SAF News

SAF Regional Cooperation Seminars - Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University

Located in the heart of Allahabad, the University itself is quite rudimentary, yet the staff consists of well educated and dedicated members. Dr. Dwivedi, Coordinator of the SAF Programme at UPRTOU put together a seminar, drawing together professors of Political and International studies from local Universities across Allahabad.

Disbursement of SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarship

The disbursement of SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarship in respect of the following 16 Universities.

Declaration of the Fourteenth SAARC Summit - 3rd - 4th April 2007, New Delhi

The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai; the Chief Adviser of the Government of the People.......

MoU between 'SAF' and the South Asia Madanjeet Institute of Assistant Nurse Midwife

Contribution of SAF to the Secretariat's Library

Ground Realities of Bigotry, severed heads and writers' rights

Taslima Nasrin is the winner of the 2004 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.

250 books handed over to SAARC Secretariat library

Altogether 250 books donated by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh on behalf of the South Asia Foundation (SAF) were handed over to the SAARC Secretariat library at a function held at the Secretariat, Kathmandu.

Muslim Group sets RS 5 Lakh on Taslima

Taslima Nasrin is the winner of the 2004 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.

Jambay Wangchuk - SAF Secretary, Bhutan

Greetings from Bhutan. As instructed by the chairperson of the SAF Bhutan, I would like to update your Excellency on the recent development with regard to the SAF Bhutan.

Resolution on the News Media in SAARC Countries

The Conference of Editors from SAARC Countries, organized jointly bythe Media Development Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs,Government of lndia, and held in New Delhi on February 9 and 10, 2007.

MoU between 'SAF' and the Institute of South Asian Studies established under GCU

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation ("SAF") and the Institute of South Asian Studies ("The Institute"), established under Government College University (GCU), Lahore (in the process of formation).

Conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) - 8th January 2007 - Mysore

Acceptance Speech of Dr. Madanjeet Singh (UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador) held on 8th January 2007, Karnataka State Open University, Kalamandira, Mysore.

SOS Emergency Relief Programme-EQ - 1st October 2006 - 30th December 2006

On the 31st of December 2006 there were 241 children and 12 widows in the care of SOS Children's Villages.

MoU between 'SAF' and the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies

The Special Meeting of the SAF Governing Council

The Special Meeting of the SAF Governing Council was held on Monday, 27th November 2006, at 09.00 am at the South Asia Foundation India Chapter Office, A-33 Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110 057.

Chinmoyi Patel

I would like to start by thanking you for providing me with this wonderful opportunity to come to Lahore. I was very disappointed when my visa didn't come through.

Accept the concept of Kashmiriyat: Aiyar

The Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Sports, Mani Shankar Aiyarsaid on Sunday that it was impossible to be a Kashmiri without beingIndian

J&K known for communal harmony

There is a need for dialogue among all sections of people to defuse communal tension in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and South Asia Foundation (SAF) founder Madanjeet Singh.

UNESCO Official Letter

In accordance with the "Directives concerning UNESCO's relations with foundations and similar institutions" adopted by the General Conference at its 26th session in November 1991 and amended at its 28th and 29th sessions, UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, has decided to admit the South Asia Foundation into official relations with UNESCO

Madanjeet Singh congratulates Yunus

The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the South Asia Foundation, Madanjeet Singh, has conveyed his congratulations to Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, on his winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Looking for the Taliban: check Quetta

Malik Siraj Akbar writes While it is difficult to say who is or is nota Talib, one thing is clear: Quetta and other areas are swarming withpeople who are rabidly anti-US.

2006 - UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-violence

Donation for the earthquake emergency relief programme September 2006

On 30th September 2006, 224 children were placed in the care of SOS Children’s Villages while the “Search and Rescue” activities resumed.

The SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarship Programme for Vocational Training of ANM

On Sunday Urmila Aryal, Minister for Women Children and Social Welfare, appealed to the Ministry of Health to arrange a VDC-level 24-hour maternity service to save women and their babies who succumb to childbirth.

Lanka Lawyer wins UNESCO prize for Peace

SAF-Madanjeet Singh Vocational Training Scholarships

I would like to thank professor Dhavan for organizing an incredibly well organized trip. During the day, we were able to meet with the entire committee, including Vice Chancellor Mattoo, give out certificates to last years graduates and visit six villages.

