Amin Karimi is delighted to announce his forthcoming event, Amin's Crazy Bike Ride 2018.Post Event Update17th July 2018Hi Everyone,I still can’t believe that I’ve cycled more than 1,300km across 4 countries in 11 days.When I gingerly announced my cycle ride, some said that I am crazy, some said it is too ambitious and some simply asked ‘why?’ with an amazed look on their faces. However, majority of my friends and people around me appreciated and supported my decision.I was moved when I heard about Light in Africa and their contribution to the society and helping children in need. After a few conversation with Mama Lynn, I was informed that there are two girls in desperate need of funds to go to university and study to become a teacher and a social worker. From that point there was nothing in the world stopping me to try to raise funds for them. I come from a country where the education system is virtually destroyed by successive wars and the quality is substandard in comparison to most of the neighbouring countries and the rest of the world. Even that is not accessible to most of the students at a university level. This is due to far less number of available seats in government universities comparing to newly graduates and awaiting graduates from previous years or high cost of private universities. I was lucky enough to have always been studying in one form or the other, thus I appreciate and admire those perusing it.By the way, speaking of stopping me, there were a few nights when I was all soaking wet and cold and had no extra clothes, I had doubts if I want to carry on or stop the ride. But the only things kept me going was everyone’s support and specially the thoughts of the end goal that could make a big difference in people’s lives.I say THANK YOU, thank you very much for your overwhelming generosity that enabled 2 girls to go to university and learn what they love. I have received an email of confirmation that the girls were able to enrol into their schools and soon to start classes which is a result of your love and it wouldn’t be possible without it. You have made a real difference in the lives of these kids with your gifts and it will go a long way. I can never thank each and every one enough who was a part of my cycle ride for their love and support.P.S. Rain and headwind aren’t friend to a cyclist.Regards,AminEvent DetailsI was introduced to Light in Africa (LIA) last year and was moved with the cause. LIA was established in 2000 by Lynn Elliot from the UK and most call her Mama Lynn by affection for her love and dedication to children.LIA provides care for the children who are homeless or who are impacted by HIV/AIDs. LIA provides quality education, vocational training and nurturing love. I was informed very recently that LIA needs around £2,500 to help 2 of the girls who live in the orphanage to enroll into higher education. Celina wants to enroll into Teacher Training and become a teacher and Beatrice wants to become a Social Worker. Both the girls are very bright and compassionate. They're anxiously waiting for the funds to do what they love most and dream of every day.Thus, I have decided to ride my bicycle from Hamburg, Germany to Bergen, Norway over 13 days from 09/06/2018 to 25/06/2018 (dates include breaks) to raise fund for Light in Africa.I beg every single one of you to contribute towards the cause and become part of their futures and make their dreams come true as every child deserves access to education. Your generosity will go a long way and it is literally making 2 dreams come true.Please help me riase funds for Light in Africa through One Kind Act (OKA) and every single penny raised will go to LIA.My sincere gratitude to OKA team who have been very supportive and passionate about this cause. OKA has been helping LIA with their needs on continuous basis throughout the years. Amin About One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here

Alisha Malhotra is delighted to announce the success of her talk, 'Life After Brain Injury'.Post Event Update10th June 2018Alisha Malhotra gave a talk ''Life after Brain Injury'  at the Sadhu Vaswani Centre UK. It was their Silver Sunday for the elderly. Alisha took the opportunity to share her experience of what is involved after a Brain Injury and why it is important to talk about it, the signs to look out for and how to help others. This was followed by a Question and Answer session. The audience were very grateful for Alisha's input.There followed an opportunity of telling the audience how and what the charity One Kind Act does to help others.We are pleased to say that £220.00 was raised for One Kind Act.About One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here

Saamia Razvi & Gillian Alexander are delighted to announce the success of their event, World Feast FundraiserPost Event Update22nd May 2018, Saamia RazviIn celebration of the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity, Hilton HQ held an international bake sale to raise funds for The Real Junk Food Project.They had a brilliant display of sweet treats including Limoncello Cupcakes, Belgian Chocolate Truffles, Austrian Linzer Torte and Scottish Shortbread Biscuits.The Real Junk Food Project are on a mission to end food waste and help local communities. The social enterprise is focused on intercepting and rescuing surplus food from supermarkets and helping the local community by distributing these items through a ‘pay as you feel supermarket’, and using them whilst hosting homework clubs for children, and running soup kitchens. The Real Junk Food Project helps over 100 families every week at their Community Centre in Burnt Oak, London. About One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here

