Etobicoke Indian food lovers are helping to educate two aspiring young girls across the world through the purchase of a tasty snack.
Karan Kalia, owner of Tich Modern Indian Cuisine, at 2314 Lake Shore Blvd. W., has been putting aside about 25-cents for the Indian teens from the sale of every tasty Onion Bhaji appetizer, which are a favourite of many customers.
Kalia says the change works out to a princely sum when converted into Indian rupees.
She says the funds help sisters Jyoti, 17, and Anjali, 15, who live a difficult life in New Delhi.
The pair help their mom, who works as an ironing lady, or “press wali,” for their village. They daily help to pick up the clothing, with the ironing and then return the items to their customers.
Most villages in India have a “press wali,” who acts as the local ironing lady.
“Jyoti is passionate about dance and hopes to pursue a career within the field,” she says. “Anjali is inclined towards finance and wishes to work in the banking industry.”
Her daughter Shanaya, 19, befriended the girls while on a trip to India and vowed to help them with their education.
“My daughter was surprised to see them studying under a lamp-post in New Delhi at night,” Kalia recalls. “They started a friendship and she wanted to help them.”
She says many customers order the appetizers once they learn that part of the price goes to help the girls with their education.
“Every couple months we exchange into rupees the money we have collected and send it to them,” Kalia says. “It may not sound as much but it is a fair bit after we convert it to rupees.”
She estimate they’ve sent more than 5,000 rupees to help the girls, which is more than $100 Canadian.
“It is a small gesture but it is a start in giving back to the community,” Kalia says. “Thanks to our customers here who are helping these girls in India.”
Tich restaurant just celebrated its fifth anniversary and has customers from across the city who love their good Indian cuisine.