani
Programming
Karan Asudani
Karan Asudani
Progamming
Rakhi Bilandani
Rakhi Bilandani
Programming
Rakesh Ganwani
Rakesh Ganwani
Marketing/IT
Jitesh Vaswani
Jitesh Vaswani
Ex-Officio
Ashhisha Balchandani
Ashhisha was born and raised in Dubai to a loving Sindhi couple. Although she grew up far from India, she saw all the Sindhi festivals celebrated in her home with love and happiness during her childhood. Her parents always spoke in Sindhi at home and among friends, and actively participated in all cultural events in Dubai. Her love for Sindhi culture predominantly comes from many families who live abroad and were able to impart their culture and heritage to future generations.
As a mom of three and a dental professional, Ashhisha's real passion lies in bringing value to the community and connecting everyone together. Her active participation with the organization has brought many young adult Sindhis together.
Dedication and Service
Our Mission
Our goal is to serve the Sindhi community in Canada and create an awareness of our Sindhi identity, Our Sindhiyat, with importance given towards a greater understanding of our cultural and religious heritage. To create a sense of brotherhood, cooperation and cohesion among Sindhis living in the GTA and the rest of Canada and to promote contact with Sindhis worldwide. Our objective is to inform, educate and create awareness about our way of life, culture, civilization, values, philosophy, language, literature, history, heritage, rights and interests. To organize and promote cultural events, intended towards a continued evolution of our unique identity. To develop and maintain a communal sense of charity so that Sindhis become a contributing force within the Canadian Social Consciousness. Our aim is to create a legacy for today and for our future generations.
Our Partners
We Partner Closely with Sindhi Gurmandir and Sadhu Vaswani centre. We would like to thank them for their on-going support for our community.