Females in the forefront

The four-year-old Zoroastrian Women Organization (ZWO) in California that recently invested in a Community Center in Sacramento is in the process of changing its name to Sacramento Area Zoroastrian Organization and thereafter opening its membership to men, conveyed its president Manijeh Behziz. The property admeasuring 9,667 sq ft with nearly 150 parking lots was previously a bank. The main hall has a seating capacity of 400 and the adjoining rooms and facilities will be used for other functions. Located in the vicinity of a church, a Hindu temple and other office buildings, no permits from the district office will be required to conduct their religious and social activities from this Center, notes their website Zwoca.org.

Shahin Ravani, Dowlat Afshari, Manijeh Behziz, Nahid Afshari and Sima Mehrshahi

Members and well-wishers of Zoroastrian Women Organization

They purchased the property at a cost of $ 550,000 (Rs 33,000,000), having raised $ 285,737 (Rs 17,144,220) and borrowing a sum of $ 350,000 (Rs 21,000,000) for 18 months on no interest, reveals Behziz. After buying the property, "the next step is to initiate… building repairs (by finding)… the most affordable contractors and vendors who will get the job done in a timely manner,” adds the website. News of this Organization was first brought to our attention by Parvin and Ardeshir Damania of California.
In addition to Behziz, the other office bearers are secretary Sima Mehrshahi and treasurer Dowlat Afshari, with Nahid Afshari and Shahin Ravani assisting on the committee. Until now membership was restricted to female members of the community over 25 years of age. In response to Parsiana’s queries Behziz sent us a brief introduction to the Organization that also appears on their website: Established as a non-profit corporation under the US government in February 2010, "some of the most important goals in this Organization include but are not limited to teach Zoroastrian thought, provide, develop and promote social, religious and educational services, workshops, recreational activities in a way that promote self-esteem and self-confidence (among) Zoroastrians as well as celebrating religious and cultural ceremonies.”
Enjoying a tax exempt status, the funding of their activities is primarily through donations and contributions. For their bimonthly religious class from September to May they charge $ 50. Besides equipping the youngsters with knowledge on the tenets of their faith they are also prepared for the soodreh-pooshi ceremony that is organized by the Persian Zoroastrian Organisation at the San Jose Darbe Mehr every year. For the bakery class, they charge $ 10 per session, and for volley ball practice, three dollars. They also have facilities for dance and entertainment. Investment opportunities and small loan programs are additionally arranged.