IT incentive

The State of California Public Utilities Commission has sanctioned a grant of USD 150,000 for the Sacramento Zoroastrian Association (SZA) to promote information technology (IT) among its members. Currently their membership strength is about 150. To be used within a period of two years, the grant can be utilized towards purchase of personal computers, hardware, software and other accessories. Primarily meant to benefit the youth, seniors interested in improving their computer and technical skills can avail of this grant too. SZA will also be exploring the possibility of making their Sunday School classes for children more interesting by adding technology to the learning sessions. Currently there are about 20 children who attend the sessions twice a month.

Parshan Khosravi and Cody Partovi (front row, 2nd and 3rd from l) with

fellow youths at the FEZANA annual general meeting in Sacramento

The youth came forward with this proposal and carried it to fruition, acknowledged an email message from the SZA committee and shared with Parsiana by their member Yezdyar Kaoosji. Credit was given to Parshan Khosravi, chair of the Zoroastrian Youth of North America and a good mentor to SZA, for filling the required forms, submitting them to the State and following up until successful completion. The process took nearly a year, mentioned Cody Partovi, lead of the IT committee of SZA. This is the first time that a state government grant has been sanctioned to SZA, confirmed Partovi when Parsiana sought clarifications.

Others on the IT committee are Mehran Torki, Soroush Behmardi and Farzin Jahani. "Getting our youth involved is a major element that SZA is keen to see,” stated the communique. Having interacted with the youngsters at the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) annual general meeting in Sacramento in April 2023, Kaoosji remarked, "This is a very enterprising group of young Zoroastrians in Sacramento.”

Contemplating to introduce computer classes at the SZA Center, the communique urged the youth who are IT savvy, especially those well versed in the subject or studying in college, to come forward and share their expertise with others. All teachers will be eligible for compensation, assured the team. On submitting periodic expenditure statements to the State, funds from the grant will be released. Those interested in more details can contact Partovi who is also the secretary of FEZANA at it@sacza.org.