Reports regarding the SOS Emergency Relief Programme

Certificate of recognition of SAF as an SAARC Apex Body

SOS Emergency Relief Programme-EQ - 1st April 2006 - 30th June 2006

At the end of June there were 187 children in the care of SOS Children's Villages. Eleven children were reunited with their families.

The project SAARC Forestry Centre in Bhutan was discussed

UNESCO backs South Asia Foundation's work on regional cooperation

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, opened on Friday the annual meeting of the South Asia Foundation at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The South Asia Foundation (SAF), founded in 2000 by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, promotes regional cooperation and peace through education, understanding and friendship among the people of South Asia.

SAF Governing Council Meeting, 17th - 18th March 2006, Paris, France

The annual meeting of the Governing Council of the South Asia Foundation (SAF) was held in Paris, France, on 17th and 18th March 2006 at UNESCO Headquarters and the residence of Ambassador Madanjeet Singh. It was opened by Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO and attended by the Chairpersons of the eight SAF Chapters, Vice-Chancellors of South Asian universities, specially invited guests, secretaries of the Advisory Boards of SAF Chapters, and a number of Paris-based Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates to UNESCO and UNESCO officials. The list of participants is reproduced in an annex to this report.

The Oral and Intangible Heritage of South Asia

SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarships: Training Programme for Assistant Nurse Midwifes (ANM)

Skilled Care at Birth for the Poorest by Dr. Rita Thapa, SAF Nepal Chairperson, Perinatal Society of Nepal & Chair, SAF Nepal Dr. Kasturi Malla, Director Thapathali Maternity Hospital.

The Third SAF-SOS Environment Camp - 26th December 2005, Bhopal, India

The third SAF-SOS Environment Camp ended on 19th December 2005. The Camp was hosted by SOS Children’s Village Khajuri Kalan (India). This time the Camp had an additional feature focusing on the needs and care of special children, apart from the regular emphasis on the environment and sustainable development.

Speech by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Madanjeet Singh Scholarship Awards Ceremony

Conferment of the Degree of Doctor of letters (Honoris Causa) to Madanjeet Singh (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Tehelka Reports Donation by Ambassador Madanjeet Singh for Earthquake Victims

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and former diplomat Madanjeet Singh has announced Rs. 1 crore as earthquake relief for Pakistan and Rs. 50 lakh for the reconstruction of schools in his hometown of Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.

Certificate distribution of the PPEPERA (pre primary education programme)
27th September 2005, Srinagar

Invited by the SAF Founder to attend the South Asia Foundation Learning Initiative meeting in New Delhi on 14th December 2003, Professor Ahmed Khan Tareen, Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, submitted a training project at the Institute of Home Science (Kashmir University).

Meeting at the University of Jammu - September 2005

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in New Delhi between the SAF Founder and Vice Chancellor of Jammu University in December 2002 for a rural women entrepreneurship development programme.

South Asia Foundation condoles Lakshman Kadirgamar's Assassination

The Founder of South Asia Foundation, Madanjeet Singh, Goodwill Ambassador to UNESCO, has conveyed his deep grief over the dastardly assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka.

Appreciation letter from SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan

Centre for South Asian Studies, Government College University

The Third SAF-Scout Friendship Camp - 21st-28th April 2005, Nepal

Conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa

Meeting at the Beaconhouse National University - 10th-12th February 2005

(recipient of the Madanjeet Singh group scholarship)

MoU between the South Asia Foundation and the National Scout Organizations

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation ("SAF") and the Chief Commissioners of National Scout Organizations in South Asia.

SAF SOS Villages (SOS-Kinderdorf International)- Bangladesh

An agreement was signed in 2004 between South Asia Foundation ("SAF") and SOS-Kinderdorf International to grant scholarships.

The Second SAF-SOS Environment Camp - 5th December 2004, Bagerhat, Bangladesh

After the South Asia Foundation Governing Council it was decided to conduct Environmental Work Camps for Youths from SAARC Countries. Accordingly, the Second Environmental Work Camp was held at the SOS Youth Village Farm Project at Bagerhat, Bangladesh in December 2004.

