Sham Hira has been a volunteer for 35 years: ‘I owe what I do to my parents’

Sham Hira (52) has spent more than half of his life helping others. For example, he voluntarily works on various collection campaigns and activities for Zoetermeer, Suriname and Indonesia. And all that besides his full -time job at the central government.

Maybe you’ve seen Sham at Mahé Yoga in the Dorpsstraat. But did you know that this man, with a heart of gold, has been committed to his fellow man for 35 years? A wonderful effort that has since also been rewarded.

The start of something beautiful

Sham was born in Suriname, moved to Assen at the age of two and ended up in our city at the age of sixteen. But here, that did not work at the time. “In 1987 I ended up at the Pallas College on the Schubertrode in the middle of the school year. But I became so sad of homesickness.” He went back to Assen to get his mavo diploma. A year and a half later he returned to the city who had great plans for him.

To find his way as a 17-year-old, he joined the foundation of his neighbors. He says: “We lived on the Alferbos and our neighbors had a foundation, Zoetermeerse summer camps. Especially for children of divorced parents with a lower income. I had nothing to do, so I asked the neighbor:” Can I help you? “And that simple question turned out to be the beginning of something beautiful.

It is my goal to create connection between people.

‘Thanks to the upbringing of my parents’

Once he had tasted volunteering, it tasted like more. And when Sham is halfway through twenty, he is at the helm of a cultural institution, Stichting Social Cultural Activities Zoetermeer (SSCAZ). An organization that organizes different cultural activities.

And as a brand new – and now well -grounded – chairman, he breathes new life into SSCAZ. With Hindustani music lessons, activities for the elderly and sports and game days. Sham says: “It is my goal to create connection between people.” And he doesn’t have that from a stranger. “What I am doing now, I owe to the education of my parents.”

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The tree and the leaf

In addition to creating connection, Sham also has an important goal: to preserve the Hindu heritage. A good example of this is the book he released: the tree and the leaf. “When family and friends come together, the stories often come,” Sham explains. “You remember, in the past, with grandpa or grandma, or with mum or dad …” I wanted to collect those stories. ” He interviewed fifteen Hindustani Dutch, from 30 to 65 years old. Of which eight Zoetermeerders. Stories in which everyone can find recognition. He explains: “Whether you are Hindu, Indian or Dutch. They are things that we all experience.”

Another example is the Holika burning in March, which has been taking place in the Van Tuyllpark since 1978, to herald the Hindustani New Year. Sham says: “I am one of the youngest within the organization and have been committed to involving younger people for years. So please, get there! So that it can continue to exist for fifty years.”

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Charity

Sham was forced to take it easy in 2016 due to a burnout. And so the sports days and music lessons made way for collection campaigns. In the meantime he has been able to help many people in Zoetermeer, Suriname and Indonesia. Whether it concerns 500 reading glasses, 240 sports shirts, a garden full of walkers or 900 packs of sanitary pads – Sham does not turn his hand for it.

But 900 packs of sanitary pads? Sham explains: “Five years ago my best friend Pritha, from Mahé Yoga, came up with the idea of ​​doing something against menstrual poverty. I then started to google that word – and I was shocked. In Zoetermeer there are also families who have to choose between a cauliflower or sanitary pad.” With their action they were able to help more than a hundred girls and women in Zoetermeer, Suriname and Bali. That involvement does not come from nowhere. “I have a little more female energy,” he says with a smile. “I am actually always surrounded by women. I have three sisters, two daughters and a woman. And even my best friends are women.”

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Rewarded for his efforts

Sham’s commitment for others did not go unnoticed. As a reward for his years of involvement, he received not one, but two special awards. In 2019 he received a royal award from our king, and this year the honorary medal followed in gold, affiliated with the honor of the yellow star from Suriname. Yet he remains modest: “I can’t do anything without the help of others. You do it together.”

Who is the next Zoetermeerder of the week?

Do you also have a special story? Or do you know a fellow townman that we really have to interview? Let us know via [email protected]. These residents preceded you.