Ritu, Rena & Alisha are delighted to announce their forthcoming event, Coffee Morning for Brain Injury AwarenessPost Event Update21st May 2018, Ritu, Rena & AlishaWhat happens when One Kind Act have a coffee morning ? Well there’s lots of cake , a collection of amazing ladies and luckily for us good weather too . The 21st May coffee morning was about raising awareness for brain injury and all money raised (over £800) will go towards rehabilitation of brain injury patients. Alisha, who is passionate about  supporting brain injury here and abroad, spoke beautifully about her own journey and where she hopes her journey takes her. Please continue to support One Kind Act. Put on your own coffee morning maybe or become a monthly donor so One Kind Act can forward plan to help some of the most disadvantaged people here in the Uk and abroad.About One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here

James Baker & Suleen Kaur are delighted to be able to report on their fundraising event, 5NC Street Food Festival:Post Event Update 16th March 2018, Suleen Kaur6 great cooks came together to cook lunches for colleagues and raise money for a great charity impacting hundreds of underprivileged people around the globe. On offer were Persian, West African, Thai, Brazilian, Bengali and Punjabi lunches for a whole week and the support and feedback was incredible. We hope to make this an annual event and continue to support One Kind Act is every way possible.An outstanding £3,574 was raised through their efforts and the charity matching policy by Barclays Capital Bank.About One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here

Saachi Patel is delighted to announce her forthcoming event, 7-Day Puree Challenge:                           Post Event Update Saachi Patel, 21 March 2018Being on a restricted diet is difficult – there is no other word to describe it. What initially excited me was the idea that I will be trying lots of different meals, but as I got through the first day I realised that I missed food, and it wasn’t that exciting. I learned that there were many reasons why patients on a dysphagia diet might not follow the recommendations, or at least find it difficult to. It’s not just about being bored with the smooth texture, it is much more than that. I experienced loss of interest in the food, social isolation when I went out, lack of flexibility and just missed the experience of eating normal food. Meal times just became a chore. I lost over 2kg in weight over the week, which for me raised lots of concerns. I ate breakfast, lunch, dinner plus snacks and desserts but was so full that it was hard to continue eating so much throughout the week. It made me think, that if I lost so much weight in a week, what I can do for patients who have to follow this diet in hospital to stop them from losing weight. The meals I ate tasted like they should, it was just unusual to have everything blended. During the week I got bored and tried to cook myself but the whole process of blending, sieving and cooking was extremely tedious – no wonder people buy them in!When things got tough – and they did - I thought to myself, I am doing this to raise awareness and money. I knew there was a date where I was going to start eating again, but what gets a patient through this as many have to do this for life? Over the week, I achieved what I set out to do. Not only by raising over £1000 for One Kind Act, but got everyone that I knew talking about dysphagia, whether it was people asking what it is, why I was doing it or what I was going to be eating that day. This whole experience has made me think about some of the emotions that patients might go through by being on this diet and overall allowed me to put myself in their shoes.“Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world” - ObamaEvent DetailsSaachi Patel, 22nd February 2018 Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), is a common side effect of several conditions that affect our nervous system e.g. stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia. Stroke Association reports that almost half of people who have a stroke will have some difficulties with swallowing in the first few weeks.Patients who are unable to swallow normal meals safely have to follow a “dysphagia diet” and as a result can be at risk of malnutrition. This can be for various reasons including texture fatigue, going off meals, reduced appetite, poor nutritional content of meals or lack of assistance or encouragement. Incorrect identification and poor compliance to the recommended diet can lead to food and drink entering a patient’s airways and lungs, causing aspiration leading to infections and pneumonia. There are currently four dysphagia diet food textures: Texture B (Thin Purée), Texture C (Thick Purée), Texture D (Pre – Mashed) and Texture E (Fork Mashable), however April 2019 will see the introduction of a new set of internationally recognised descriptors designed to improve patient safety and provide a larger platform for conducting research studies.Swallowing Awareness Day falls on 12th March 2018, and this year I have decided to take on the challenge of following a Texture C (Thick Purée) Diet for a week in the hope that this will allow me to better understand the physical and mental challenges our patients face when having to follow this restricted diet. My professional aim as a Dietitian is to raise awareness of dysphagia and its impact on the patients we look after in hospital and the reasons why providing the correct meal is so integral to patient safety. My personal aim is to raise money for One Kind Act (OKA), a charity I have chosen due to their hard work in supporting causes and raising money in aid of brain injury. Alisha, a very close friend of mine and associate of OKA, is a huge inspiration for taking on this challenge and although she did not suffer from dysphagia, she has faced challenges with aphasia, another common side effect of having a stroke.Follow me @saachipatel4 for pictures of my meals!Acknowledgement – A huge thank you to apetito who will be providing me with my puree meals for the week]About One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More hereRead Less

