A group of women from India’s Tamil community meet to conduct learning programmes
The Delma Corner Cafe at the Cultural Foundation provides a relaxing venue for the Tamil Ladies Circle of Abu Dhabi (TLC). Deepa Sambasiva Rao is the secretary of the TLC, and she is proud of the support and services provided for the 30 members and their children.
“I enjoy meeting new ladies in the Tamil community; we teach and share with each other our ideas, interests, language, special skills and talents,” she says.
The TLC was formed in October 2001 by Meena Venkatesh to benefit the Tamil community in Abu Dhabi and one of the most popular activities is the Tamil classes provided for children between six and 12.
To know the mother tongue is essential for children of Tamil-speaking parents so regular classes are held at the Emirates Trading Agency and Indian Social Centre.
Over the past three years the TLC has provided interesting activities for their members including a health awareness programme which comprised meditation and fitness training for ladies and ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat), paediatric, gynaecological and dental sessions.
The household skills programme was also very popular. It included a cooking demonstration by a professional chef from the hotel industry, vegetable carving and displays and cake decorating.
The education programme provided members with the opportunity to learn basic computer skills, tailoring, fabric painting, nib painting, gift wrapping and porcelain flower making.
The current president, Dr. Subbulakshmi Bala, is always interested in new ideas for the TLC. “Besides activities for ladies and children, this year we have started doing services for others, like helping poor children in our home country by providing education programmes.”
She also explains how the TLC is planning for the future. “We are looking at setting up medical camps so members and their children can make use of regular check ups for blood pressure and sugar levels and we are also interested in providing breast cancer awareness programmes”.
Apart from the regular meetings held every second Thursday of the month at the Cultural Foundation, the Tamil Ladies Circle also organises monthly get togethers in a member’s home.
Other fun activities and events include celebrations for the Tamil New Year.
