26^th January, 2022 marked the virtual award ceremony of the Barnet Faith & Belief Awards 2022, hosted by the ‘Barnet Multi Faith Forum’, in partnership with ‘The Faith & Belief Forum’ and Middlesex University. Of the 33 projects nominated for the award, ZTFE’s (Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe) ‘Zoroastrian Senior Citizens Project’ – Caring for the Zoroastrian Community, which is run by the ZSCH- CZC Team of volunteers, was selected as Runners-Up in the category, ‘Health and Well Being’, by a distinguished panel of five judges, headed by the Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University.

Only five groups were short listed in the Health and Well Being category from among numerous brilliant projects nominated. The ZTFE ZSCH-CZC Committee and volunteers have been a lifeline for many senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, with their regular phone calls and assistance, providing crucial assurance to everybody. The ZTFE ZSCH-CZC project was nominated for providing specialised services for the health and wellbeing of residents, reducing social isolation and improving the quality of life by supporting vulnerable people.

ZTFE Senior Citizens Home Care Project: Caring For The Zoroastrian Community: The Caring for the Zoroastrian Community Project was set up in 2018 to alleviate isolation in senior Zoroastrians. The program started with arranging transportation for some isolated elders to the Community Centre, the Zoroastrian Centre in Rayners Lane, for religious and social gatherings. Next, they launched phone calls, with a group of volunteers calling and checking on seniors at least twice a week, which led to bonding and trust-building with some volunteers extending hot meals, friendly visits and also assistance with shopping and/or lifts to important appointments for the seniors.

Kudos and congratulations to our ZTFE ZSCH-CZC Project Team of dedicated volunteers for their excellent work. “ZTFE is also thankful to its members residing in the London Borough of Barnet for nominating the ZTFE Senior Citizens Care Project – Caring for the Zoroastrian Community for the Awards. We urge our members and well-wishers to nominate ZTFE projects and our dedicated team of volunteers for their good work, for local and national awards whenever the opportunity arises. We also urge our senior citizens to register their details with the ZTFE ZSCH-CZC Team, which is a free service,” shares ZTFE’s distinguished and dynamic President – Malcolm M Deboo.

On 27th November, 2018, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, presented ZTFE with a ‘Certificate of Recognition’, under the Inter Faith category, at the London Faith & Belief Community Awards 2018, organised by The Faith & Belief Forum and supported by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London’s Council of Faith. Donations are welcome for the ZTFE Zoroastrian Senior Citizens Project – Caring for the Zoroastrian Community.