Rupa Lakha is delighted to announce her forthcoming event on, D4NCE 0N.                           Post Event Update13 November 2017, OKA AssociateRupa Lakha's Danceathon event to celebrate her 40th birthday was the perfect example of fun, compassion and generosity.  At least 100 aspiring dancers of all ages gathered for face painting, henna tattoos, to eat, drink and make merry by dancing for two hours to energetic, uplifting music led by Rupa.  Being grateful for opportunities in her life that have led to a successful career, Rupa wanted to extend the same chances to refugees in Kenya and Uganda. A staggering almost £6000 has been raised for the Xavier Project, which teaches long term skills to these refugees enabling a better chance in life. Event DetailsRupa Lakha, 11 September 2017I was born in Kenya and came to the UK aged 5. Born to loving parents, I have had the benefit of a warm and secure upbringing, as well as an education to firmly stand me on my two feet. Opportunity has been handed to me and for that I am forever grateful. We have heard Malala's views on the right to education which almost cost her so dearly and yet, her choice to fight for her right to be educated stands her today as an undergraduate at Oxford University. An education should be a basic right, and yet too often it is not.In Malala’s words, “In some parts of the world, students are going to school every day. It’s their normal life. But in other parts of the world, we are starving for education……it’s like a precious gift. It’s like a diamond”.I recently came across a charity called the Xavier Project. Its objective is to provide refugee children in Kenya and Uganda access to formal education in a safe environment. Xavier Project has two departments; the Education Department aims to increase access to relevant and good formal education delivered in a safe environment for refugee children. The ‘Tamuka’ Department aims to make vocational and life-long learning available to all refugees even in emergency situations, primarily through the use of ICT.Since its inception in 2008, Xavier Project, through paying fees and providing other support, is enabling 996 refugee children to go to school. In Kenya, that is 65 in early childhood development, 592 primary school students and 159 secondary school students. In Uganda, that is 154 primary school students and 26 secondary school students.I am looking to raise £2400 which will pay the fees for 4 children to attend secondary school for a year. To achieve this, I call upon you. For my birthday, I invite you to an afternoon of fun, music, food and drink. I invite you to participate in a charity Danceathon to raise money for the Xavier Project.I am delighted to say that the Danceathon has the support of charity One Kind Act (OKA), winner of the Best Start-up Charity of the Year 2017 by the Asian Voice. OKA’s mission is to touch with kindness those suffering as a result of poverty of health, nutrition and education both in the UK and abroad. Unlike certain other “Charity for charities,” OKA ensures that EVERY PENNY pledged to this event will be paid directly to the Xavier Project. WHEN: 2:30pm-6:30pm on 12 November 2017. The detailed programme will be sent out in due course.WHERE: The Rowland Brown Hall, St Helen’s School, Eastbury Road, Northwood HA6 3AS.SO WHAT NEXT????The Danceathon will last slightly over 2 hours and I will be dancing non-stop for that duration. You can join in for as little or as much as you can. Owing to space, I have to limit the number of participants for the Danceathon. To confirm your place to dance, you simply need to:1) message me on 07939 245 405 replying "#D4NCE 0N" plus the number of attendees (feel free to bring family and friends)AND2) make a pledge through this Event page.You can donate as much or as little as you like but the suggested MINIMUM pledge is £35 if you are participating in the Danceathon (£15 if under 12) and £10 if you are just coming to spectate, drink and eat.To be honest all……it’s a steal compared to the diamond present I know you were going to get me………..Any questions, please let me know. Otherwise, let’s “D4NCE 0N.”!Rupa LakhaAbout One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here

