Zerbanoo Gifford – A Visionary Humanitarian Zarathushti
Zerbanoo’s charity work began when she was six years old. After seeing children in need in the Indian city of Pune, Zerbanoo returned to London, made flags and sold them to passers-by for a penny each; she raised ten pounds, which she sent to the then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Nehru. The Prime Minister sent Zerbanoo a thank you letter stating that if all little girls in London were like her, there would be fewer poor children in Poona (Pune). Years later, Zerbanoo would be honoured with the Nehru Centenary Award for her work championing the rights of women, children and minorities internationally.
WORDS OF APPRECIATION FOR ZERBANOO GIFFORD
“I pay particular tribute to one, Zerbanoo Gifford, a tireless campaigner for justice and human rights and a passionate advocate for democracy and women’s empowerment. She is the founder of the ASHA Centre in the Forest of Dean . “Asha” means “hope”. It is a place of many faiths and cultures, a haven of peace and beauty where people, especially young people, from Britain, the European Union and the rest of the world come together to learn about conflict resolution. Arab and Jewish Israeli young people spend time with each other then go home united rather than divided. It promotes volunteering. The centre fosters community participation through a programme of projects, arts and working on the land encouraging young people to celebrate their similarities, not their differences. Young people, united by the strength of their common endeavour, work together for a better future in which we celebrate our differences as well as our similarities.”
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon at The House of Lords on May 24, 2012, United Kingdom
Zerbanoo Gifford, is an inspirational woman who has always followed the Zoroastrian principles of protecting the environment through her work at the ASHA Foundation and supporting the venerable through her charitable benevolence and her humanitarian campaign for the cause of Women, Children and minorities.
Darayus Motivala, Chairman – World Zoroastrian Organization Headquarters , United Kingdom
The first Asian woman to be elected on Harrow Council and Founder Trustee and visionary behind the ASHA Centre Zerbanoo Gifford needs no introduction. Zerbanoo is well known to all of us!
Malcolm Deboo – President, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, United Kingdom
Dear Respected Leaders and Members of our Global Zarathushti Community:
Please join me in honoring our own Zerbanoo Gifford, a visionary humanitarian Zarathushti from United Kingdom , who has dedicated her life towards serving humanity with dignity and humility.
As you all know that:
The Zoroastrian community has recently been at the centre of attention in the UK , with the opening of a unique exhibition,
The Z Factor.
The exhibition was launched at the prestigious Women’s Library in London on May 23rd with a VIP guest list of the
WHO’s WHO of the Women’s movement worldwide.
The touring exhibition consists of seven panels, beginning with an introduction to the prophet, Zoroaster, the tenets of his religion and putting it into a historical context. It also features Zoroastrians, past and present, who have made exceptional contributions, not just to their Zoroastrian community but for everyone. The exhibition also celebrated the 30 years anniversary of Zerbanoo Gifford and her historic election and political achievements and philanthropy as typical of her Zoroastrian heritage with her campaigns for others’ human rights with the modern concerns of sustainable living, women’s empowerment and interfaith action.
The day after, on Thursday 24thMay, there was a debate in the House of Lords on ‘Minority, Ethnic and Religious Communities’ Cultural and Economic contribution’, initiated by Lord Karan Bilimoria after winning a Lords Ballot.
At the debate the Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, former leader of the House of Lords, singled out Zerbanoo Gifford in her speech to the peers:
‘I pay particular tribute to one, Zerbanoo Gifford, a tireless campaigner for justice and human rights and a passionate advocate for democracy and women’s empowerment. She is the founder of the ASHA Centre in the Forest of Dean . “Asha” means “hope”. It is a place of many faiths and cultures, a haven of peace and beauty where people, especially young people, from Britain, the European Union and the rest of the world come together to learn about conflict resolution. Arab and Jewish Israeli young people spend time with each other then go home united rather than divided. It promotes volunteering. The centre fosters community participation through a programme of projects, arts and working on the land encouraging young people to celebrate their similarities, not their differences. Young people, united by the strength of their common endeavour, work together for a better future in which we celebrate our differences as well as our similarities’.
We all wish Zerbanoo and all at the ASHA Centre many more years of good work for young people around the world in the spirit of asha.
We also thank Zerbanoo for being such a heroine for our community and for putting Zoroastrians on the centre stage in the United Kingdom .
We wish Zerbanoo
A SUCCESSION OF SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSES IN HER HUMANITARIAN ENDEAVORS
With love, light and appreciation from
Meher Amalsad
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