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The Early Years
In 1980, the 26 signatories to the WZO constitution, young, vibrant men and women of their day, had a vision to see the creation of a world body for Zoroastrians. The sixty’s had seen an increasing momentum in the dispersal of Zoroastrians from India and Pakistan to North America, Australia and New Zealand and no cohesive force existed to hold the community together. This shift in the population was further compounded as Iranian Zoroastrians flocked to our shores and sought sanctuary in the west during the time of the revolution in Iran.
It was with this background that, if ever there was a need for a World Body, representing
Zoroastrians at a political level, which could act with cumulative strength and one voice, surely the time had come. We have progressed a long way in achieving this ambition. WZO, through sheer hard work and perseverance has gone through a metamorphosis.
 Thanks to our donors, we have initiated some of the most worthwhile projects beneficial to the community at large in recent history. For this, WZO owes an insurmountable gratitude to the Trustee’s of all the Charitable Trusts and many individuals, Zoroastrian and non-Zoroastrian across One of our first donors was Mehraban and Goli Farhangi, individuals of immense foresight, possessing mutual respect for those who had worked so hard to form WZO. Their monetary support through the World Zarathushtrian Trust Fund provided the financial muscle for WZO to fulfil its Aims and Objects at a crucial time in our community’s history.
One of the first tasks that befell WZO was to assist displaced Iranian Zoroastrians fleeing to the West. WZO took up the task vigorously, and played a defining role in the rescue and resettlement of many hundreds of Zoroastrians into the UK and the West. This task has not ended and even today we continue to act on behalf of refugees, attending hearings and lobbying MPs in the UK and in Europe.
On 25th April 1993 a special General Meeting of the WZO was held under the able Chairmanship of Mrs. Ruby Contractor. WZO took the first historical step in passing two resolutions; to establish WZO as a charitable organisation under UK law and the more profound and far reaching change in our membership rules. For the first time a Zoroastrian organisation had recognised that non- Zoroastrian spouses and their off spring were an integral part of our community, to be treated as equals. This was indeed a milestone. Since then most of the Zoroastrian Associations in North America, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere have gone on to recognise the contribution made by non-Zoroastrian spouses in our religious, social and cultural life and the creation of a more balanced Zoroastrian society.
Charitable Activities
In 1989 WZO commissioned the Bhaya report, a survey of some 600 villages in Gujarat. What it depicted was the poverty stricken conditions of the Zoroastrian farming community. Somehow these groups of our co-religionists had been overlooked, had failed to receive aid or assistance for even the most basic of life’s needs. They were impoverished, destitute, facing hunger and suffering from ill health. Immediately, the WZO implemented the Gujarat Farmers Rehabilitation program and appealed internationally for funds.
 The Gujarat Project has so far received donations of Rs, 38 million (£475,000) and this has been expended. There is much more to be done in the remaining villages of Gujarat, so we appeal to the community at large to donate regularly so that WZO can help improve many more lives.
With the advent of the Gujarat Rehab Project, there was a resurgence of community spirit in India and the rest of the world. Our appeals were heeded and this resulted in the setting up of three charitable trusts in India, the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust, the WZO Trust Funds and The WZO Trust for Women and Children. Through these trusts we have implemented a diverse array of projects and a few of these are briefly reviewed below.
Senior Citizens Centres in Navsari
 The first centre was completed in January 1998, with 20,000 sq ft of high quality accommodation, and currently provides living accommodation for 46 residents. This is a very vibrant institution, where senior citizens live in happy surroundings, spending the evening of their lives with their contemporaries, being independent and with selfrespect and dignity. We are now on our way to build the third Senior Citizen centre in Navsari.
WZO Sanatorium in Sanjan
 Completed in September 2001, set in 4.5 acres of land, a palatial building offering true peace and tranquillity in a pollution free environment. The sanatorium can accommodate a maximum of 30 at extremely modest prices.
Housing at Navsari
The WZO has constructed three residential buildings at Navsari, where the occupants live in fair sized apartments at very reasonable license fees. A fourth building, very near to the Atashbehram, is under construction and is expected to be ready shortly.
Rural Housing
 From funds that have been raised, financial support has been extended to a large number of Zoroastrian families to replace their huts made from mud & cow dung with brick built cottages, tiled roofs and solid floors. Recently, there has been an acceleration in the number of houses built.
Self- employment Schemes
 A ‘self employment’ scheme was launched in 1996. Initially the funding was made available from a very generous donor trust. The scheme is now being sustained from the repayments that are received. ‘Interest free’ financial support has been extended to Zoroastrians to pursue self employment in diverse disciplines of their choosing.
Medical Relief
Ours is an ageing as well as an ailing community. With the economic graph of the community showing a consistent downtrend and medical treatment becoming increasingly expensive, WZO uses its good offices to raise and disburse funds to meet hospitalisation and medical expenses. The N F Cowasjee Medical Benevolent Fund set up in London contributes regularly towards treatment and medicines not readily available or for medical conditions treated abroad.
WZO has many other schemes, such as:
The Mobed Welfare scheme which encourages young mobeds to take up mobedi as a full time profession,
Providing primary academic and vocational education for our youth, Providing relief from poverty directed towards those who are to old or simply unable to work, Facilitating fully paid holidays for women and children.
Education Funding
 Recently we commenced an annual scholarship scheme with the Falli Chotia Foundation based in the USA. The foundation selects a number of students embracing a wide spectrum of educational
disciplines. WZO contributes 50% towards the scholarship awarded to these young men and women. The cost of higher education has escalated over the years and it has to be said that we are clearly under-funded in this area of our activity. Our resources towards educational demands leave much to be desired and we would be grateful if further funding would be forthcoming so that we can effectively respond to the constant flow of appeals.
WZO has now set up an Educational Fund whish has only a modest sum at the moment. We aim to
set up a corpus of £100,000 within this fund so that we can provide grants to our Zoroastrian youth through the years. We are, also, working with a Charitable Trust to provide Educational grants for specific disciplines. We plan to announce details of this, once we have concluded the arrangements.
Publications and Seminars
 WZO promotes and finances publications such as our own Hamazor and international seminars and lectures on Zoroastrian religion, history and culture. The first Gatha Colloquium took place in the UK in November 1993 with the subsequent publication of the book titled “New Approaches to the Interpretation of the Gathas’’, edited by Mr. Farrokh Vajifdar, containing 10 lectures given by renowned erudite scholars.
Zoroastrians in Iran
WZO has not forgotten our co-religionist currently living in Iran. We are assisting where we can
working with Zoroastrian organisations both in Iran and the UK. We hope that the information contained in this website will inspire you and that you will come to the fore to help the less fortunate. Zoroastrians have a proud history of benevolence both within and outside the community and we must continue to practice this ethos.
Through WZO, the community has also responded effectively to the appeals for the Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation Program, the Pakistan Earthquake, Afghan Refugees and very recently the Tsunami floods. Donations are the life blood of our organisation. WZO owes a deep debt of gratitude to all our donors across the world for without them very little would have been achieved and let us look forward to your continued support.
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