One Kind Act is delighted to announce its forthcoming event, Diwali Ki Rangeen Shaam.Post Event Update9th October 2017, OKA AssociateThe OKA Diwali Music night kicked off with drinks, mingling and laughter before the renowned singers took to stage.  After a brief hiccup with acoustics, the guests settled down to sway in time to the music, unconsciously singing along. The food was specially appreciated for being varied and delicious.It wasn't long though before the music became so irresistible the floor was full with enthusiastic dancers for the rest of the night.Well received, emotive speeches from OKA committee members Rupa, Ritu and Mona detailed where the money raised would go and the generous raffle prizes were gratefully received.Yet again the evening was a sell-out, with tickets going fast. Total funds raised was just under £11,000, and has been used to make grants to two new Causes OKA are supporting, Healing Little Hearts and Project Chirag (see Cause page for further details).  OKA is deeply appreciative of the immense support and words of praise for our "fabulous, fun events".Event DetailsOn Friday 6th October 2017, OKA presents you with a musical adventure and invites you to come and enjoy an evening of outstanding classical and popular music, sung by renowned artists, Shahid Khan and Rekha Sawhney, and accompanied by very accomplished musicians. See them live here:Some background information of our talented artists:Shahid KhanShahid was born in London and comes from a family of renowned tabla players and classical singers from the 'Patiala Gharana' based in Pakistan. He started singing from a very young age and from the age of ten, started receiving singing lessons from Pandit Vishwa Prakash and Rauf Mehndi. His Guru, from the age of 16, was and remains Ustad Hussain Baksh Gulu. Shahid's biggest musical influence has been Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.Recently, he completed a successful run as the Heritage Singer in the West End show Bend It Like Beckham – The Musical at the Phoenix Theatre. The show was nominated for five Olivier Awards and won the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical, topped Time Out’s Best West End Musical poll and won the Curtain Up Best Cast Recording Album of 2015.Rekha SawhneyRekha began to learn Hindi songs and semi-classical Indian music under the powerful guidance of Shaheen Khan for the best part of 5 years. After her coaching, Rekha competed against some of the best singers in India and won UK Indian Idol; was chosen to sing for Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber in his search for “Maria” from The Sound of Music; performed at the Royal Festival Hall in 2013 under the umbrella of the BBC Alchemy festival and Kuljit Bhamra and has been invited to take part in a musical theatre workshop organised by the BBC Arts Foundation.Much more recently, Rekha had the opportunity to work with Film Director Gurinder Chadha for her West End stage production of the film “Bend It Like Beckham”.  It was during one of the performances that world renowned composer A R Rahman sought out Rekha for her semi-classical vocal ability and invited her to record with him for Gurinder Chadha’s film, Viceroy’s House, released earlier this year. WHAT THE EVENING ENTAILS:The evening promises to be a delightful, heart-lifting musical journey with our gifted artists. A delicious 3-course buffet meal is included and a well-stocked paying bar is on offer. There will be a set of Premium tables closer to the stage to allow those interested to engage better with the singers. Ticket PricesYou are invited to purchase tables of 10 for either premium or standard tickets. Premium Tables: £500 for a table of 10 (£50 per ticket) - only 9 Premium tables are available.Standard Tables: £400 for a table of 10 (£40 per ticket) - 16 Standard tables are available.Should you need to buy a smaller number of tickets, please contact Ritu Soni on 07734 201649 or Annu Shah on 07801 418448.AS YOU CAN SEE, THE NUMBER OF TABLES IS LIMITED. SO HURRY AND BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! Please note that the venue is opposite Mercedes Benz showroom. There is free parking after 7pm.About One Kind ActOne Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here