Zoom Meeting Details

Time: Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11 am EDT

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88973121567?pwd=BXa7bMxWtuhhsNS1L2A4Rbn583FJN7.1

Meeting ID: 889 7312 1567
Passcode: FEZANA

Zoroastrian Singles and Love Story bring you a Zoroastrian Match Making Retreat in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA from November 16-19, 2024. We have made it affordable for all to attend.

If you are interested in carpooling from Toronto to Michigan, please contact Afreed Mistry (afreed.mistry@gmail.com or 416-302-9754).

There are limited spots available for the retreat due to venue limitations so please sign up early!

For more details and application click on the image below:

We are excited to share the Ontario Zoroastrian Resource Guide, a directory featuring businesses, professionals, and generous individuals within our community offering their homes for support. 

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the guide by filling out the form and offering their services or hospitality!

If you have any questions, feedback, or would like to contribute to future editions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at youth@zso.org.

Ontario Resource Guide

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share and fill out our ZSO Resource Guide, we have received an overwhelming 40 responses, and wanted to ensure no one was missed!

Our youth at ZSO have aimed to build this resource guide that can be easily accessed by all community members, supporting both local businesses and individuals seeking professional expertise.

We are also gathering information on individuals willing to accommodate newcomers in their homes or those with leads on available accommodations. This effort is part of our broader goal to support each other, find employment opportunities, and ensure everyone has a place to stay.

To participate in this project, please fill out the forms below. You are welcome to fill out either one of these forms or both if you wish. Your positive response to this initiative is greatly appreciated.

If you own a business or are a business professional please fill out this form:

Businesses / Professionals Form

If you are able to host a Zoroastrian for a week or more - please fill out this form:

Accommodation Form

After we have compiled our list, we will soon be sharing this in our resource guide with the community via email, newsletter and physical copies. We look forward to your support and feedback.

Important Information:

• Your information will be included in a resource guide, and by filling out the form, you consent to publicly displaying your information

• If you have any questions about this project, please email us at youth@zso.org or call Nasha Makujina at (647) 231-2240

• You can opt out of this program at any time by emailing youth@zso.org and stating your wish to no longer participate

Thank you for your participation and support.

Warm regards,

Newcomers Project
Fravash Chothia, Kaizad Damania, Nasha Makujina, Arish Sanjana and Zane Tengra

FEZANA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Applications are invited by the FEZANA Scholarship Program for the 2024-25 competition cycle  for the following

• ENDOWED AND FEZANA ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

• Endowed and FEZANA Scholarships for the Creative Arts

• RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

•  FEZANA Community Service Award

All academic scholarships are open to Zarathushti applicants who have obtained admission for attendance at institutions of higher learning (accredited degree-granting colleges or universities) in the USA or Canada. Students from overseas must have studied in the US or Canada for at least two semesters before applying. Creative arts scholarships are available to any Zarathushti applicant who is pursuing a program in the creative arts (performing arts, fine arts, culinary arts, etc.).

AWARD CRITERIA—Graduate applicants will be rated on Scholastic Achievement, Extracurricular Activities, and Community Service. Undergraduate applicants will be rated on Scholastic Achievement, Financial Need, Extracurricular Activities, and Community Service.

Scholarships will be awarded in September 2024.  Closing Date  for receiving application July 31, 2024.

For applications visit   https://fezana.org/scholarships/online-application/

The Zoroastrian Entrepreneurship Development Foundation (ZEDF) graduate scholarships . Please visit https://zedf.org/ to learn more.

Apply For FEZANA SCHOLARSHIPS

Attention high school graduates, the application process for the Annual ZSO Academic and Community Service Excellence Award for High School Students Scholarship is now open for 2024. 

The deadline for receiving completed applications this year is Monday, July 22, 2024. All pertinent details are in the application form.

Good luck to all the applicants.

2024 ZSO Scholarship Application

The ZSO Youth comittee are working on compiling a comprehensive list of Zoroastrian owned businesses and professionals within our community. We aim to create a resource guide that can be easily accessed by all community members, supporting both local businesses and individuals seeking professional expertise.

