A charity for the less fortunate

Surya Narayan Seva Outreach Sang was founded to provide medical, social, economic and academic assistance to the needy and less fortunate.
The organisation has been an integral part of the work of Pandit Hardowar Panday, the founding father of Shri Surya Narayan Mandir (SSNM). It has always been a dream of his that in addition to teaching the values and morals of his religion, Sanatan Dharma (a native term used by academics and many practitioners to refer to Hinduism), members will be able to provide additional assistance to people in need around the world, especially to those in his homelands of Guyana and India. With this goal, Surya Narayan Seva Outreach Sang (SNSOS) was formed Nov. 29, 2009.
SNSOS is a non-profit charitable organisation headquartered in the U.S. Members of SNSOS come from diverse backgrounds and consist of professionals, pandits and other select members of the community.  Their mission is to provide medical care with a focus on prevention and a healthy lifestyle, social, economic and educational assistance to people in need around the world especially in Guyana, New York and India.
Pandit Hardowar Panday was born in Crabwood Creek, Berbice. An astute student, he excelled in his studies at Skeldon Line Path Secondary School and the University of Guyana. After graduating from UG, he spent many years working in Guyana as an engineer. The son of a pandit, he was brought up in a home where Hinduism was a part of his daily life.  He migrated to the U.S. in 1988 with his family, where he sought to assist the less fortunate in whatever way he could.
In addition to being a humanitarian and a guru, Panday is also a geo-technical engineer, utilizing his expertise in geology to build strong foundations for the colossal skyscrapers of New York City.
Through SNSOS, medical outreach, projects were conducted in Guyana in 2009 and 2010.  Health fairs were held at several temples in Berbice, and were opened to the general public within the community.  A team of medical professionals took time to educate individuals on illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, and focused on how to live a healthly lifestyle.  After the educational session, individuals had an opportunity to sit with the doctor, who examined and answered their more personal questions.  Hundreds of medications, medical supplies and first-aid kits were distributed free of charge.
SNSOS also provides scholarships to high school students who have particularly excelled in their studies but may not have the financial means to attend college or university.  Since its inception, on a yearly basis, the organisation has provided full scholarships to the best graduating student from Skeldon Line Path Secondary School and Saraswati Vidya Niketan School, to pursue higher education.   In addition to the scholarship awards, SNSOS has given significant donations to schools in Guyana.  Another important aspect of the organisation’s activities is its annual blood drive in the U.S.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Mahindra Bisram, a member of the organisation, said SNSOS will continue to financially aid children who have dreams of attending university or pursuing higher learning.  It would also be conducting a medical outreach later this year and will be visiting an orphanage in Guyana.
For more information on the organisation’s work visit its website www.suryanarayansos.com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)