Fokana President’s Message

Dear Friends

I am extremely privileged to be elected as the President of FOKANA for the period 2020-22. We have a team of 35 other elected officials committed to serve the community. FOKANA is formulated about 38 years ago with support from pioneers like the then Indian Ambassador K. R. Narayanan who later became the President of India. This is the parent organization of the Malayalee Associations in USA and Canada.

FOKANA continue to maintain excellent relations with the Government of Kerala and other official entities of the state and central government, including the Indian Embassies in US and Canada. We also intervene in common issues pertaining to the pravasi Indians residing abroad.

This is year’s committee consists of professionals from various fields and so we targets to accomplish multiple projects that benefits the Indian Community. FOKANA is a non- partisan organization and so we will not intervene political affairs within US and in India.

COVID-19

The entire world is facing major pandemic COVID-19 and so our lifestyle and social functions have changed drastically. Malayalee Associations throughout US and Canada are undergoing a major challenge that they cannot come together in large groups to celebrate different festivals including Onam, Christmas etc. As an umbrella organization of Malayalees, FOKANA is also facing the same issues to conduct joint meetings in the local, regional and national levels. We were not able to conduct our National biennial convention in 2020.

At the same time, the pandemic gave us amble opportunity to conduct our meetings via virtual platforms. We plan to conduct different programs including FOKANA Malayalam Academy, Talent Hunt and so on during this year. Bhashakkoru Dollar will continue to remain as one of our highlight events that we will conduct in coordination with The University of Kerala.

This year we have a very active Women’s Forum that plans for variety of activities for the benefit of women in US and Canada. We also have an International wing of the Women’s Forum.

FOAKNA is very proactive to organize charity events for the benefit of underprivileged population both in India and in US. FOKANA Foundation is the assigned entity within the organization that focuses on charity programs.

I appreciate the entire Malayalee community for your continued support towards this prestigious organization. We will continue with all our efforts to serve the pravasi population living in US and Canada.

Sincerely

Georgy Varughese
President,
FOKANA 2020-22