A humanitarian and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an ambassador of peace and human values. He, through his life and work is an inspiration to millions of people around the world with a vision of stress free, violence free world.
The Art of Living Schools program was founded in 1981 during the construction of the Art of Living International Centre near Bangalore, India. Sri Sri recognised the need to reach out to local children and provide proper education, food, clothing, and medicine. This led to the creation of Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth Trust that provides a combination of modern and holistic education to children from rural, slum and tribal communities without charging any fees.
Smt. Bhanumathi is the Director of Women welfare and child care programs of the The Art of Living, a not-for-profit, educational and humanitarian NGO engaged in bringing stress relief and service initiatives in 152 countries. She has deep roots in spirituality and a broad vision for service to humanity. For over three decades she has been committed to bringing a positive social transformation with a focus on education, environment and women empowerment. Enabling people to handle their negative emotions and stress with meditation and breathing techniques, she has helped them regain their self confidence and come to the forefront to take responsibility for a harmonious society through service.
In India, where there are still many areas where children don’t go to school, they aim at empowering,bringing smiles and spirit of celebration to the children from low socio-economic backgrounds by providing free quality education.
Today, they have touched more than 58,000 young souls in 435 schools across 20 states of India in the slum, tribal and rural belts where child labor and poverty are widespread.
These schools currently function in two formats- Sri Sri Gnan Mandir Schools (SSGM) and Sri Sri Bal Vidya Kendra (SSBVK).
- Sri Sri Gnan Mandir Schools (SSGM)
These are schools providing primary and secondary education from LKG to Class X. These schools focus not just on academic growth of the child but also on value based nurturing. Aiming at holistic education, a host of extracurricular activities are a core part of these schools’ regime.
- Sri Sri Bal Vidya Kendra (SSBVK)
These schools are based on feeder formats. Catering to children of age group 3-5 years, the schools act as agents to channelize children at their very tender ages. The idea is to make impart moral and cultural values at the right time. This 2 hours- 5 Days a week format is gaining popularity among rural Indian parents.
They believe that a school is not complete without holistic and quality facilities being provided for the students. These facilities not only act as basics to a decent standard of living but also aim to maintain an enabler/motivator for students and parents.
EDUCATION
The schools offer syllabus accredited by the State Govt. Here the students are well equipped to stand at par with their urban counter parts.
Additional to the mainstream education, they also focus on building characters of the students by inculcating value-based education. Yoga and meditation is also taught for complete mental development.
Children are provided with the text books, uniforms, shoes, socks and bags totally free of cost. Free transportation service to school is also provided.
Students are given access to well-equipped computer labs which act as their window to access and connect with the outside world.
Girls Education
Their main focus is on girls child education, cause they believe that educating a girl means educating the entire family. An educated girl child has the skills, knowledge and poise that are required to be a better parent, citizen, worker or anything else she dreams of becoming.
They have always had a focus on girl child education with 48% of their entire student base beings girls.Additionally, they recently inaugurated an all girl’s school in Parola Village of Udaipur District, Rajasthan with 120 students. This is an accomplishment in its own, as the village, has never before supported sending their daughter to school.
Nutrition
When a student join at a tender age, it is essential to take care of physical growth. The school provides good quality nutritious maid day meals free to them.
HEALTH CHECKUP CAMPS
Another important pillar for a child’s holistic growth is their physical well being and growth. Regular health check up camps are organized in the schools where general checkups, oral care education, dental care education, personal hygiene education are taken care of.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
As both the right brain and left brain needs to be nurtured equally, they encourage every child to take part in extracurricular activities like dance, drama, sports, debates, literary competitions.
Skills development with vocational training workshops such as tailoring, computers, gardening, etc are also conducted frequently.
The school also undertakes to impart awareness to children about their social responsibilities and human values by conducting tree planting campaigns, vocational training such as tailoring, plumbing, computers, electrical repair, etc.
DONATE
Bring a smile to an underprivileged child by giving them the best gift :
The gift of Education !
If you want to bring long-lasting reforms in any society, education is the way to do so.
That’s why Gift a Smile – our education program for underprivileged children is one of our biggest projects.
Through Art of Living’s 425 free schools all over India, we educate more than 50,000 children from the remotest corners of the country.
Apart from schools and school facilities, we also provide:
+ Text Books, notebooks, and stationery
+ School uniforms
+ School transport
+ Mid-day meals
+ Salaries for school teachers and staff
+ Regular medical checkup and clinic facilities for the students
+ For more information, you can visit the VVMVP schools website or email: info@artoflivingschools.org
Be a Part of This Project
It takes only Rs. 12,000/- per year to educate a child which includes education, transport, food, medicals, uniforms, books, and meals.
COURTESY : http://artoflivingschools.org/
