Feature

TheReview Wednesday, October 31, 1990 — -A10.

Serving the world — one piece at a time ~

by Valorie Lennox
The Review

Shohreh Rahmatian has one
ambition — to serve the world.

For the 29-year-old North Saa-
nich teacher, that ambition led to a
year in Malta and now to six
months as a volunteer in Romania.

“T feel I have to serve the world.
Being a Bahai and being inter-
ested in world peace, I feel I
wanted to contmbute,” she said.

Drawing on an international
background — her family ongin-
ally moved from Iran to Italy when
Rahmatian was nine and then to
Canada in 1983 — she speaks
English, Italian, Persian, French
and Spanish.

“7 always wanted to know lan-
guages because I wanted to com-
municate with others, to get closer
to people and to share with peo-
ples

SHOHREH RAHMATIAN

After graduating from the Univ-
ersity of B.C., she received a
bursary from the Italian govern-
ment to attend the University of
Perugia. During that time she
talked to different people about
their lives and goals.

Having decided to spend the
next few years of her life contribut-
ing to society, she agreed to a
Baha’i National Assembly of Italy
suggestion that she go as a volun-
teer to Malta.

She returned home to North
Saanich, worked and saved to
cover the cost of the tip to Malta
and the time she would spend in
the country.

She arrived in Malta in June
1989.

“T Janded. I was in awful shape.
I had a cold and a fever,” she said.

(Psat |
= TS f

i Lap,

MONTESSORI
CENTER OF
SIDNEY

Accepting registration
for Half & Full Day
Pre-school Program for
3 - 5 Year Olds

NOW
OPEN

10345 Bowerbank Rd.
656-3214

ee

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS ON MALTA, organized by North Saanich
teacher Shohreh Rahmatian, photographed during a visit to
a historic site on the neighboring island of Gozo.

For the first time she was also Comprised of 360 square kilo-
homesick, since she was not sure metres divided between three
how long she would stay in Malta. islands in the Mediterranean, the

She called the one person she island culture is a blend of the

knew in the country — and was
immediately welcomed into the
small local Baha’i community.

“In three or four weeks, it felt
like I knew half of the island.”

From the outset, Malta reminded
her of Iran.

“The color of the sand, the color
of the limestone, the bare country-
side, the mixture of the people —
it felt like a place where everyone
was welcome.”

Malta is the most southern
country in Europe and was a
British colony until 15 years ago.

ELECT

Alderman, Sidney

ECKANKAR

The New Age Religion

WORSHIP SERVICE
Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 pm
8611 Lochside Dr., Sidney

f

== CLEARANCE

” SALE

TO BE DISCONTINUED MOULDINGS
ARE MAKING ROOM FOR NEW DESIGNS

33%..2f
30 SELECTED MOULDINGS

SALE ENDS SAT. NOV, 2

WAREHOUSE PICTURE FRAMES

We are Sidney's Picture Frames
‘VICTORIA, CAMPBELL RIVER, NANAIMO, SIDNEY

5th STREET GALLERY

9769 - 5th Street
Next to Monk’s Office Supplies

656-2131

the country also includes the
adjoining islands of Comino
Gozo. There are 350,000 residents

Continued on Page A13

various Nationalities which have
conquered the country through the
centuries.

“Tt’s a dot in the Mediterranean.
It feels like a crossing place of
Europe, Africa and Asia,” Rahma-
tian said.

“A lot of things are done in a
British way, mixed with an Arab
flavor, Italian attitude and Turkish:
spice,’ she added.

The largest island is Malta but

ELECH

aa ES

Re oraE ‘Sidney.

CENTURY 21 and ™ REVIEW thank all
participants and congratulate the
winners of the PUMPKIN CARVING
CONTEST.

e -

ADVERTISEMENT

School District #63

oe =
ae

FIRST YEAR PRIMARY

(formerly kindergarten)

REGISTRATION FOR JANUARY 1991
SCHOOL ENTRY
Monday, November 5, 1990
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Parents who have not already registered should do so
at their neighbourhood elementary school for both English
and French Immersion programs.

e Brentwood e Cordova Bay ~ © Deep Cove
e Durrance e Greenglade e Keating
e Lochside e Saanichton e Sidney

e Prospect Lake (for Beaver/Prospect Lake students)

e Sansbury (for Sonsbury/Mclavish students)
Fk Lake does not register First Year Primary students

Note: Early French Immersion programs are offered at Deep Cove
or Keating, however, parents still need to register at their
neighbourhood elementary school. Children born between
November 1, 1985 to April 30, 1986 are eligible to enfer in
January 1991. Please bring proof of age. A birth certificate ts

preferred.
“Parents may defer the entry of a child into the program

for two entry dates from the time the child becomes eligible
to start, at which time entry is mandatory.”
Ministry of Education