Okay, ive gotta say, this is one of the most fear provoking things ive done. My intention is to go to India in March and serve at a school and practice yoga. I feel the fear, and I am seeing all the support around me and realizing this is actually possible. I have put my toes in and am seeing all the support Im receiving now and realize its time to dive in and do this. I am putting together a fundraising event and will do my best. all i can do is one step at a time.... ABOUT ME I have been a counselor with the Amala Foundation for 3 years and practicing yoga for 5 years. Last year, at Amala’s annual Global Youth Peace Summit, I met a man named Santosh who runs a school in India. I heard how his school gives impoverished youth an alternative to forced labor. He told me every year the youth excitedly await the volunteers who come to fund the school, serve the community and connect. He told me it gives the youth hope and meaning to know that people all around the world are thinking of them and want to see them succeed. He said if I want to be of service and deepen my yoga practice, he would love to see me at the school in India. I was honored by the invitation and inspired to serve. Since then I have reached out to others who have gone and received immense support and encouragement. I had fear of the unknown. Fear of how i could afford the trip and resistance to going so far out from what is familiar. So i am letting this process be my teacher. I am willing to open to the possibility that I can do what I love, be of service and thrive. I am taking the risk of asking for support more than i ever have before. I have no grandiose expectations of what will happen, I just know I have a calling to serve in India and I have skills that have been of service to others in similar challenges. I realized this is way to share the experience with others. This fundraiser gives more people an opportunity to support this amazing project. More Info at: https://amalafoundation.org/youth-programs/bhatti-mines-school/ THE COMMUNITY The Bhatti Mines community faces extreme hardship of poverty and unemployment. This is one of the most impoverished areas of Delhi. The 30,000 residents of the villages live in slum-like conditions lacking adequate shelter, running water, electricity, health services, schools and economic opportunity. THE SCHOOL The Bhatti Mines School gives children in this area an alternative to forced labor: every day 156 children receive an education, empowerment and hope for the future. THE CONNECTION Santosh and Archana Singh began teaching the children of Bhatti Mines ten years ago out of a deep calling to address the issues of child labor and poverty in their community. In 2007, Amala founder Vanessa Stone met the Singh family while serving in India and was moved by their sincerity and devotion; she felt inspired to reach out to the Amala Foundation community to form an Alliance based on the Foundation’s guiding principle that sustainable peace begins within. From this meeting, the Bhatti Mines Partnership was birthed. YOGA AND SERVICE This project has evolved over the years and past co-facilitators stepped up to lead this unique opportunity to serve the school as well as deepen ones yoga practice in the home of yoga. Volunteers stay at an ashram, practice yoga twice a day and emphasize Karma Yoga throughout the trip; selfless service with no attachment to the outcome. COSTS To fund the entire school Bhatti Mines school costs only $30,460/year. The handful of people going on this trip makes a big impact. My fundraising goal is enough to cover costs for my trip including travel, food, lodging, and I intend to bring back gifts to donors. FEEDBACK FROM PAST VOLUNTEERS It has shown me a different way to exist and experience life…Coming from the heart, not the reactive mind. It helped hold a mirror up to myself, to allow me to be open and willing to work on my spiritual development. It helped to be in touch with people from around the world, who have so very little…To just be able to connect with them, their spirits. Share smiles, touch, laughter and love. To also be able to get a better idea of specific needs they have, to be able to bring these needs back to reach out to our community. I found a new motivation to live with purpose and meaning. I found the missing link to my happiness was serving others.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:09:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015