We are also gathering information on individuals willing to accommodate newcomers in their homes or those with leads on available accommodations. This effort is part of our broader goal to support each other, find employment opportunities, and ensure everyone has a place to stay.

To participate in this project, please fill out the forms below. You are welcome to fill out either one of these forms or both if you wish. Your positive response to this initiative is greatly appreciated.

If you own a business or are a business professional please fill out this form:

Businesses / Professionals Form

If you are able to host a Zoroastrian for a week or more, please fill out this form:

Accommodation Form

After we have compiled our list, we will be sharing this in our resource guide with the community via email, newsletter and physical copies. We look forward to your support and feedback.

Important Information:

• Your information will be included in a resource guide, and by filling out the form, you consent to publicly displaying your information.

• If you have any questions about this project, please email us at youth@zso.org or call Nasha Makujina at (647) 231-2240

• You can opt out of this program at any time by emailing youth@zso.org and stating your wish to no longer participate.

Thank you for your participation and support.

Warm regards,

Newcomers Project Committee
Fravash Chothia, Kaizad Damania, Nasha Makujina, Arish Sanjana & Zane Tengra

2^nd Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize

Applications Invited

Announcement: 2^nd Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize.

We are thrilled to announce the call for submission for the 2^nd Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize, a prestigious award named in honor of the renowned Pakistani- American novelist, Bapsi Sidhwa. This biennial award promotes fiction by Zoroastrian authors and honors the legacy of Bapsi Sidhwa, the first recognized Zoroastrian author from Pakistan.

Eligibility:

• The Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize will be granted to writers of fiction, accepting novels and collections of short stories.
• Open to Zoroastrian authors aged 18 years and above.
• Each submission must be the original work of a single author.
  Co-authored books, edited books, anthologies and self-published books are not eligible.
• Submissions should be in English and must be first editions.
• Works must be published between January 2022 and April 2024.

Submission Period:

• Submissions should include a completed Application Form.
• A hard copy and a digital copy is required. The digital copy will be sent electronically to the judges. The hard copy will be added to the FIRES library collection.
• The submission deadline is June 1, 2024 for the 2024 award.

Submission Process:

• Fill out the online application form below.
• Hard copies must be sent or delivered to FIRES/ZAH at 526 Woodbend Lane, Houston, Texas 77079.
• Digital copy should be sent to info@fires-fezna.org
• For any questions, contact aban@coatingindustries.com

Prize:

• The winner of the 2nd Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize will receive US$ 2000, a trophy, and the opportunity to showcase their work at the 18th North American Zoroastrian Congress in Houston, Texas, in December 2024.
• Finalists and winner will be announced at the FEZANA Awards ceremony at the 18th North American Congress. The winner is encouraged to attend or delegate a representative to accept the prize.

Selection and Adjudication:

• A panel of judges will select finalists and choose the winner.
• The organizer and judges are not responsible for plagiarism issues among finalists.
• In case of insufficient entries, the prize will not be assigned.
• The decision of the finalists and winner is final.

Background and history:

• The Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize is established by the Library Committee of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH), home of the FEZANA Information Research and Education System (FIRES).
• FIRES is a centralized collection of materials related to Zarathushti faith, culture and history.
• The Prize honors and promotes the work of Zoroastrian writers in line with Bapsi Sidhwa’s legacy.
• Named after the first recognized Zoroastrian writer from Pakistan, Bapsi Sidhwa, the Prize aims to recognize literary works biennially.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and celebrating the rich tapestry of Zoroastrian literature in honor of Bapsi Sidhwa.

Apply Now

FEZANA Information, Research and Education System (FIRES) is a centralized collection of books, manuscripts, literature, magazines, and scholarly research materials in print and electronic form, primarily pertaining to Zarathushti faith, culture, and history.

FIRES was established in 2010, and is housed and managed by the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) Library. It is accessible by all FEZANA Associations and individuals.

Register Here