2004 - UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-violence

10,000 SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarships Programme

Message on the occasion of launching the 10,000 SAF Madanjeet Singh scholarships programme in Colombo on 14th September 2004.

SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarship Awards Ceremony

Chairmanship of Hon. Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and SAF Sri Lanka chairperson.

Salima Hashmi - SAF Chairperson Pakistan

Bless you! Yes, Maimoona is very much in Pakistan and is now going home for the vacation months. I think she and the two Nepalese and one of the Bhutanese students have been among our top students,[ together with two Pakistanis.]

Amit K. Shrivastava

First of all, let me offer my deepest apologies for not writing to you any e-mail, thanking note and also not being able to contact you ever since my Lahore experience.

Meeting of the Academic Council of SAF Distance Learning, 18th April 2004

A meeting of the Academic Council of SAF Distance Learning was held at SAF-India office on 18th April at 10.00 am.

Inauguration of the SAF-IGNOU study Centre

The event in India was held at the Preet Nagar Cultural Centre, near Amritsar. Some two years ago, I had agreed to the request of Uma, a daughter of Gurbaksh Singh, to fund the construction of the Centre in her father’s memory along with another eminent writer, Nanak Singh.

MoU between 'SAF', 'UNESCO' and the Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and The Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan concerning the Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage.

The UNESCO-SAF Madanjeet Singh Institute of Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage, Kabul.

The 3rd annual SAF Governing Council Meeting, New Delhi, India

Resolutions adopted by Chairpersons of South Asia Foundation Chapters on 15th December 2003, during the 3rd SAF General Conference in New Delhi - attended by Dr. Sayed Makhdoum Raheen (Afghanistan), Mr. Inder Kumar Gujral (India), Mr. Ibrahim Hussain Zaki (Maldives), Dr. Rita Thapa (Nepal), Mrs. Salima Hashmi (Pakistan), and Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar (Sri Lanka). Mr. Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup (Bhutan) was unable to attend the meeting because of a national emergency in his country and Dr. Kamal Hossain (Bangladesh) could not reach New Delhi on time.

A training project at the Institute of Home Science (Kashmir University)

Invited by the SAF Founder to attend the South Asia Foundation Learning Initiative meeting in New Delhi on 14th December 2003, Professor Ahmed Khan Tareen, Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, submitted a training project at the Institute of Home Science (Kashmir University).

The Third SAF General Conference, 13th-14th December 2003, New Delhi, India

The third SAF General Conference in New Delhi on 14th December 2003 was a landmark – the vice-chancellors/rectors of South Asian open universities completed designing a joint Post Graduate Diploma course in the Environment and Sustainable Development (PGD-ESD), and SAF launched an unprecedented programme to offer over 10,000 SAF Madanjeet Singh scholarships to disadvantaged students across South Asia.

Raju G. C.

To start with, I was/am an art student. I've never thought of bring enrolled in such a school which is so much determined to provide us a great academic experience.

BNU attracts students from SAARC states

The BeaconHouse National University (BNU) has given admission ton 14students from South Asia Foundation for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)countries on schorlarship offered to them by the South Asia Foundation(SAF).

The First SAF-SOS Environment Camp - 12th - 21st August 2003, Malpotha, Sri Lanka

The first SAF-SOS joint project, approved by the SAF Chairpersons, was the Environment (organic farming) camp which was hosted by the SOS Vocational Training Centre in Malpotha, Sri Lanka, from August 12th - 21st 2003.

Establishment of the UNESCO-SAF Madanjeet Singh Institute of Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage, Kabul

Moonisa Easa - Assistant Editor, AAFATHIS Daily

I take this opportunity to thank you for the generous offer you have given to us, the journalists and would be journalists of this region.

Deepamala Abeysekera - Sri Lankan student

Open University, SAF collaboration for SA studies

Within the South Asia Foundation, an ambitious educational project, called the South Asia Foundation Learning Initiative or SAFLI in short, was established in September 2002, linking a number of Open Universities in SAARC countries.

Sinan Ali - SAF scholar, Maldives

I have heard that the SAF has decided to award 100 scholarships from next year. I am so happy to know this and I feel it is a very great decision taken by SAF.

Tawrique Ali - Pursuing journalism on SAF scholarship

I have been studying journalism at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, with the SAF Madanjeet Singh Scholarship, from the Bangladesh chapter.