Dance, Chai & Charity: Celebrating Women, Community & Giving
On Sunday 20 September 2026, 120 ladies came together at Carramar Community Centre for a vibrant afternoon of fun, music and friendship at the Dance for Charities event!
Entry was by gold coin donation, with an incredible $1,500 raised throughout the event for three charities: CINI Australia, Share the Dignity and Ruma Aberdona Hospice.
Organised by Raj Walia and Perth Well Wishers, the afternoon was dedicated to celebrating women, making CINI Australia a natural fit among the chosen charities.
“After CINI Australia’s successful Mother’s Day Celebration High Tea Fundraiser in May, an idea came to me to organise an afternoon for ladies. We managed to book the two halls at the Carramar Community Centre for Sunday 20th September. We called it “Dance for Charities”. I wanted this to be an afternoon full of fun, dance, laughter and great Indian snacks finishing with a cup of chai.”
“I asked young ladies like Kiran Munde, Jaspreet Virdee and Preetie Channa to organise dance performers, stalls and decorations. The most popular stall was “Wear a Sari”. A great hit with the non-Indian ladies!”
“As the ladies were leaving, they asked, ‘Can we have this as a yearly event?’ Definitely a ‘Yes’!”
CINI Australia would like to thank Raj for organising such a fantastic event, each volunteer who supported the day, and every guest who attended and participated in raising vital funds for the three charities. Community events such as this exemplify the heart of CINI Australia and the passion and commitment of our supporters.
The proceeds will help empower women and children through our programs in West Bengal, working with communities and individuals to help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and disadvantage.
The Perth Well Wishers also generously donated $2,500, raised through their prayer meetings, to CINI’s Cyril Academy. Based in Kolkata, the Academy provides a safe learning centre for children from underprivileged backgrounds.
About CINI Australia
In India there is no financial ‘safety net’ as we have in Australia. People living in poverty need assistance for their families to move out of the cycle of poverty and disadvantage. CINI focuses first on women to prevent malnutrition and to ensure good antenatal care, safe childbirth and healthy babies. The health of a child is the first step for future opportunity. Next comes education: school preparation, enrolment, retention and safety. Many of these children will be the first generation to go to school and so the whole community and local government play vital roles in this development.
- Ujjan empowers adolescent boys and girls, aged 10–19, to make a successful transition to adulthood in urban Kolkata.
- The IICCHAA program works with children and families affected by HIV and AIDS.
- Child Friendly Communities focuses on building child friendly communities and empowering systemic and social change.
Thank you again to Raj Walia, the Perth Well Wishes and their wonderful community for helping to build a better future for women and children in West Bengal, India.
