Flood Relief in Namkhana - West Bengal

Relief materials given to the Moushuni Gram Panchayat by Art of Living volunteers from Kolkatta.

Sri Sri's Interview in Vogue

Art of Living dedicates Guru Purnima As Environment Day

12^th July, 2014,Bangalore. The Art of Living designated Guru Purnima, July 12, 2014, as “The Art of Living Environment Day”.

A nationwide campaign was launched to green the environment by planting economically and environmentally beneficial tree-species that would reduce erosion of the soil while improving its water-retention capacity.

The Art of Living International Centre at Bangalore began its programme for the

day by clearing a stretch of road in Kanakapura of garbage. As many as 75 tractor loads of garbage had been cleared by the enthusiastic volunteers who included members of the local Panchayat, Youth Leaders, volunteers of Art of Living and its associated educational institutions.

An inaugural function was held at the International Centre to officially launch the greening drive by planting saplings. Dr.Vaman Achariya, Chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore, presided.

Expressing happiness about the initiatives being launched, 

Dr. Achariya said, “Trees are an integral part of our life, and everyone should raise their voice against tree felling and rising emission levels". He also  quoted the UNDP slogan:"Raise your voice and not the sea level."

Reiterating Art of Living's commitment towards environment, Mr. Prakash Athrayil, Administrator at the Centre, shared, "Civic/municipal authorities alone cannot get rid of the heaps of garbage in our cities. Every citizen must contribute to keeping cities clean by practicing individual civic responsibility, creating awareness and participating in community cleanliness campaigns."

After the inaugural ceremony, around 900 high-school students and teachers from the Art of Living's VVMVP school in Kanakapura participated in a tree-planting initiative.

In addition, as several trees had been felled for road-widening work, the Art of Living’s Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies Trust (SSIAST) - a non-profit organization – is overseeing the plantation of saplings to substitute the felled trees. To ensure each sapling that is planted survives and grows into a tree, the SSIAST has also developed a monitoring system for the planted saplings. Here too, the species have been judiciously selected for sustainability.

Besides planting trees, SSIAST aims to train youth on river rejuvenation technologies, which is one of the service-projects of the Art of Living’s Volunteer for a Better India (VBI).

The tree-planting drive has been taken up on a pan-India level.

Delhi, Bombay and Pune were some of the other places where volunteers gathered in their hundreds for this project.

As followers took to social media to express their gratitude, the hashtag #ThankYouSriSri trended worldwide in around 60 countries. A large number of Twitter users were also pleasantly surprised with a personalised message from Sri Sri.

Later in the evening, thousands joined the Guru Purnima celebrations with Sri Sri via a webcast. Many expressed a resolve to commit themselves towards societal change and participate in community welfare. 

www.artofliving.org

IAHV selected one of the Best Human Care Charities of America

The International Association for Human Values (IAHV), was selected to be one of the Best Human Care Charities of America!

IAHV received the Independent Charities of America Seal of Excellence which is awarded to nonprofit charitable organizations that have been independently reviewed annually and certified to meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.  These standards include those required by the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

Out of the more than 1 million charities operating in the US, fewer than 2500 have been awarded this recognition.

The award reads:
 "As Published in Federal Times"  Best Human Care Charities, Presented to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, International Association for Human Values, 2013.

Interfaith Dialogue for Peaceful Coexistence in Oman

The Sixth Observer Roundtable Conference was held at the Modern College of Business and Science in Oman focused on the  "Significance of Interfaith Dialogue for Peaceful Coexistence."

Art of Living faculty Mrs Kamal Khimji was at the Conference. 

Some Media Coverages and pictures

Youth Educate People on Cleanliness

In Sahranpur, Uttar Pradesh, youth volunteers of the Art of Living took up the task of educating people and creating awareness about cleanliness. A highly successful event that was shared by the Media extensively.

The volunteers also did tree plantations as part of the drive.

Press Coverages of the Event are being shared here.

Empowering Women and Spreading Smiles in Bangladesh

'An Art of Living Initiative: End Violence against Women & to Empower them'.

In Satkira, one of the most affected areas in Bangladesh where women are affected with trafficking & sexual violence, the Art of Living Foundation Bangladesh have reached out 250 affected women who are extremely poor and affected with all kinds of violence with the help of NGO Biswas foundation. The special 3 day Trauma Relief Program set permanent smiles on sad, brooding faces stuck with the uncertainty of life. At the beginning of the program, they were so restless, that they just couldn't sit down for few minutes! But at the end of the session, all of them were in one voice told us that the session was so powerful that they feel strong peace in their mind with a new ray of hope towards life.

The Art of Living Foundation, Bangladesh is committed to support them towards self-reliance by providing them skill training through the self-help groups already created. This project will start with training them in tailoring and providing them with machines & also helping them to sell their products.

Another excellent example, how H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji's programs cuts across cultures, religion and countries Healing Lives, Helping underprivileged & vulnerable section of society providing them a new direction in life.

Enclosed are some photos of the program.